Veto Saves Illinois Teen Contraceptive Program

Gov. James R. Thompson vetoed a bill that would end teen-agers’ access to contraceptives at public school health clinics, but his opponents rallied Tuesday to try to override the veto.

“I can guarantee we will try for an override,” said Rep. Ralph Capparelli of Chicago, a chief House sponsor of the bill. “We expected the veto and will give him some headaches when we come back” for the General Assembly’s fall session, which starts in early October.

The Legislature approved the contraceptive ban during its spring session under intense lobbying pressure from anti-abortion groups, the Roman Catholic Church and the conservative Eagle Forum.

“I think it was a mistake for Thompson to veto the measure,” said Phyllis Schlafly, head of the forum. “It’s pretty clear that the way to go is to teach children sexual abstinence.”

Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, head of Chicago’s Roman Catholic Archdiocese, said he was “disappointed and dismayed” by the governor’s action, calling distribution of contraceptives in high schools “poor public policy.”

“All the evidence we’ve seen underscores the fact that even wholesale distribution of contraceptives to students . . . is significantly linked to increased abortion rates among sexually active teens,” said Jim Lago, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Illinois.

In vetoing the bill late Monday, Thompson said he did “not believe (the bill) reflects the correct policy of the state of Illinois in this important and sensitive area.”

Among the public school health clinics in Illinois, clinics at Chicago’s Orr and DuSable high schools dispense contraceptives, while an East St. Louis clinic prescribes them.

“The severity of the teen pregnancy problem speaks for itself and sometimes steps like these have to be taken,” said spokesman Dean Schott of the state Public Health Department.

Local school boards decide whether the clinics will offer contraceptives, and parental permission is required before a student can receive them. About $428,000 in state and federal funds is used to support the clinics.