Chambana Sun

Illinois State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) fears the abortion debate is in danger of spinning out of control, especially here in Illinois, considering recent events.

“Democrats think there could soon be a Supreme Court ruling on Roe vs. Wade that will change the dynamics, and now you’re seeing all this extreme overreach,” Caulkins told the Chambana Sun. “This is an issue that’s too important to be fueled by just politics. You’ve got too many people going to the extreme to just try and make a point.”

Caulkins suggests that may have been the case with Democratic state Rep. Diane Pappas (D-Itasca), who allegedly made a remark recently proposing castration as one way of settling the abortion issue and dealing with controversial House Bill 2495.

State Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur)

“You know, ladies, with technology the way it is, we wouldn't have an abortion problem if we applied a plan,” Pappas reportedly said during a meeting attended by Wayne Township Republican trustee Jackie Hayden, who recounted the incident on the Wayne County Republican Organization website. “Now, I've been told it's a bit radical, but if we allowed men to be castrated, took the sperm to the bank, collected tax dollars on it for storage, then when it's time, to have the man decide he's ready to begin a family ... well, then the problem is solved."

Known as the Reproductive Health Act, HB 2495 would make Illinois home to the most accessible abortion state in the country, stripping away restrictions on late-term procedures and requiring all private health insurers to cover abortions with no exceptions.

“It’s a bad, bad bill and a direct assault on conservative values,” Caulkins said. “It’s hard to imagine how far we’ve fallen on this issue and how lost our society would be if this bill passes.”

Pappas’ 45th District covers all or parts of Bartlett, Hanover Park, West Chicago, Wayne, Carol Stream, Bloomingdale, Itasca, Roselle, Wood Dale, Medinah and Addison.