Dupage Policy Journal

Longtime state Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park) is among the growing number of Democratic lawmakers seemingly rendered speechless by colleague Diane Pappas' recent comments about pending abortion legislation.

Repeated calls to Conroy’s office by the DuPage Policy Journal for comment about Pappas’ reported views on abortion and the Reproductive Health Act bill went unanswered following Wayne Township Republican trustee Jackie Hayden’s assertion that Pappas recently proposed “castration” as a way of remedying the problem of abortion and dealing with House Bill 2495, which would make Illinois home to the most unrestricted abortion access in the country.

“You know, ladies, with technology the way it is, we wouldn't have an abortion problem if we applied a plan,” Pappas, a first-term lawmaker from Itasca, said in Hayden’s recounting that was published 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."

Illinois State House Rep. Diane Pappas (D-Itasca) | facebook.com/DianeForStateRep

Hayden claimed she was later told that Pappas made similar comments during a different meeting with members from the Holy Ghost Parish, who also recently made the trip to her Bloomingdale office to discuss abortion legislation.

HB 2495 was recently advanced to a House Informed Subcommittee, where Conroy, elected to a third-term in November with nearly 59 percent of the vote, is one of roughly 40 co-sponsors.    

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