Chicago City Wire

Governor Bruce Rauner should be lauded for hiring "intelligent, diverse, and well-rounded" staff, says Illinois Right-to-Life Executive Director Emily Troscinski.

Troscinski's comments come amidst demands by Rauner critics that he only hire staff who support abortion rights.

Rauner, who is pro-choice, has nonetheless employed both pro-choice and pro-life staff members since assuming the job of governor in Jan. 2015.

"Democrats and self-proclaimed 'women's rights' groups seem more obsessed with having the government only hire employees that agree with their radical abortion litmus test, rather than hiring those best qualified for the job," she told Chicago City Wire.

"Our state is on the verge of financial collapse and pro-abortion Democrats are standing knee deep in dredging up abortion quotes rather than fixing our state’s current financial crisis."

Troscinski is referring to news stories published by media hostile to Rauner attacking a newly-hired communications staff member who criticized people using abortion to "rid the world of disabled and other 'unwanted' persons." 

The comment was made in an April blog post. 

Reporters from the Chicago Sun-Times and Politico published stories suggesting Rauner should fire the staff member. 

Trocinski called the stories "fabricated outrage." 

"This discriminatory smear campaign by pro-abortion democrats sends quite a clear message to Illinoisans: if you're a successful pro-life woman, you're not welcome in public service," Troscinski said.

Tina Sfondeles, the Sun-Times reporter who originally reported on the blog post, voted in the 2016 Democrat primary, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Natasha Korecki, a former Sun-Times reporter now working for Politico, has voted in four Democrat primaries and one Republican one ('16) since 2000.