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Democratic Illinois state representative Natalie Phelps Finnie seeks re-election and to address judicial system loopholes

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Natalie Phelps Finnie is running for re-election as a democratic Illinois state representative. She said she’s advocating to change loopholes that benefit child predators.

Finnie said the kids are the ones suffering, they didn’t ask to be brought into this world and nobody seems to be a voice for them, so that’s what has compelled her to step up.

“Many of these children are living like animals, in horrible conditions and they’re filthy, dirty,” Finnie said.   

Finnie said children are the ones suffering the consequences from the lack of jobs, drug problems, unemployment, generational poverty and all of the above.

“There [is] more than one loophole in laws that let child abusers walk free,” Finnie said.  

A loophole allows an individual or group to use some gap in the restrictions or requirements of the law for personal advantage without technically breaking the law, the legal definition, said.

“Our system is completing broken,” Finnie said. “The way the laws are set up, we’re more concerned about the rights of the predators.”

Finnie said the U.S. judicial system seems to be more concerned about predators rights than our children and we’ve got a problem.

“We have to fix a lot of these laws,” Finnie said. “These are giant problems [and] I’m not telling you I’m going to be able to fix these problems quickly or be there long enough to see the end result.”

However, Finnie said she can start the conversation.

Paul Brinker, an SIU professor and social work graduate coordinator, said if Finnie is looking to adjust limitations with kids who were assaulted as minors and give those kids voices for some legal resolve, he wouldn’t want to debate her.

“It’s worth the conversation,” Brinker said. “I think as a society, as we get more data, as we hopefully evolve as human beings, some of those considerations can be shifted along.”

Brinker said voting goes into pushing those agendas forward.

“From a treatment or helping standpoint, often times some of the legal process if done correctly can be rather cathartic to see some resolve to the perpetrator of such crimes,” Brinker said.

Brinker said he thinks there are statutes of limitations on everything but murder.

“This leaves the legal system very little they can do about that particular victim and circumstance, so then I would say that’s a bad thing,” Brinker said.

Brinker also said legislators are taking another look at some of those statutes.

Finnie’s state representative campaign opponent, a SIU law alumn, Patrick Windhorst, said Illinois has some strict laws on the books that need to remain and are important.

“There was a recent change in the law as it relates to people who bond out after being arrested that has created a issue in small or rural counties,” Windhorst said.

Windhorst also said this creates frustrations in the justice system because if offenders are not in jail, then they can get treatment for drugs and crime.

Windhorst said he is for term limits for legislators that contributes to problems in laws and Finnie is not.

“I am absolutely for term limits,” Finnie said. “We have people that have served way too long, the longer they’re there, the farther removed they are from our normal lives.”

Finnie said she makes sure she reads the facts and doesn’t know if Windhorst does also.

“So, there’s two things here, either he has read [information on Finnie] completely, knows the facts and doesn’t care or he is just letting somebody else run his campaign,” Finnie said.

Finnie also said that’s equally bad.

“I believe our people right here in southern Illinois deserve better and it is sad that our political process has come to [fighting],” Finnie said. “The whole process needs to be overhauled and revamped.”

Finnie said she thinks if people are more concerned about doing the right thing, then they are about their next election, she believes politicians can have good dialogue.

“And what will follow will be some real good changes,” Finnie said.  

A portion of southern Illinois will determine who will represent them in the Illinois House of Representatives.

Staff reporter Claire Cowley can be reached at ccowley@dailyegyptian.com.

To stay up to date with all your southern Illinois news, follow the Daily Egyptian on Facebook and Twitter.

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October 4, 2018 at 06:27PM

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State Rep. Katie Stuart Receives CommUnity Hero Award from Harmony Health Plan

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Southern Illinois CommUnity Health Heroes Honored by Harmony Health Plan

CHICAGO (Oct. 3, 2018) —Harmony Health Plan, Inc., recently honored five local champions in Southern Illinois who are dedicated to helping their community members live better, healthier lives.

The 2018 Harmony CommUnity Health Hero awards, now in their second year, were based on nominations received from throughout the region and were distributed based on five categories including healthcare, government and policy, education, advocacy and community support. The 2018 winners are:

Rep. Katie Stuart (Government and Policy) – Illinois State Rep. Katie Stuart, (D-112), Evansville. Prior to being elected to serve the 112th District in 2017, Stuart was an instructor in the department of mathematics and statistics at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, where, in addition to teaching mathematics courses, she mentored and supervised the next generation of mathematics educators. Her 25-year career in the classroom also placed her in local high schools and middle schools. In the Illinois house, Stuart has been a passionate advocate for improving the lives of working families. She serves on the higher education, elementary and secondary education – licensing, administration and oversight, government transparency, elections and campaign finance, and business incentives for local communities committees. According to her nomination, “Rep. Stuart believes in service and integrity and that to serve our state, she has to serve her community and represent her community’s values.”

Kim Johnson (Healthcare) –Kim Johnson, community education coordinator, Hospice of Southern Illinois, Inc., Belleville. Johnson is passionate about the work she does for Hospice of Southern Illinois and the relationships she has built with many community partners since joining the organization in 2008. She attributes her years with the U.S. Marine Corps for her persistence that she now puts into ensuring members of the community have a healthcare power of attorney and any other resources they need, even if that means making sandwiches for local food pantries. “Kim’s compassion and caring nature gives great comfort to others in time of need. She is strong, compassionate, caring and supporting all rolled up into one,” stated her nominator.

Judith Ann Harris Johnson (Education) – Judith Ann Harris Johnson, board member of Springfield School District 186, Springfield. Harris Johnson has represented the community in the Springfield school district since 2001, including serving as its board president from 2005-2006. She firmly believes educating children is the most important mission of any education system. Her career has stretched over a 40-year span in the Illinois state senate having served as the first female assistant sergeant-at-arms and as a legislative assistant to several state senators. Harris Johnson is a role model who believes in being involved and connected with the community. Her civic memberships include Union Baptist Church, Family Service Center of Sangamon County, and as a current board member-past president and secretary of the Springfield Branch of the NAACP. Her nominator stated, “What I admire the most about Judy is her passion when it comes to advocating for the population she represents. With her work on the board of education, and the various boards and committees she has served on, Judy continues to be been a strong voice for those who are often underrepresented.”

Lynn Hatfield (Advocacy) – Lynn Hatfield, RN, executive director, Living Independently Now Center (LINC), Inc., Swansea. As part of LINC’s management team, Hatfield provides skilled supervisory and leadership support to direct service staff ensuring that LINC’s programs and services meet or exceed the needs of their consumers and grant objectives. During the past 20 years, she has developed a solid network of community and governmental agencies, widening resources and opportunities for people with disabilities. Hatfield also serves on the board of directors of Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living, a statewide association of Centers for Independent Living. Her ultimate goal is to help build a stronger community through education, advocacy and service. “Through LINC, Lynn empowers persons with disabilities to live independently and to promote accessibility and inclusion in all areas of life,” according to her nomination.

Bikers Against Child Abuse (BAC) (Community Support) – Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA), Metro East Illinois Chapter. Founded in 2005, the Metro East Illinois chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse was the first chapter in Illinois. Its founder, who goes by the biker road name of M&M, has worked at all levels of the organization to support its mission of “empowering abused children to not be afraid of the world in which they live.” In addition, M&M has held positions at the chapter and state levels of president, treasurer, secretary, child liaison, international events coordinator, and is currently the international training officer. In this position, she travels all over the world to speak with and help BACA Chapters and their membership learn everything from how to interact with abused children to running a not for profit organization. “Our mission is to help the children and their families learn how powerful they can be. Our presence will be available as long as the child needs us.”

“Harmony Health Plan is proud to recognize these outstanding individuals whose tireless efforts and dedication have helped so many access vital services and resources. Their contributions enrich our local communities and help our members live better, healthier lives,” said Chuck Beeman, Illinois state president for WellCare.

All honorees received a $500 donation from Harmony Health Plan to the charity of their choice.

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October 3, 2018 at 06:56PM

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Yednock outraises Long 20-1 since GOP cutoff

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Republican donors halted campaign donations to state Rep. Jerry Long (R-Streator) after a harassment allegation. Predictably, he’s now losing ground to Democratic challenger Lance Yednock.

Since the Sept. 13 announcement that the House Republican Office would stop financially supporting him, Long’s financial support has slowed to a trickle. As of Tuesday, he has one contribution of $7,500 on file since the HRO cut him off.

Meanwhile, Democrats have pounced on Long’s intra-party woes and poured money into Yednock’s coffers. Yednock has amassed $160,000 in 19 days and was sitting on $100,000 in reserves headed into Election Day.

Long, reached by cellular telephone, issued a brief reply and expressed no surprise with the now-lopsided figures.

“Well, of course, the Republican Party is not donating to my campaign and the Democratic Party is fully funding my opponent,” Long said. “You’ll see the quarterly report when it comes out. Thank you.”

A complete financial picture was not yet in hand because quarterly statements through Sept. 30 are beginning to trickle in. As of this morning, Yednock’s quarterly statement was on file but Long’s wasn’t.

Messages left for Yednock were not returned before press time today.






Tom Collins can be reached at (815) 220-6930 or courtreporter@newstrib.com. Follow him on Twitter @NT_Court.

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October 3, 2018 at 11:07AM

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Letter: Why I’m supporting Dillon Clark

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Tuesday


Oct 2, 2018 at 8:00 PM


It’s evident that Illinois has been going through a crisis. The problems are obvious and far-reaching, including a significant decrease in job opportunities, skyrocketing tuition rates, and state worker exploitation.

None of these problems were helped by Gov. Bruce Rauner, who gave us government gridlock and a budget that took over two years to pass through. With Avery Bourne, the 95th District’s current state representative, we got numerous present votes and apathy. It is clear we need a real change in local representation.

That is why I am voting for Dillon Clark for state representative. Having grown up in Hillsboro, Dillon understands the downstate Illinois experience. With Dillon Clark, you find an empathetic leader. He doesn’t just see these local issues in abstract terms — he understands the real human struggle behind these crises.

Through his prior work on the Montgomery County Board, Dillon has seen firsthand the long-term harm the Great Recession has done to Illinois. He knows that this state has suffered from a staggering loss of jobs, a rising opioid epidemic, a lack of meaningful investment, and inaccessible educational opportunities.

Dillon will work with constituents to create effective solutions to these complex problems. He will listen to and care about what you have to say. Instead of turning away or trivializing these problems, Dillon is willing and ready to roll up his sleeves to address these issues head-on.

That is why I am confident Dillon Clark will make an incredible state representative for the 95th District of Illinois.

Kesenia Marten

Hillsboro

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October 2, 2018 at 08:06PM

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Candidate Profile: Katie Stuart

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Name: Katie Stuart

Office seeking: State Representative — 112th District

Party: Democrat

Age: 47

City of residence: Edwardsville

Campaign website: StuartforRep.com

Why are you running and why should people vote for you? I spent my career as a math teacher helping students in the classroom solve problems and prepare for their futures. As State Representative, I’ve brought those same skills to Springfield to address complex issues and put our state on a better path. I went to Springfield during an unprecedented budget crisis and made a promise that I would not accept a pay check until we passed a balance budget. I held to that promise and worked to pass a responsible budget that protects funding for our state’s most critical services. During my first term, I worked to bring millions of dollars in new funding to our local schools, enhance protections for nursing mothers in the workplace, protected funding for downstate transportation and reduce perks for politicians. Now I’m fighting for fair funding for SIUE, working to create more good-paying jobs and provide tax relief to middle-class families. I am proud of the work that I have accomplished so far, but there is still more to do to restore integrity and common sense to state government and I hope the voters of my district can put their trust and confidence in me, so I can continue fighting for them in Springfield.

Who will you support for Speaker of the House and why? When the time comes, I would evaluate all of the candidates who come forward seeking the nomination for Speaker of the House and vote for the individual who most closely aligns with my stance to protect working families and provide tax relief for the middle class.

What is your position on organized labor and the Janus decision striking down the requirement for public sector workers to pay fair share fees even if they don’t want to? As a strong supporter of organized labor, I believe the Janus case was another attempt by Governor Rauner to disenfranchise working families by slashing wages and eliminating workplace protections. I will continue to stand with organized labor to fight for fair wages, strengthen access to medical care for injured workers and protect the right to collectively bargain.

What is your stance on expanding gambling in Illinois? I am open to exploring gambling expansion that helps to sustain and create good paying jobs. Here in our community, Fairmount Race Track has been struggling to stay alive and that has a devastating impact on our local economy and all of the workers who depend on the track’s success for their own livelihood. I’ve introduced proposals in the past to allow for increased gaming at the track and I’ll continue working with community leaders and interest groups in Springfield to save Fairmount and the jobs that go with it.

Illinois roads are in disrepair. How would you approach this problem? How would you pay for it? First and foremost, it’s important that we pass a responsible state budget on time each year in order to invest our finite resources into infrastructure improvement. The two-year budget crisis halted road projects and forced thousands of layoffs of workers here in the metro-east. I voted to pass a balanced budget, bringing much needed stability to our area and allowing the state to focus on priorities such as road repairs. We need to examine our state spending and prioritize funding for road work, but I do not support a mileage tax or any new plan to tax drivers for every mile they travel. Middle-class families cannot afford to pay more to get to school or to work, in order to fund more dysfunction in Springfield.

What else should be done to address the ongoing opioid epidemic?Over the past two years, I’ve worked closely with local law enforcement and public health officials to learn about the opioid crisis taking place in our communities and look for solutions to help prevent more drug-related deaths. I was proud to pass legislation giving law enforcement the authority to prosecute out of state drug dealers for providing drugs to an individual who overdoses in Illinois. Recently, I filed a package of bills to help protect police officers who come into accidental contact with synthetic opioids and to crack down on prescription monitoring of opioids. I also worked to increase funding in our state budget for drug abuse prevention programs to provide treatment for struggling individuals and help law enforcement combat drug dealers. We still have a lot of work to do and this crisis is not going away soon, but I am committed to doing my part to help save lives from this devastating crisis.

What should Illinois’ income tax system look like? What rates would you want to see? How would those rates affect the state’s revenues? Providing tax relief is a top priority for me.I am, and will continue to be oppose to higher taxes on middle-class families. I voted against Springfield’s income tax increase, because I believe middle-class families are overtaxed enough and they cannot afford to pay more.It’s clear that we need to move to a more fair tax structure that reduces taxes on low and middle-income families while raising taxes on the wealthiest Illinoisans, like Bruce Rauner.

Would you term limit yourself? If so, how many terms? Two years ago, I ran for office for the very first time because I wanted to make a positive impact on my community. As a full time state representative, I’m proud of the work I have done so far, but I know there is still a lot more to do. I believe the most effective way to enforce term limits is through our electoral process and in the race for state representative, the voters of this district made their voices heard two years ago when they voted against Dwight Kay after his three terms in office.

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October 2, 2018 at 06:42PM

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Mason says budget crisis inspired her to challenge Jesiel for District 61 seat

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Democratic state House candidate Joyce Mason said Illinois’ infamous budget impasse — and the financial havoc it caused from 2015 to 2017 — inspired her to run for the General Assembly.

The legislator Mason wants to unseat, Republican Sheri Jesiel of Winthrop Harbor, said she’s seeking re-election because her fellow lawmakers have created a system that requires reform.


Jesiel and Mason will face off for the 61st House District seat in the Nov. 6 election. They discussed their motivations for running and other issues Wednesday in a joint interview at the Daily Herald headquarters.

Illinois went more than two years without a full budget because of a stalemate between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly. The resulting fiscal crisis badly damaged the state’s credit rating and caused financial problems for agencies that receive state funds.

Mason said the crisis nearly forced A Safe Place, a Lake County domestic violence organization for which she serves on the board of directors, to close.

“(It) really hurt services that our community needed,” said Mason, a business consultant and member of the Woodland School District 50 board.

Mason was especially critical of the political standoff that contributed to the budget crisis. “We’ve become so partisan,” she said. “Nobody (was) working together and nobody was voting in our district’s best interests.”


When asked to clarify that comment, Mason said she favored several pieces of legislation Jesiel opposed, including ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and education funding reforms.

In response, Jesiel said she voted against most of the legislation Mason mentioned because she disagreed with the policies or because she supported different bills on the same topics.

Jesiel was appointed to fill a vacant seat in 2014, won election later that year and now is running for her third full term.

She said she’s disappointed that, in her four years in office, there’s been little compromise and little accomplished when it comes to changing the “dysfunctional system” in Springfield.

“We have nibbled around the edges,” Jesiel said. “The state isn’t anywhere near being on a path for fiscal health (or) for stability.”

Jesiel said lawmakers need to create a friendlier climate for businesses by reducing property taxes and eliminating some regulations. She also said worker compensation laws should be changed to reduce the number of people deemed to be catastrophically disabled, among other changes.

The 61st District includes much of northern Lake County.





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September 27, 2018 at 08:58AM

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Follow the Money: Natalie Phelps Finnie

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WSIL — Engaged in one of the most hotly contested house races in the state, Democratic incumbent Natalie Phelps Finnie and Republican Patrick Windhorst are battling it out to represent Illinois’ 118th district. 

Finnie has been running ads since August, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. But she’s also been on the receiving end of more than a million dollars in campaign contributions since she took office last year, mostly from state Democrats and affiliated groups.

The campaign committees for other Illinois Democrats have donated more than $280,000 to Finnie, including more than $55,000 each from Metro East Representative Jay Hoffman and Cook County Representative Robert Martwick. 

House Speaker Mike Madigan has even jumped into the race, donating more than $750 to Finnie. 

The Illinois Democratic Party and Democratic Majority PAC, both controlled by Madigan are also big players in the race, donating close to $100,000 combined.

Windhorst has run ads connecting Finnie to Madigan, who is widely unpopular in southern Illinois.

"Natalie Phelps Finnie votes with Madigan 95 percent of the time," Windhorst says in one of his ads, "I’ll vote with southern Illinois 100 percent of the time."

He says the donations show Finnie will be loyal to Madigan if reelected. "He supports my opponent and it’ll be clear if she’s elected that she will vote for him for Speaker," Windhorst said in a phone interview.

Finnie says she hasn’t decided who she’d support for House Speaker, "Nobody can buy my loyalty. My loyalty is with the people of southern Illinois and nothing less."

Finnie’s biggest contributor — unions — which have donated nearly $500,000 over the past year. 

That includes tens of thousands of dollars from unions representing and electrical workers.

Groups affiliated with the Laborer’s International Union of North America are Finnie’s biggest donors, contributing just under $200,000.

Finnie says she’s proud of the union support because it mean’s she’s fighting for workers, "They’re what build people up, bring them out of poverty, make the middle class strong and I have been very clear and unapologetic about my support for them."

Finnie’s contributions also include more than $60,000 from special interest groups including coal and medical associations, and more than $80,000 from businesses.

"Follow the Money" is a new segment that will run through November’s election.

If there’s a politician whose finances you’d like us to profile, send an email to followthemoney@wsiltv.com.

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September 27, 2018 at 06:59AM

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The push is on to override the veto of House Bill 4163

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Podcasts

The push is on to override the veto of House Bill 4163

Photo: Newsradio 1240 & 93.5 FM WTAX





The push is on to override the veto of House Bill 4163

Posted on by joeym

Joey McLaughlin talks with Illinois State Representative Anna Moeller about the move to override the veto of the wage equity act.





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Tuesday, September 25, 201809/25/2018

Joey McLaughlin talks with Illinois State Representative Anna Moeller about the move to override the veto of the wage equity act.

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Colleges and universities are wrestling with a rise in sexual assault claims, lawsuits brought by those accused of assault and conflicting direction by courts and the federal government on how to handle them.

Monday, September 24, 201809/24/2018

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Lawmakers vow to override governor’s salary history bill veto

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WLS) —

Governor Bruce Rauner is under fire for his veto of a bill that would have tightened up the state’s equal pay law by prohibiting companies from asking someone salary history

Some Democratic lawmakers said that decision will cost the governor a lot of support come Election Day.

The governor vetoed a similar bill last year but this time used an amendatory veto to rewrite the bill.

HB4163 bill is intended to help women narrow the wage gap that pays them, on average in Illinois, 79 cents for every dollar a man earns. The governor’s veto was seen by some as a slap in the face.

"Governor Rauner, in vetoing this bill a second time in two years, has shown who he really is: an out of touch and failed governor who cares very little about the economic welfare of women and families in Illinois," said State Rep. Anna Moeller (D-43rd District), one of the bill’s sponsors.

She and other lawmakers vowed to override the governor’s veto in November.

In his veto message Rauner said, "I am committed to eliminating the gender wage gap and I strongly support wage equality. I noted in my prior veto message that Massachusetts already has established a best-in-the-country approach to the issue of employers inquiring about salary history. I recommended that Illinois model its legal regime on Massachusetts’ model. Unfortunately, legislators again refused to push forward a bipartisan approach that properly balanced the interests of the business community."

"What I can tell you as a small business owner in the hiring process, the only time I’ve ever asked for prior salary is when I’m trying to negotiate paying somebody less," said Alexandra Eidenberg, small business owner.

An attorney who does work for the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, which opposed the bill, said it was too restrictive on businesses in the factors that can be used to set someone’s salary.

"So if you wanted to say a bachelor’s degree is a requirement for this job, since education is not one of the listed items in the bill, that would have to be the only basis for setting the pay. So you couldn’t use seniority or someone’s experience or years and ability you could only use education," said Sara Zorich, partner at Smith Amundsen.

But critics said the governor’s veto makes it easier for employers to get away with discrimination as long as they are working to make progress in eliminating the wage gap.

"There is no defined ‘what is progress,’ there is no defined ‘what is that self evaluation, what does it look like,’ there is none of that defined," said State Sen. Cristina Castro, (D) bill sponsor.

The original bill had plenty of support in the House to override the governor’s veto, but was five vote shy in the Senate.

(Copyright ©2018 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.)

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September 24, 2018 at 05:12PM

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