State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, and state Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, discuss the recently passed Reproductive Health Act, and the issue of abortion rights.
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June 7, 2019 at 09:03PM
State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, discusses why she voted "yes" on legalization of recreational marijuana in Illinois. She said she had concerns about the expungement process and law enforcement issues.
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June 7, 2019 at 09:03PM
There’s bipartisan agreement among two freshman lawmakers that the way things are run at the Illinois State Capitol can be chaotic.
It’s been almost a week since lawmakers finished their overtime session. Within 48 hours, lawmakers revealed thousands of pages of legislation to increase taxes, spend tens of billions of dollars and bring major changes to the state’s gambling and marijuana laws.
Freshman state Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, said being under the silver dome was a lot like being under a big top.
“It’s like being in a circus, almost,” Caulkins said. “I’m sure there’s a ring leader somewhere, but we don’t see what’s going on.”
Caulkins said it was frustrating to try to determine what issues would be tackled from day to day.
“We don’t know the next act that’s coming into the ring,” Caulkins said. “We don’t know what that’s going to be and it’s frustrating for me, especially coming out of the business world. We try to have a five-year plan.”
Freshman state Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, said he understood the feeling.
“I can see that because I tell people I feel like I’m on ‘Game of Thrones’ running as fast as I can down the castle hallway with the unsullied behind me and the walking dead in front of me knowing that I have to run full force without knowing what I’m going to run into,” West said. “I hear that’s every session.”
But, West said he expects he’ll get a better grasp of how the legislature works.
“When you get one session under your belt, I’m assuming you understand how things roll. You understand that a deadline does not mean a deadline. You understand that anything can come.”
Regardless, West said he’s enjoying his time as a lawmaker.
Several deadlines to move bills out of committee or to move bills from one chamber to another are regularly waived by the legislature throughout the session. Lawmakers even blew through their end-of-session deadline of May 31 to work through June 2 to pass legislation set for the governor’s signature.
With the exception of a few subject matter committee hearings over the summer months, lawmakers aren’t expected back in Springfield until this fall.
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June 7, 2019 at 03:03PM
Springfield
When the state House of Representatives votes on whether to place a constitutional amendment on the November 2020 ballot that would allow for a change to the state’s income tax system, many eyes will be on the chamber’s newest member.
State Rep. Nathan Reitz, D-Steeleville, could be a key vote as Democrats try to garner enough support from the party’s caucus in order to place the proposal to remove the requirement for a flat income tax in the state.
Reitz was appointed earlier this month to replace Rep. Jerry Costello II, D- Smithton, in the 116th District. Costello was appointed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to be the director of Law Enforcement for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
In order for the constitutional amendment to make the November 2020 ballot, it would need 71 votes in favor in the Illinois House. Democrats hold 74 seats in the chamber, but two suburban Democratic state representatives — Jonathan Carroll, of Northbrook, and Sam Yingling of Grayslake — have said they’re not ready to support the graduated income tax plan, according to the Chicago Tribune.
All of the Republicans in the House Chamber have committed to voting “no” when the proposed amendment comes up.
That leaves the governor’s office and other proponents of a progressive income tax with an even narrower path to accomplishing one of the governor’s top priorities: changing the state to a progressive income tax system which would require the state’s top earners pay more in taxes. The governor has said it would help fill a $3.2 billion structural budget deficit.
The state Senate earlier this month voted 40-19 along party lines to place the amendment on the ballot.
Costello, who often prided himself as being the most conservative Democrat in the House, had said he was against a progressive income tax in the state. Replacing Costello in the House opens up the possibility of gaining a vote for the constitutional amendment.
In an interview, Reitz, the former shift supervisor at the Dynegy-owned Baldwin Power Plant, wouldn’t give a definitive answer on whether he would vote differently than Costello on the issue.
“Right now I’m still looking at everything and at the end of the day I have to do what’s best for all the people in my district, and lowering taxes on the middle class is definitely my focus right now and will always be my focus,” Reitz said.
Reitz is the son of Dan Reitz, a former state representative who voted for a state income tax increase in 2011 and then later resigned. Costello was then appointed to the seat.
Nathan Reitz’s appointment this month was followed by a call from the Illinois GOP for the younger Reitz to follow in Costello’s footsteps and oppose a graduated income tax system.
Reitz, who does plan to run for election to the seat in 2020, conceded he has been lobbied on the progressive income tax issue.
“I’ve spoken to several people and told them I have to do what’s best for the people in the 116th district,” Reitz said. “They will be the people that ultimately have the decision to bring me back to Springfield in two years. If the fair tax is something that needs to happen to make that a possibility, we probably need to sit down and look at it.”
Pritzker Press Secretary Jordan Abudayyeh said the governor has been meeting with lawmakers to convince them to support the plan the governor’s office has called the “fair tax.” Under rates that have been proposed, 97 percent of people would pay the same or less in income taxes. People making more than $250,000 would see an increase.
“The governor believes the fair tax is the best way to put the state back on firm fiscal footing while protecting the middle class,” Abudayyeh said. “He’s making the case to lawmakers from every part of the state because he knows lawmakers want to do what’s best for their constituents.”
If Reitz votes “yes” when the constitutional amendment came up, he would probably receive criticism back in his district, said state Sen. Paul Schimpf, R-Waterloo, whose senate district contains Reitz’s House district.
“I would expect that if Rep. Reitz were to vote ‘yes’ on that, he would get a lot of blowback,” Schimpf said. “I don’t know what he’s going to do, I haven’t had a conversation but I do know the governor’s proposal to change from a flat tax rate to a progressive tax rate is extremely unpopular in my district.”
Schimpf said he was lobbied to vote certain ways when Republican Bruce Rauner was governor.
“Sometimes I would agree with him, sometimes I disagreed with him,” Schimpf said. “Ultimately I voted my district, and that’s what we should all be doing, voting what’s best for our district regardless what pressure we get from the second floor.”
State Rep. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, the sponsor of the constitutional amendment in the House, argues constituents in Reitz’s district would be helped by a progressive income tax as it would bring in more money for poorer school districts.
“No doubt his district would benefit,” Martwick said.
Martwick said there would be property tax relief and there would be income tax relief for Reitz’s constituents.
“It’s not massive, but it’s something,” Martwick said.
Still unclear is when representatives may vote on the progressive income tax amendment as proponents work to get the 71 votes needed. Martwick said many members are meeting with him to discuss details of the bills and to make sure they get the best for their constituents.
“We’re close to 71. I’m confident we’ll get to 71,” Martwick said.
As Reitz mulls over a vote on the graduated income tax, he has worked on issues to show his southern Illinois values.
The first bill he co-sponsored dealt with Second Amendment rights. The legislation, among other things works to ensure the World Shooting Complex in Sparta is not impacted by recently passed gun restriction laws, and restructures the validity of concealed carry licenses by stating that licenses may expire five years from the expiration date of the prior license rather than five years from the renewal application date.
“I’m sponsoring a commonsense, pro-gun bill to defend Southern Illinois from the one-dimensional Chicago assault on legal gun ownership,” Reitz said.
On Wednesday, Reitz presented his first bill to the full House chamber, which passed unanimously.
The legislation, if it becomes law, would require the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Board of Higher Education to create the Agricultural Education Pre-Service Teacher Internship Program and award grants to pre-service teaching students who are involved in the program.
“The goal of my first bill is to expand access to agricultural education by investing in those with an interest in teaching it,” Reitz said. “I am committed to working with the education advocates, the agriculture community, as well as other stakeholders that share Southern Illinois’ most core values.”
Joseph Bustos is the state affairs and politics reporter for the Belleville News-Democrat, where he strives to hold elected officials accountable and provide context to decisions they make. He has won multiple awards from the Illinois Press Association for coverage of sales tax referendums.
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May 24, 2019 at 10:39AM
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
ELGIN – After the horrific workplace shooting in nearby Aurora, State Rep. Anna Moeller and local officials are coming together for a public conversation to address these serious problems.
Moeller, D-Elgin, will join a panel of distinguished law enforcement and elected officials for the discussion titled "Responding to Aurora: A Conversation with Illinois Leaders," from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, at First Presbyterian Church (240 Standish Street in Elgin). The event will feature a moderated panel discussion followed by Q&A and is free to the public.
A disgruntled worker opened fire at the Henry Platt Company office in Aurora on Feb. 15, killing himself and five others and injuring six others.
Area legislators and law enforcement will use this discussion to update the public on what they are doing to address the problems that led to the shooting. Other panelists are:
· State Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison
· Illinois State Police Assistant Director David Byrd
· Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain
· Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon
· Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman
· Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley
"The Aurora shooting is one of many tragedies that we must work harder to end," Moeller said. "I look forward to updating the public on our efforts in Springfield to reduce gun violence and to discuss what more we can do with Rep. Willis and other area leaders."
Questions? Contact Rep. Moeller’s district office at 847-841-7130 or staterepmoeller@gmail.com.
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May 23, 2019 at 09:15AM
CARBONDALE — The governing board of Southern Illinois University could soon become one of the most student-dominated in the country, as a long-debated issue nears resolution.
Legislation introduced by state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, to give votes to both student members on the SIU Board of Trustees — one from the Carbondale campus, one from SIU Edwardsville — is on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk after clearing the House and Senate, Stuart announced Monday.
Under current law, the Illinois governor chooses one student representative to be the voting member each year, weighing in on many of the highest-level decisions at the university, from multimillion-dollar purchases and contracts to tuition hikes. The other student holds an advisory seat on the board.
Typically, the vote alternates between the two campuses each year, but the governor may use his or her authority to deny voting power to both student trustees, or to keep the vote at the same campus for consecutive years.
Giving both students a say, Stuart said in a news release, will ensure equal representation for both campuses and eliminate the the governor’s ability to meddle in student voting privileges to influence the board.
If approved, the measure will also make the student voice more than twice as influential at SIU as at most major Midwestern university systems, with students holding two out of nine board votes.
At University of Illinois, by comparison, there is one voting student out of 11 trustees, though two other students hold advisory seats on the board.
At the University of Missouri, there is one voting student out of 10 on its board of curators.
At Indiana University, there is one voting student out of nine. At the University of Tennessee, one out of 11. At the University of Kentucky, one out of 16.
“This legislation is important for establishing equity between the SIU institutions,” Stuart said, “Both the Edwardsville campus and the Carbondale campus deserve the opportunity for their student interests to be equally represented each year.”
From 2018 to 2019, the vote rested with SIUC student trustee Brione Lockett, who will relinquish it this summer.
“I love this,” Lockett said of the legislation. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t say it’s cool to have another year of a vote, but I think this makes nothing but sense. Right now you’re asking students to read all these documents and show up to meetings and not get a vote. The vote is the reward for that hard work.”
J. Phil Gilbert, chairman of the SIU board, has also endorsed the bill, HB 2239, as has SIU Interim President J. Kevin Dorsey.
“We’re looking forward to the governor signing this bill,” Dorsey said. “This gives both student trustees an equal place on the board and provides them with the full ability to represent their peers at their respective campuses.”
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However, former Gov. Bruce Rauner saw things differently.
In August of 2015, he vetoed a nearly identical piece of legislation, saying increasing students’ voting power would dilute “the insight gained from the other trustees’ years of professional experience.”
“Having two student voting members is not necessary or advisable,” read a statement explaining his decision. “The Board of Trustees must consider difficult budgetary issues, academic requirements, and student conduct and disciplinary issues. The long-term views of professionals must be given appropriate weight.”
Rauner did not award a vote to either student representative during the 2014-2015 school year, board records show.
For his part, Lockett said student trustees are often as prepared as their fellow trustees, and are capable of taking a “system approach” without bias toward their home campuses.
Each month, Lockett estimated, he spends between one and two weeks of his working hours on board matters: reviewing documents, doing research and holding meetings.
“At times has it affected my schoolwork? Oh definitely,” he said. “But that’s how much I cared about it.”
Since he took office last July, Lockett has hosted a series of “Campus Conversations,” providing a rare opportunity for students to speak directly with high-level university administrators.
Recently, Lockett and SIUE student trustee Molly Smith hosted one of Lockett’s signature conversations at Edwardsville, taking questions on controversial university issues like the ongoing fair funding allocation study.
“That was, ‘Let’s show we’re really about the system by the students getting together and sharing our perspective,’” Lockett said.
Lockett also acknowledged the change would place added responsibility on students to elect dedicated peer leaders.
“Often, these elections can be a popularity contest,” Lockett said. “Will there be someone who comes after me that feels as strongly as I do and is as open as I am? Probably. We’ll have to see.”
The Pritzker administration declined to take a public position on HB 2239, when asked Thursday.
“The administration is currently reviewing the bill,” confirmed Pritzker spokesperson Jordan Abudayyeh.
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May 22, 2019 at 07:41AM
SPRINGFIELD — To bring attention to the recent epidemic of suicide among veterans, state Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, is sponsoring a resolution that supports veterans who may be facing mental illness. It also requests the state create a memorial for veterans who have been lost due to suicide.
“As the son of a United States Marine, I know that the physical and mental scars suffered abroad by our bravest citizens are often brought back home and can last forever,” Yednock said.
“That’s why we need to make it clear to our veterans that we support them in many ways, not just with words, but with action. As a state, we should both honor our fallen heroes and do everything we can to support future and current veterans who may face mental illness by providing the services and support that they deserve.”
Many veterans returning from active duty experience physical and psychological ailments. In 2016, the suicide rate for veterans was 1.5 times greater than non-veterans and accounted for 14 percent of all adult suicide deaths in the U.S, even though only 8 percent of the population has served in the military. In 2016, 162 veterans died by suicide in Illinois.
House Resolution 168 states support for veterans currently struggling with mental illness and suicidal thoughts and pays tribute to veterans who have lost their lives to suicide. HR 168 encourages the state of Illinois to create a memorial for veterans who have died of suicide to be included at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, where other war memorials commemorate Illinois’ veterans.
“It’s important to establish a memorial to honor our veterans who have been lost to suicide, because they are still very much casualties of war,” Yednock said.
“By having a physical memorial erected here in Illinois, we not only pay tribute to them, but future generations can learn about one of the many real world consequences of military intervention abroad. As state representative, I am committed to supporting our veterans and ensuring that they have available access to the quality services and care that they need.”
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May 3, 2019 at 06:55AM
Under state Rep. Katie Stuart’s, D-Edwardsville, new legislation, both student trustees would have a vote on the SIU Board of Trustees. The bill has passed through the Illinois House and has already experienced its first reading in the Senate.
HB2239 is an amendment to the Southern Illinois University Management Act; it specifically changing the mentions of student trustees voting in sections two, four and five. Stuart filed the bill on Feb. 7.
Board of Trustees Chair Phil Gilbert is in support of the bill, as he said giving both student trustees a vote is the fair thing to do.
“I think that it doesn’t seem fair to have one campus’ student trustee have a vote and the other student trustee not [have] a vote, so I think in terms of fairness, it would be fair to have both student trustees have a [vote],” Gilbert said.
SIU Carbondale student trustee Brione Lockett said he discussed HB2239 with former trustee and board vice chair Shirley Portwood, and they both agreed the changes make sense on a fundamental level. The reason behind this being that the non-voting student trustee is still subject to the same responsibilities as the voting student trustee.
“[Portwood] also stated that it just makes sense,” Lockett said. “You’re asking people to read all this stuff and spend all this time traveling to all these places and learn all these things and not get a vote. That didn’t make sense, and I couldn’t agree more.”
However simple the rationale may seem, SIUE student trustee Molly Smith said this is not the first time a bill of this sort has been proposed, and it may encounter some of the same roadblocks as before. Smith said if the SIU system changes its board, other systems may feel pressure to follow suit.
As it stands now, the governor decides which student trustee has a vote. In the most recent years, the vote has alternated from year to year, but this is not always the case.
“In the past, the governor who makes the designation has alternated between the two campuses, so even if this bill doesn’t pass, according to tradition — and of course, it’s still up to the governor — SIU Edwardsville student trustee would have the vote during the next year because the Carbondale student trustee had the vote last year,” Gilbert said.
Lockett holds the student trustee vote on the board. While Smith does not have official voting power, she said she and Lockett would communicate about issues being brought before the board, and Lockett would especially consider her input with matters that would largely impact SIUE students.
However, Smith recognizes this may not always be the dynamic between future student trustees and believes the bill would be even more beneficial in those circumstances.
“We have a really good relationship, but for future students, maybe both votes would be really beneficial,” Smith said.
Lockett said if the new legislation does not pass before the next student trustee terms begin July 1, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker has not yet decided which student trustee has the vote, the voting power would stay with Lockett. However, Lockett doubts this will be a concern as he’s confident the bill will pass.
“If the bill doesn’t go through, it stays with the school that had the vote in years prior. But I doubt — and nothing’s for sure — but I’m 99 percent certain that the bill that would allow both students to vote would pass,” Lockett said.
Lockett said he feels the bill has already overcome the largest hurdle: obtaining House approval. Due to Stuart being a Democrat from the Metro East, an area that supported Pritzker during the elections, he feels that the legislators are more likely to sway in the bill’s favor.
“It passed the House, and in the state of Illinois, the House is where it’s the most difficult to get anything to pass — I feel,” Lockett said. “In recent years, it has been very difficult. I don’t know if that’s because there’s been a different governor and then a majority democratic legislators, but now it’s dominant democratic legislators and the Democratic governor.”
To stay updated on HB2239’s progress, visit the Illinois General Assembly Website.
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April 23, 2019 at 05:29PM
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SPRINGFIELD — We send our state representatives and senators to the Capitol to work on difficult issues. Rep. Deb Conroy is proving that progress can be made to help people.
Her legislation to help prevent tragic stories like that of Mikayla King, burned accidently from bath water where a hot water heater did not have a safety valve, has moved through the Illinois House. Read more here about Mikayla’s story.
And her tireless work with advocates like Wendy Nawara to defeat a rare autoimmune disorder known as PANDAS is also getting attention in Springfield. Read more about Wendy’s story on improving Charlie’s Law here.
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April 19, 2019 at 09:32AM
Working for Illinois Caucus 