VETO Session This Week
The Democrat leadership has already canceled Thursday’s session. That means we will only be working two days this week. There is no information about any legislation that will be discussed durning Veto session.
After winning his second term, Governor JB Pritzker declared that he is “open to working with Republicans on good, rational, solid ideas for the future of the state – and yeah, compromise is a good thing.”
What “compromise” means to him remains to be seen, but he vowed that his administration will be “laser-focused” on building an “Illinois that works for everyone”.
He needs to be consistently measured against that commitment.
It Ain’t Over Yet
Amendment 1 is one of the most consequential votes Illinoisans took this election. If passed, it will amend the state’s constitution to give Illinois’ government unions the strongest negotiating powers in the country. To pass, the amendment must be approved by 60 percent of those voting on the measure or by 50 percent of those voting in the election. The latest vote counts show the amendment falling short of the 60 percent threshold and it’s still unclear whether or not it will exceed the 50 percent threshold.
SAFE-T Act Still On The Chopping Block
When lawmakers return to Springfield this week, the controversial SAFE-T Act will be getting plenty of attention. It has been criticized by both parties and dozens of state’s attorneys around Illinois. Among their concerns with the bill are the overlapping rules, unclear phrasing, electronic monitoring of those awaiting trial and the elimination of the cash bail system.
Cook County provides a clue to just how bad things will be if the SAFE-T Act isn’t rejected.
An Update on the SAFE-T Act Lawsuits
From the Caucus Blog
SAFE-T Act lawsuits consolidated. More than one-half of the state’s attorneys of Illinois have filed lawsuits against the Democrats’ SAFE-T Act. These lawsuits, to which prosecutors representing fifty-eight of the 102 counties have signed their names, contain evidence showing that the controversial new Act will force the courts to release thousands of arrested persons. These criminals will be out on the street while awaiting trial, a period that for many criminal justice processes takes significantly longer than 12 months. The SAFE-T Act is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2023. Warning Illinois of the consequences of this new law, a lead prosecutor says “real tragedy” will result.
The states’ attorneys’ lawsuits against the SAFE-T Act have been consolidated into a single case, which will soon be heard in Kankakee County circuit court. The constitutional questions raised by this Act may well be appealed to a higher court as this question moves toward a final resolution. The Illinois Supreme Court has taken note of the lawsuits and approved the consolidation. In the consolidated lawsuit, the plaintiffs point out that the Constitution of Illinois grants independent powers to its courts of law to decide how to treat people who are awaiting trial; however, the language of the SAFE-T Act contains language that purport to take these powers away. The majority of Illinois’ state’s attorneys believe the SAFE-T Act is not constitutional.
What Makes Farmland Valuable?
While the price of farmland has shot up 35% in pockets of the Midwest in the last couple of years, factors determining value are pretty consistent. Income potential and location are still key in the monetary value of farmland. Overall, the percentage of tillable land and income potential are key factors in determining value.
We Are Here To Serve You!
As a State Representative, my office is available to assist you with any issues you may have when interacting with a state agency. Whether you need help with unemployment claims, getting a FOID card, renewing your drivers license or resolving a tax problem, we are here to serve you.
Oftentimes, some of the best legislation comes from people who see where the law is unworkable or simply unfair.
If you have ideas on how the state of Illinois could improve, let’s sit down and discuss if a legislative fix is needed.
Please call our office at 217.876.1968 to get help or schedule an appointment to see me. The office is located at 715 W Imboden Dr, Decatur.
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