Written by James M. Odom
Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3, of the U.S. Constitution requires legislative districts to be based upon an actual count of population every 10 years. The Illinois Constitution also requires this.
The procedure for drawing legislative districts prescribed by the Illinois Constitution is for the Legislature to complete a redistricting plan for legislative districts according to the new federal census, in the year following the census.
If the redistricting plan is not complete by June 30th, a commission of 8 members (half to be non-legislators), appointed by July 10th by each of the majority and minority political leadership, “no more than four of whom shall be members of the same political party,” will complete the redistricting plan.… Continue Reading
Tags: census data, Cook County Democrats, Dan McConchie, Illinois Constitution, Illinois Supreme Court, Jim Durkin, legislative districts, Redistricting, remapping, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Constitution
Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | 
June 16, 2021 7:17 AM | 
Comments Off on Illinois Redistricting Plan Is Unconstitutional: It Should Really Be As Easy As 1, 2, 3!
Written by David E. Smith
Republicans may be in the super-minority in the Illinois General Assembly, but that isn’t stopping 20 Republican State House members from forming the “Illinois Taxpayer Freedom Caucus” to focus on structural and ethical reforms our state desperately needs.
Members include State Representatives John Cabello (Machesney Park), Joe Sosnowski (Rockford), Blaine Wilhour (Effingham), Dan Caulkins (Decatur), Brad Halbrook (Shelbyville), Chris Miller (Oakland), Allen Skillicorn (Crystal Lake), Darren Bailey (Xenia), Andrew Chesney (Freeport), David McSweeney (Barrington Hills), Amy Grant (Wheaton), Terri Bryant (Murphysboro), Randy Freese (Quincy), Dave Severin (Benton), Tom Morrison (Palatine), Tom Weber (Lake Villa), Patrick Windhorst (Metropolis), Dan Swanson (Alpha), Charlie Meier (Okawville), and Tony McCombie (Savanna).… Continue Reading
Tags: Allen Skillicorn, Amy Grant, Andrew Chesney, Avery Bourne, Blaine Wilhour, Brad Halbrook, C.D. Davidsmeyer, Charlie Meier, Chris Miller, Dan Brady, Dan Caulkins, Dan Swanson, Darren Bailey, Dave Severin, David McSweeney, Grant Wehrli, Illinois Taxpayer Freedom Caucus, Jim Durkin, Joe Sosnowski, John Cabello, Keith Wheeler, Norine Hammond, Patrick Windhorst, Randy Freese, Ryan Spain, Terri Bryant, Tim Butler, Tom Morrison, Tom Weber, Tony McCombie
Uncategorized | David E. Smith | May 22, 2020 11:00 AM | Comments Off on Taxpayer Freedom Caucus Formed by Illinois GOP House Members
Written by John Biver and David E. Smith
Illinois Republicans never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Whether it is reaching enough Illinoisans with the facts about the dire fiscal state of Illlinois or about the terrible consequences of the misnamed “Equal Rights Amendment,” GOP leaders can’t seem to make use of the many teachable moments that occur weekly in Illinois politics.
One such teachable moment presented itself in a shocking investigative report by the Chicago Tribune on pervasive child sexual abuse within the Chicago Public School system that exposed that “Over a decade, police investigated more than 520 cases of juvenile sexual assault and abuse in Chicago’s public schools.”… Continue Reading
Tags: Bill Brady, Bruce Rauner, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Tribune, Illinois GOP, Jim Durkin, Mike Madigan, sex abuse scand, Tim Mapes, Tim Schneider
Illinois Politics, LGBTQ Agenda, Marriage, Family & Culture | David E. Smith | June 14, 2018 4:00 AM | Comments Off on Illinois Republicans Miss the Target in Target-Rich Environment–Again
Written by John Biver
Usually when a legislator holds the top leadership post in their General Assembly caucus, reelection in their district is all but guaranteed. These are not usual times. The mood of the nation and the mood of Republican and independent voters in Illinois has changed.
State House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Burr Ridge) will be facing a probably-well-funded challenger in next March’s primary.
IFI and IFA readers have seen his name previously on these pages.… Continue Reading
Written by David E. Smith
As you know by now, over the Independence Day weekend, the Illinois General Assembly passed a massive tax hike for families and businesses. When Governor Bruce Rauner vetoed the proposal, the Illinois Senate and House quickly overrode his veto. What does that mean for taxpayers? Well, the personal income tax rate has now increased by 32 percent, surging from 3.75 percent to 4.95 percent, and the corporate rate has jumped from 5.25 percent to 7 percent.… Continue Reading
Tags: Big Government, Bill Mitchell, Bruce Rauner, Illinois Republican Party, Income Tax Increase, Jim Durkin, Michael Madigan, Mike Fortner, Mike Unes, Norine Hammond, Reggie Phillips, Steve Andersson, Tax and Spend, Terri Bryant
Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | July 8, 2017 3:00 PM | Comments Off on Madigan’s Bipartisan Deception vs. Taxpayers
Written by Heather Niemetschek
On June 4, the Illinois House of Representatives passed House Bill 1287, including three amendments that made up the Democrats’ version of a workers’ compensation reform package. But the overarching theme of the debate was whether the amendments could be called “reform” at all.
A careful review of HB 1287 shows the House passed a bill lacking the cost-saving reforms Illinoisans desperately need.
Gov. Bruce Rauner has remained adamant for months that reform of the workers’ compensation laws in Illinois is one of the most important structural changes the General Assembly must address this session before the governor will consider revenue increases.… Continue Reading
Written by IllinoisReview.com
Illinois has a history of passing controversial legislation such as tax hikes during the last few hours before a new General Assembly is sworn in.
There’s two obvious reasons leadership uses this tactic: 1. Those members who were not re-elected are able to make votes for which they won’t be accountable to their districts, and 2. When the calendar moves into January, legislation no longer needs super majorities to pass, they go back to requiring simple majorities for bill passage.
…
Continue Reading
Protesters gather in front of Sullivan’s office late last year
to protest his support of marriage redefinition.
Written by David E. Smith
Despite promises to conservative members of the Illinois House Republican Caucus, Minority Leader Jim Durkin on Monday selected state Rep. Ed Sullivan, Jr. (R-Mundelein) to the Illinois House Republican Leadership Team. Representative Sullivan will take the spot left vacant by JoAnn Osmond who recently retired.
“Ed Sullivan has done a great job as one of our floor leaders and is always eager to help members of our caucus,” said Durkin.… Continue Reading
