It’s just a bill
Monday, Jun 5, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
With a desire to start a serious discussion about the many large issues facing the State of Illinois, State Representative Tim Butler (R-Springfield) has introduced House Joint Resolution 68 which would allow the question of calling a state Constitutional Convention to be on the 2018 Illinois General Election ballot.
“We have now gone over 700 days without a real budget in our State, and last week we once again ignored our mandated deadline to get something done for the people of Illinois,” Rep. Butler said. “I have heard so many of my colleagues, as well as citizens around the State, say that we need changes to our Constitution to truly move forward, and that is the main reason why I have introduced this call for an Illinois Constitutional Convention.
“Next year will represent a half century since Illinois’ last Constitutional Convention was called and our State faces challenges today not envisioned by convention delegates 50 years ago. I believe it is time the citizens of our State once again have the ability to provide their say on if they want to change our Constitution through a comprehensive convention.
“Since 2008, the last time the Constitutional Convention question was on the ballot, legislators have introduced over 400 resolutions to amend the Constitution. These proposed amendments run the political gamut. Legislators elected on behalf of the people, spanning the spectrum of ideology, believe our Constitution needs changes. Whether it is a graduated income tax or pension reform, term limits or drawing legislative districts, home rule or school funding, I believe a Convention is the best way to hash out these concerns.
“2018 is the bicentennial of Illinois statehood. Over our state’s history, six Constitutional Conventions have been called, including on our 50th, 100th, and 150th anniversaries of statehood. As we put 200 years of statehood behind us, I can think of no better time to examine our state’s governing document and enable a discussion about the constitutional solutions we need for moving this state forward into our third century,” Rep. Butler said.
Butler’s legislation is House Joint Resolution 68 (in honor of 1968 being the last time a Constitutional Convention was called). According to the Illinois Constitution, and as stated in HJR 68: “Whenever three-fifths of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly so direct, the question of whether a Constitutional Convention should be called shall be submitted to the electors at the general election next occurring at least six months after such legislative direction”. Butler’s resolution, if approved, calls for that proposition to be placed on the ballot.
* The Daily Herald dusts off its trusty suburban dog whistle…
The Illinois Senate moved on that monumental question this session, but with such a transparently cynical move to turn it into an unjustified windfall for Chicago that it is sure to be vetoed by Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Chicago Democrats used the issue as a means to maneuver a bailout of the mismanaged Chicago Public Schools system that for years has wildly overspent while overpromising its powerful unions.
Unfortunately, many Democratic legislators from the suburbs shamefully went along.
* Media advisory…
Lawmakers and members of the Just Democracy Illinois coalition of civic and voting rights groups will gather on Tuesday for a press conference to celebrate the passage of Senate Bill 1933 to create automatic voter registration (AVR) in Illinois. Gov. Rauner has pledged to sign the bill in the coming weeks.
SB1933 reforms current registration laws so that whenever an eligible Illinois resident applies for, updates or renews a driver’s license or state ID, he or she will be automatically registered to vote or have their registration updated, unless they opt out. It also creates a similar program for other state agencies, such as the Department of Human Services and the Department of Natural Resources.
The achievement of bipartisan agreement on legislation dealing with elections is remarkable in the midst of partisan tension in Springfield. The legislation passed the Senate on May 5 with a 48-0 vote, with 22 Republicans and 26 Democrats voting in favor. In the House, the AVR bill was cosponsored by members of both parties, and passed 115-0, with 66 Democrats and 49 Republicans voting in favor. Representative Mike Fortner (R-West Chicago) was a chief co-sponsor and sponsored the final amendment to the bill.
Just Democracy Illinois is led by a steering committee that includes Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago, CHANGE Illinois, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, Chicago Votes, Common Cause Illinois, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and Illinois PIRG.
- Newsclown - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 12:35 pm:
A Convention is what’s needed to fix the tax formulas. It opens the door however to massive disruption of the status quo, so legislators are pretty scared to go along in case things don’t go their way.
- Last Bull Moose - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 12:49 pm:
No Constitution can force legislators to show courage, put the State above their personal interests, and fulfill their constitutional duties.
Our current balance sheet problems are the result of years of underfunding spending/overspending cash revenue. The current cash flow crisis is the result of the Governor failing to submit a budget balanced by revenue increases and the legislators failing to pass a budget balanced by revenue increases on their own.
Wisdom can be embodied in a Constitution but courage has to be found in individuals.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 12:51 pm:
They can’t pass basic legislation, and you think a convention will resolve anything???
a convention for constitutional amendments???
LOLOLOL@that
- thechampaignlife - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 12:51 pm:
Yes, yes, yes to a Con Con!
- Cubs in '16 - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 12:55 pm:
Great comment LBM!
- Jocko - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 12:56 pm:
==I have heard so many of my colleagues, as well as citizens around the State, say that we need changes to our Constitution to truly move forward.==
Was one of them a teary-eyed elderly woman who urged you to stay the course?
- Steward As Well.... - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 12:59 pm:
A Constitutional Convention while tricky would be hilarious to watch. Every crack pot and their particular corresponding idea gets to be heard. A circus like no other front and center.
The tricky (dangerous) part is of course with changes. Say pensions….
- AnonymousOne - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 1:03 pm:
Be careful in what you wish for pensions. Lets’ throw in graduated income tax and taxing retirement, for instance. Still happy?
- tberry - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 1:06 pm:
Will AVR automatically register illegal aliens unless they opt out?
- Anonymous - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 1:08 pm:
50 years ago there was a far different political atmosphere that viewed compromise as a given, not a weakness or capitulation. Corruption existed, but it wasn’t so rampant or flagrant that by pernicious erosion it has become accepted as the ‘Illinois Way’. Open a ConCon Pandora’s box at your peril.
Do you really think there are enough courageous and strong characters in evidence that truth and fairness will out?
- Last Bull Moose - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 1:08 pm:
Thanks Cubs in ‘16.
- Ahoy! - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 1:15 pm:
I think our Constitution could use a review, but not sure I would want it done with the current legislative map (I believe the Convention would be based on legislative districts). Draw some fair and independent maps and I would be for this, having a constitutional convention with a rigged system is not a good idea. Besides, we’d just get a bunch of the legislators who can’t even pass a budget on the convention.
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 1:20 pm:
Before everyone goes all goo-goo with their favorite progressive idea, consider this reality: How much do you think Bruce Rauner would spend to try to control the slate of delegates to a constitutional convention?
Last time we tried this, more than 500 candidates filed and 495 stayed on the primary ballot. Primary turnout was 18 percent. Only 27 percent turned out in November to actually pick the delegates who gave us this constitution.
Required reading:
http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lru/7-803.pdf
- Deadbeat Conservative - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 1:38 pm:
=No Constitution can force legislators to show courage,…=
Who are they afraid of ? Illinois Voters who got us into this mess?
- DuPage Bard - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 1:39 pm:
A Convention will only be good for the insiders. It’s a great campaign idea for Butler and some others. Rauner should poll it and see how it does. That can be part of his getting rid of the Duct tape solutions.
Property tax freeze, term limits, fixing our broken pension system can all be handled if you support me and my Constitutional Convention.
- Robert the 1st - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 2:06 pm:
=Lets’ throw in graduated income tax and taxing retirement, for instance. Still happy?=
Yes.
- Robert the 1st - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 2:07 pm:
Maybe we can add a personal property tax too.
- RNUG - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 2:22 pm:
No need to go that far … although t would be interesting, just like the last one. But remember, the last one did slip in some special interest stuff … like the Pension Clause.
I’d just like to point out that the GA can propose any constitutional amendment they want to and send it to the voters without having to call a Constitutional Convention. And any constitutional amendment doesn’t have to be signed by the Governor; it just has to be ratified by the voters.
- The Dude Abides - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 2:55 pm:
I don’t see Butler proposing this without the blessing of his boss and we all know who that is.
Before some of you get too excited about changing the pension clause, remember that it won’t let the state off the hook for it’s current contractual obligations to it’s retirees and workers.
- titan - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 3:04 pm:
Maybe we could throw in something requiring submission and passage of a balanced budget each year. s/
- Anonymous - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 3:26 pm:
Let’s have a Con-Con completely controlled by Dems.
That will really improve the financial situation in Illinois.
- Shake - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 3:29 pm:
Will Some Democrat Run Against Tim Butler? They Would Win..
- Nick - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 3:41 pm:
If a con con can’t change the pension for current employees and current retirees. What could it do that a new pension option could do. Like implementing tier 3 for new employees
A con con isn’t needed for that
- Keyrock - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 4:00 pm:
Anon 1:08. Corruption wasn’t as flagrant 50 years ago? Have you ever read “Boss,” young whippersnapper? Heard of the Richard J. Daley machine? Tom Keane? Otto Kerner? Paul Powell?
- thechampaignlife - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 4:05 pm:
===No Constitution can force legislators to show courage===
No, but it is the rudder that steers the ship. If the legislators will not row together, throw up the sails and take them out of the equation. In other words, fix the system that requires the legislator to have to show courage in as many instances.
===we’d just get a bunch of the legislators…on the convention===
The enabling act could prohibit legislators from serving as delegates.
===How much do you think Bruce Rauner would spend===
How is that any different from how much he is spending on legislative races? Or how much the wealthy could have spent back in ‘68?
===Only 27 percent turned out===
A separate ballot is required but not necessarily a separate date. We could hand out two ballots at the November 2018 election to improve turnout.
Some ideas I would like to have considered at a con con:
1. Unicameral (or bicameral with sortition for the House)
2. Increase personal exemption on income taxes (and include retirement income) to the poverty threshold
3. Limit contracts to 20 years (i.e. no 99 year lotto or parking leases)
4. Require >50% of K-12 funding to come from the state and phase out wealthy districts
5. Set the tax rates actuarially based on the prior year expenses and any shortfall from prior year rate
6. Require 72 hours (or supermajority override) to view a bill, including amendments, before passage
7. Set the number of legislators at 1 for every 60k people
8. Allow counties to initiate local government consolidation or elimination referendums
9. An appointed Supreme Court on staggered terms
10. Ballot access rights: top 3 candidates with valid signatures, plus anyone with signatures from >5% of voters
11. Constitutional initiatives allowed for any section
12. Eliminate Lt Gov and merge Treasurer and Comptroller
13. 6 year legislative term, limited to 3 terms
14. Legislative leader limited to 6 years
15. Eliminate the ability to enter into contracts without the appropriation to pay for it
16. Follow ERISA/PBGC standards for required pension contributions, paid for out of employing agency or unit of government’s budget
17. If >80% of prior year’s appropriations are not appropriated by the start of the next fiscal year, appropriate the prior year’s amount minus 10%
18. Revenue from law enforcement goes to state for public safety
19. Replace the sales tax with a VAT tax on all goods and services
20. Eliminate tax exemptions for charities
21. Limit pension enhancements to only apply to new hires
22. Limit pensions to bona fide employees working >5 years >50% time paid directly by state
23. Limit annual pension payment to
- Anonymous - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 4:08 pm:
What Nick said - Pensions have already been changed with tier 2. According to RNUG’S analysis, (please correct if I am wrong), a constitional amendment could only be applied to new employees going forward based on the ISC wording. So it would be moot point as far as pensions are concerned. Just a political bragging rights for the less informed public.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 4:16 pm:
- thechampaignlife - @ 4:05pm
#4 is already stated to be the case, but the courts disagreed. Do whatever language used this time needs to be a lot tighter.
#12 we should keep Comptroller and Treasurer seperate
#22 that is mostly weaker that the current laws except for some special deals cuts for a few legislators and for some county board (IMRF) members, and those loopholes have been mostly closed.
- RNUG - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 4:17 pm:
Oops … 4:16pm was I
- Keyrock - Monday, Jun 5, 17 @ 5:09 pm:
And while we’re considering needed constitutional changes (that won’t happen), please don’t forget merit selection of judges from Cook County.