* Or, in this case, a local resolution. From the Effingham Daily News…
The Effingham County Board is considering a resolution opposing recent proposals in the state legislature for gun control measures.
The resolution started as a suggestion by local firearms owners and the businesses that cater to them, said Effingham County Board member David Campbell. He modeled the legislation on a similar resolution passed by the Iroquois County Board on March 13.
Campbell consulted with Effingham County State’s Attorney Bryan Kibler, who added a “sanctuary county” section, which attracted the most attention during legislative committee meeting on Monday.
Kibler explained the goal is to protect those people affected by future state legislation by prohibiting the county from enforcing “unconstitutional actions.” He drew a parallel with actions in other fields.
“If you can be a sanctuary county for undocumented immigrants, why can’t you be one for firearms?” Kibler said.
He explained that the section, like the rest of the resolution, is largely symbolic.
“I was in a really surly mood when they sent that to me,” said Kibler.
* Jon Alexander…
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza has Gov. Bruce Rauner over a barrel — again.
The Republican governor is in a tough political spot this time because Mendoza, a Democrat, has targeted a state budgeting practice that existed long before Rauner took office. He’s just continued it.
And, in an already tough election year, Rauner has few good options.
Mendoza’s Truth in Hiring Act would ban “offshoring,” a practice where executive staff salaries are stashed within state agency budgets, usually to keep the executive’s office budget — in this case the Governor’s Office — low, at least on paper.
Here’s the short and dirty: Mendoza accuses Rauner of playing a shell game.
* Press release…
A bill that would add the Dutch Reach method to Illinois’ Rules of the Road manual and add bike safety questions to the state driver’s license exam passed out of committee Tuesday.
The Dutch Reach method encourages drivers and passengers to use their far hand and reach across their body to open car doors after parallel parking, forcing people to look back for approaching cyclists and other traffic before exiting the car. Research shows it makes drivers and passengers more aware of approaching cyclists, helping prevent crashes and save lives.
“With more people riding bikes in communities across Illinois, these updates to the state’s road manual and driver’s license exam are sorely needed,” said State Rep. Theresa Mah, the bill’s lead sponsor. “The changes will help people driving become more aware of bicyclists and teach them how to travel and exit their cars safely.”
The bill (House Bill 5143) now advances to the full House. It’s co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of 20 legislators.
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) data shows dooring crashes are on the rise across the state, especially in urban areas. In 2015, there were more than 300 reported dooring crashes in Chicago alone – a 50 percent increase over the previous year.
“Getting doored is never too far from the mind of people riding bikes in the Chicago region,” said Ron Burke, Executive Director of the Active Transportation Alliance. “This bill is a good step towards reforming state policy to better reflect the needs and safety of all road users.”
For months, Rep. Mah and advocates have been working collaboratively with the Secretary of State on revamping the road manual and exam’s bicycle safety content for drivers and bike riders, including adding the Dutch Reach.
* Other stuff…
* Can Illinois Restore Net Neutrality Protections?: Khadine Bennett, associate legislative director for the ACLU of Illinois, says states are not allowed to regulate the Internet, which is a task reserved for the FCC. States, however, are allowed to set rules for anyone who does business within. The proposal would not force Internet service providers to maintain net neutrality, she said. If a service provider holds a contract with the state, they would fall under a transparency disclosure.
* House panel OKs bill to prevent health insurance modifications
* Illinois uses our taxes to tax the sales tax taxers. How taxing: There was a bill introduced in February to repeal the 2 percent fee-tax. House Bill 5106 is in committee and has no co-sponsors.
* Southern Illinois towns are losing money to state fee placed on local sales taxes
* Legislation supports creation of broadband advisory council
- PJ - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 2:07 pm:
Not what I would have guessed the “dutch reach” was
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 2:09 pm:
–Kibler explained the goal is to protect those people affected by future state legislation by prohibiting the county from enforcing “unconstitutional actions.” –
Such as?
Is it okay if the Supreme Court is still the final word on interpreting the Constitution? Or do you guys have your own ideas?
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 2:27 pm:
Effingham County Board. Keep up the good work.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 2:30 pm:
Dutch Reach?
I’d never heard that term before but it sounds like a good idea. Had you asked me to define that term before today, my answer would have gotten me banned for life.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 2:33 pm:
Mendoza mauls Rauner again. Keep it up!
- RNUG - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 2:34 pm:
Rauner can’t win that issue with Mendoza. Might as well get on board, claim it is a good government / transparency move, and try to spin it as a victory.
- Blue dog dem - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 2:36 pm:
Rauner ought to get behind this sanctuary county thing. He has nothing to lose. And dont say the suburban independent woman thing. We already know where they get their voting marching orders.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 2:38 pm:
“If you can be a sanctuary county for undocumented immigrants, why can’t you be one for firearms?”
Guns are now people?
- PJ - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 2:40 pm:
“the goal is to protect those people affected by future state legislation by prohibiting the county from enforcing “unconstitutional actions.”
Could have just gone with the more direct “I don’t understand how laws, government or American democracy work”.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 2:42 pm:
To the Post,
Mendoza, like most who have been around longer that 20 minutes, knows that hiding the bodies is something both parties have done.
It’s grossly unfair to pick on Rauner…
…
…
“No more business as usual”… “shake up Springfield”… “career politicians”… “status quo”…,
See, you run a whole campaign about everyone being corrupt, including 1/3 of your own alleged party being corrupt… and you wholly adopt the “corrupt practices” you vilify… you deserve all Mendoza dishes out.
To the plan… I’d suggest this…
You can bury bodies in other agencies… just there needs to be a clarified mark or admission IN the agency that the employee is indeed buried there… and that agency is paying that employee… openly… and it counts AGAINST… the governor’s head count.
But it must be recognized as a burying.
Let’s also not forget… for a second…
Rauner has yet to sign a full fiscal year budget funding his agencies…
Not once.
- whetstone - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 2:50 pm:
Dutch reach is great. I’ve been doored twice and almost everyone I know who bikes a lot has been doored.
Also glad to see bike-safety questions on the test. I think a lot of the tension is that a lot of drivers (and cyclists) aren’t that clear on the laws–not that they don’t know them necessarily but they’re not top of mind–so they don’t know what to expect from the other.
- Union Dues - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 3:01 pm:
Isnt “dutch reach” what Rauner does when he fabricating his heritage.
- Dee Lay - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 3:28 pm:
Dutch Reach is one of those things that will make a drivers ed class (or capfax readers) snicker, but it’s a very smart idea that will have no budget impact but will keep the general public safer.
I’m sure someone will have a problem with it.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 3:48 pm:
==“If you can be a sanctuary county for undocumented immigrants, why can’t you be one for firearms?”==
That’s…….actually not a bad question, at least to a layman like me. Even though I’m a dem, I think it sets up a bad precedent to say one county can refrain from enforcement of one federally mandated enforcement requirement, but a different county cannot refrain from enforcement of one state mandated enforcement requirement. Whether the action in question has to do with people or guns, unless a court issues a ruling, I don’t see a whole lot of difference for Cook to say “we aren’t enforcing this part of federal immigration law” and Effingham saying “we aren’t enforcing this part of state gun law”.
Then again not an attorney, so I’m most likely completely wrong.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 3:52 pm:
===I don’t see a whole lot of difference for Cook to say “we aren’t enforcing this part of federal immigration law”===
The state law in question is the direct result of a federal court ruling.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 4:12 pm:
==The state law in question is the direct result of a federal court ruling==
True. So are Cook and other counties/states ok on the sanctuary laws until a final court ruling on that issue? I know DOJ has threatened to withhold funds, but I’m unaware of any court orders demanding they immediately comply.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 5:02 pm:
we could do a whole thread asking people to identify for whom the name “Dutch Reach” is a pseudonym.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 5:57 pm:
–I know DOJ has threatened to withhold funds, but I’m unaware of any court orders demanding they immediately comply.–
Comply with what? Holding people in jail without a warrant?
- Huh? - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 7:37 pm:
Dutch reach? Good luck enforcing that law. Making someone open a left driver door with right hand is not only dumb, awkward, but asinine.
- McLincoln - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 8:33 pm:
“He has nothing to lose.”
Have you seen his record with the courts?
- blue dog dem - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 8:49 pm:
Politically speaking.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Apr 10, 18 @ 11:33 pm:
I’m not a legal wizard but I believe the SCOTUS determined the federal government as the final arbiter in immigration law and enforcement in Arizona vs.United States.
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/06/us/scotus.immigration/index.html?pos=canon
- Keither - Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:01 pm:
Dutch Reach would be better off left in Holland. Our state is broke,rampant with collusion and corruption and this is what is brought up to vote on? Last I looked all cars have mirrors. The first people to sue for their back or shoulder going out might benefit however.
- anonymous - Thursday, Apr 12, 18 @ 12:14 pm:
So then if we have a knife laws like London will only the people in sanctuary counties eat steaks using a fork & knife while other counties eat like barbarians? Yes that is rediculous yet very close to reality in England. Seriously most shootings take place in gun free zones, the gun’s aren’t going away. Leave the law abiding to at least defend themselves. God bless the police, but they generally aren’t there before crime happens.