Gonna be a busy day today
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From House Majority Leader Greg Harris’ Facebook page…
Today is Gun Rights Lobby Day, Alliance for Sound AIDS Policy Lobby Day, Episcopal Lobby Day, Catholic Charities Lobby Day, lots of Mayors and Town administrators who want interchanges, water and waste water plants, a bridge or such, hospitals looking for upgrades, expensive radiology equipment and ADA compliance and I don’t know who else. The Rotunda and galleries will be a mob scene P.S. Did I miss anyone who’s coming today.? UPDATED: IARF, Access Living, Disability Advocates and SEIU Healthcare have lobby days too!
Whew.
* Illinois News Network…
Gun owners are heading to the Illinois state capitol Wednesday to try to convince lawmakers to rethink a number of bills that they say go too far.
IllinoisCarry.com spokesperson Valinda Rowe said she expects to see a record turnout for the Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day, or I-GOLD. She said Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s decision to sign the Gun Dealer Licensing Act as his first bill was the beginning of a wave of what she said were attacks against gun owners. […]
A program at the Bank of Springfield Center, a few blocks from the capitol, will begin in the morning with a march through Springfield and down Capitol Avenue to the state capitol building at 1 p.m.
Rowe those showing up will talk to lawmakers about their rights on the legislative front.
“Which, right now, the tide is against us on that front because of the numbers that they have in the House and Senate and a governor that will sign whatever is passed,” Rowe said.
- Anon E Moose - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 9:16 am:
But I need my musket to protect me from the King of England
- Perrid - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 9:20 am:
“ALL the lobsters/activists. All of them [exclamation point]”
- RNUG - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 9:24 am:
I knew it was IGOLD day and already planned to avoid downtown.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 9:31 am:
But I need my assault rifle to protect me from the Black Helicopters and liberals in Cook County.
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 9:32 am:
These single issue groups need to push their elected officials to develop big tent parties. They need allies to win.
E Pluribus
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 9:33 am:
On a related note, we have had a long discussion with some of our board members about keeping or getting rid of our “lobby day”. We have found in recent years, lawmakers seem to respond to personal visits in their district offices more than running around the rail or calling pressers no one pays attention to.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 9:35 am:
===lawmakers seem to respond to personal visits in their district offices more===
This is true. But lobby days are also a lot of fun for people. It’s like a grown-up field trip.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 9:40 am:
“This is true. But lobby days are also a lot of fun for people. It’s like a grown-up field trip.”
Good Call Rich: Would appear you may have seen some groups getting off the bus after they have enjoyed some beverages while traveling down I55. Can’t imagine what it is like on their trip back.
- lakeside - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 9:45 am:
=It’s like a grown-up field trip.==
I think it’s also a good way for membership of orgs to learn about the process in Springfield, which is just useful for people understanding how their government works. The couple lobby days I went on back in the day were sort of a thrill to get to see the Capitol, see lawmakers in action, and to see that there were *people* there making laws- not just some *government* in charge of everything.
Uh, yeah, so I guess it was kind of like a field trip.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 9:56 am:
I’d like there to be guided tours like “Follow Rich Miller” for the day to get an in depth look at how a political reporter in the know conducts his day…with lunch included, of course.
- A 400lb. Guy on a bed - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 9:58 am:
=It’s like a grown-up field trip=
It’s also a good time to visit the Lincoln Museum.
- illini - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 10:10 am:
I’m planning a trip to Springfield next Thursday when my Alma is having its Lobby Day. Hoping there are not 20 other groups there that same day.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 10:21 am:
===Can’t imagine what it is like on their trip back===
Lots of snoring.
- Maximus - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 10:53 am:
The gun lobbyists always characterize any gun control legislation as an “attack”. It’s not an attack, it’s an attempt to control dangerous weapons. Really annoying how they mis-characterize what is being attempted.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 11:31 am:
==But lobby days are also a lot of fun for people.==
Should say “But lobby days are also a lot of fun for people coming from out of town.” It’s pure hell on those of us who live and work here
- RNUG - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 12:33 pm:
== The gun lobbyists always characterize any gun control legislation as an “attack”. It’s not an attack, it’s an attempt to control dangerous weapons. Really annoying how they mis-characterize what is being attempted. ==
Both sides use over the top rhetoric. From where I sit, the gun control people are disingenuous and often disguise their true intentions, plus their “data” is hard to confirm. The gun lobby people tend to split hairs and don’t want to give an inch because every time they have given an inch, the other side tries to take a mile and keeps changing the goalposts.
Illinoud already has some of the strictest firearms laws in the nation. I don’t really like either side’s hype, but if I have to pick a side, I’ll go with the NRA and GSL stance that Illinois has enough laws and just needs to enforce them.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 1:23 pm:
Valinda Rowe was one of the people that recruited Otis McDonald as a plaintiff against the city of Chicago handgun ban lawsuit circa 2007-2010. In 2013, she was also one of the people who personally negotiated Duty to Inform in Brandon Phelps concealed carry bill with the IL Chiefs of Police, along with John Boch from GSL, and former NRA lobbyist Todd Vandermyde.
The big problem in the “gun rights” movement is not a Dem majority, it’s their own leaders selling them out to police unions. At least the gunnies can get some fresh air marching around.
- theCardinal - Wednesday, Mar 27, 19 @ 3:30 pm:
How about STOP punishing law abiding citizens with more burdensom legislation and laws. Focus efforts where they belong; resolve crime issues at the root, deal with mental health issues, preach the value of life. Until those issues are better resolved this is all noise and distraction aimed at punishing the wrong people. Oh and enforce the laws that are already on the books for gun violations.