It’s just a bill
Tuesday, Oct 1, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Center Square…
After California did so, Illinois lawmakers are now racing each other to get legislation to Gov. J.B. Pritzker to allow college athletes to be paid for their name, image, and likeness, something the NCAA has long prohibited. […]
In just five days, two bills have been filed in the Illinois House of Representatives that would do the same in Illinois.
Wow. Two bills. Quite the race.
* Capitol News Illinois…
Rep. Daniel Didech, from Buffalo Grove, proposed legislation Thursday that would prohibit the state from requiring staff to travel to states with laws effectively banning abortion or requiring investigations into the cause of a miscarriage. It would also bar the government from reimbursing an employee for travel to one of those states.
In the first six months of 2019, 12 states passed some form of a law restricting access to abortion. Those states surround Illinois to the east and southwest, and cut a swath south to the Gulf of Mexico. They include neighboring Indiana, Missouri and Kentucky.
“What these other states are doing is, to me, very dangerous. To a large extent, yes, abortion is a big part of it, but it’s not entirely about abortion,” Didech said. “As a member of the Legislature, I have the responsibility to protect our state employees.”
State government staffers travel for a number of reasons, including conferences, litigation and training as required by a grant or license. The bill includes exclusions to allow for some of those trips to continue in extenuating circumstances.
The bill is here.
- A Jack - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 1:08 pm:
Didech’s bill is a bit much. So, for example, no motor fuel audits to states that ban abortions? I don’t think Illinois can afford to restrict state employee travel just to make a point. Perhaps a bill restricting the state from contracting with businesses in abortion restricting states might be a better approach?
- CentralIllinoisan - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 1:38 pm:
Didech’s bill is another classic example of ideological overreach in government.
Both liberals and conservatives to often do it.
Not good.
- Get Real - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 1:45 pm:
The unintended consequences of the Didech bill are, well, to be anticipated on a major scale.
The Welch bill will be much the same. Neither of these bills should be called for consideration in their current form.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 1:49 pm:
While I appreciate the sentiment, these bills that restrict travel based on another state’s laws are, if anything, a hindrance to change. Under this bill, no one from a state agency or university can travel to a professional conference/meeting unless it is for training that cannot be obtained in another state or to maintain a grant. So, a social scientist would not be able to share research showing the impact of the laws to which the legislator objects in the state where those laws are problematic. Sunlight is often the best remedy…
- Moe Berg - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 2:10 pm:
Didech’s bill is under-considered at best, pandering at worst.
Do we want all the many states that have more restrictive reproductive health laws to forbid travel to Illinois and its Chicago/Rosemont convention hub because ours are expansive?
Perhaps he could check in with the Illinois Restaurant Association, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Choose Chicago, and the unions who represent employees at McCormick Place on their opinion about state-mandated travel bans.
- Seats - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 2:37 pm:
Without giving it deep thought I could see banning an employers ability to require a pregnant employee from traveling to one of those states.
This current proposal on the other hand is more trouble than it’s worth.
- Responsa - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 3:15 pm:
Worry about your own state, Daniel. Geez.