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Friday, Apr 23, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Let’s look at some news before we go. Tribune…

A former Illinois state representative and longtime supervisor of Worth Township was charged Friday in a plot to pay bribes to a relative of an Oak Lawn trustee in 2017 to get lucrative red-light cameras installed there.

John O’Sullivan, 53, of Oak Lawn, was charged in a criminal information filed in U.S. District Court with one count of bribery conspiracy.

Defendants charged via an information, rather than by grand jury indictment, typically intend to plead guilty. O’Sullivan’s attorney was not immediately available for comment.

O’Sullivan was accused of conspiring with longtime political operative Patrick Doherty and an executive representing red-light camera company SafeSpeed LCC to pay $4,000 in bribes in exchange for the official support of an Oak Lawn trustee to add red-light cameras at additional intersections.

* Ben Szalinski at the State Journal-Register has a good roundup piece that hits many of the high points of today’s House action, so click here when you get a chance. Topics include…

Telehealth (passed)

Lead in water (passed)

Coordinate mental health services with the 911 system (passed)

Firearm Restraining Order Awareness Act update (postponed consideration)

The Senate mostly dealt with lesser or bipartisan bills. Click here.

* It feels so good to be back in session, meeting new people, seeing people I haven’t seen in over a year, having a bit of fun after hours all while trying to do my job the way it ought to be done. But, man…

And curse Sir Walter Raleigh

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IMHO, the throw alone earned him a floor vote

Friday, Apr 23, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The highlight of my night…

This calendar throw was provisionally measured at 22 feet. Definitely worth a watch https://t.co/yWJagsUynn

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) April 23, 2021

* Background from Dean Olsen at the State Journal-Register…

A Republican lawmaker from Springfield pounded his fist, screamed and threw a paper calendar across the Illinois House chamber Thursday night, saying he was frustrated Democrats won’t call a House vote on his bill to allow a referendum on a Capital Township merger with Sangamon County government.

“I’ve got a bill that is important to my community that the leadership will not call,” state Rep. Tim Butler said, referring to House Bill 2994.

In a three-minute speech shortly before 9 p.m., Butler accused Democrats who control the House of “putting your thumb” on the bill “for political reasons.”

Butler and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, who was elected to lead the House in January, isn’t fulfilling his promise to bring a “new day” to the chamber. Butler said Welch promised to allow more Republican-sponsored bills to be debated than his predecessor, Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, and ease the strict control over House business that Madigan exercised for 38 years.

Welch’s promise “is a bunch of BS right now,” Butler said, looking to the Democratic side of the aisle. “… listen. Listen to your own words,” he said. “Listen to the speaker’s words.”

Rep. Butler’s bill zoomed out of committee with unanimous support and he has more than enough votes to pass it on the floor. But the Democrats have put a brick on it without explanation and he’s right to be upset.

* Check out the gif…

pic.twitter.com/R3a3wcCqfn

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) April 23, 2021

Whew. I couldn’t stop watching that last night.

* Best reply…

House supplemental calendar number 1 is being distributed

— John Patterson (@backupflakattak) April 23, 2021

The calendar zipped right by Rep. Jonathan Carroll’s (D-Northbrook) head two rows forward. He had a good laugh about it.

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