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Did politics get in the way of a solid press pop?

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Illinois

* This bill was signed into law without any fanfare whatsoever…

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed legislation that will remove the statutes of limitation for sexual abuse crimes.

Rauner signed the measure Friday.

Sponsor state Sen. Michael Hastings of Frankfort says the legislation puts in place “best practices for dealing with sexual assault cases statewide and puts a system in place that will encourage survivors to come forward and receive justice when they are ready.”

Statutes of limitation restrict the time when authorities can charge someone after a crime occurs.

* It’s kinda weird that Rauner wouldn’t try to do a press pop on this. After all, the chief proponent was Scott Cross, the brother of the former Illinois House Republican Leader who was raped as a boy by former US House Speaker Dennis Hastert. This story has national importance, but he didn’t even mention it during his Fox News Channel interview and there was nothing out of the governor’s office except this mention in a long list of bill actions taken Friday…

Bill No.: SB 0189
An Act Concerning Criminal Law
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately

* And lest you think that the governor didn’t want to step on his SB1 message, he sent out this press release during yesterday’s floor debate…

Gov. Bruce Rauner today announced that the Hand of Fate Brewing Company of Petersburg Illinois won the Illinois Bicentennial Craft Beer Competition at the Illinois State Fair.

Hand of Fate will create the recipe and brew the Official Illinois Bicentennial Craft Beer, which will be available across the state during the Bicentennial Celebration in 2018.

* So, what could it be? Sen. Hastings, who is mentioned above, is one the public faces of the anti-Rauner “Do Your Job, Inc.” but he was just a co-sponsor, and not even a hyphenated co-sponsor.

It’s no secret that the governor has no love for Attorney General Lisa Madigan (and that feeling most definitely goes both ways), and AG Madigan has been leading this statute change from the beginning, so perhaps that is a more accurate answer? From her press release…

Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced Illinois has now eliminated the statutes of limitations for felony criminal sexual assault and sexual abuse crimes against children. Senate Bill 189, initiated by Madigan, was passed by the General Assembly unanimously and signed into law by the governor Friday.

Sponsored by Sen. Scott Bennett and Rep. Michelle Mussman, the legislation eliminates Illinois’ criminal statutes of limitations for all felony child sexual abuse and child sexual assault crimes that can allow predators to go unpunished. The law, effective immediately, applies to future felony child sex crime cases as well as current criminal cases in which the previous statute of limitations has not expired.

“Sex crimes against children are a horribly tragic violation of trust that can take a lifetime to recover from,” Madigan said. “This new law will ensure that survivors are provided with the time they need to heal and seek justice.”

Prior the new law, Illinois’ statutes required that the most egregious sexual offenses against children must be reported and prosecuted within 20 years of the survivor turning 18 years old. Two exceptions existed for cases in which the crimes were committed on or after Jan. 1, 2014 and either corroborating physical evidence exists or a mandated reporter failed to report the abuse. The then-law restricting a survivor’s ability to come forward prevented former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert from being prosecuted for allegations of abuse against minors while he was an Illinois high school coach decades ago. Scott Cross, a survivor of Hastert’s abuse, joined Attorney General Madigan in advocating for today’s change in the law, recounting his experience before lawmakers and urging them to pass Senate Bill 189.

“Dennis Hastert used his authority and position as a role model to violate the trust of the youth in his care - in the most unimaginable way possible. And despite the lives ruined and decades of pain and suffering the survivors continue to deal with, he will never be held accountable,” Scott Cross said. “I am thankful that Illinois law will now allow survivors of these horrific crimes to come forward in their own time, and get justice – no matter how overdue.”

As more child survivors of abuse and sexual assault have come forward to describe the difficult process that they have endured in reporting, states across the country have eliminated statutes of limitations for these crimes. Nationwide, 36 other states and the federal government have removed criminal statutes of limitations for some or all sexual offenses against children.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 14, 17 @ 10:29 am

Comments

The ‘one downs-manship between Rauner and Trump is astounding.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 14, 17 @ 10:36 am
Appalling statute. Shame on both Madigan and Rauner.

Comment by JoanP Monday, Aug 14, 17 @ 10:37 am
Rauner, though when he wants to score points for himself, tends to list bills that he has signed that had bi-partisan support as “wins” that should be immediately duplicated for things like his AV of SB1. His “look we can all work together, why not now?” schtick has been used in the past, hypocrisy notwithstanding. He loves “coattails” in his “wardrobe”.

Comment by Anon221 Monday, Aug 14, 17 @ 10:41 am
- Anonymous - Monday, Aug 14, 17 @ 10:36 am:

The ‘one downs-manship between Rauner and Trump is astounding.

What in the world does the POTUS have to do with this story? Stay on topic.

Comment by 2016Champs Monday, Aug 14, 17 @ 10:46 am
Man,this guy really does not know how to take a win at anything. I bet he would return the money from a slot machine.

Comment by Retired Educator Monday, Aug 14, 17 @ 10:46 am
I’m guessing the AG Madigan angle.

Secondarily, the fact that it was prompted by the crimes of a serial child rapist who rose through Illinois politics to become the longest serving GOP House Speaker.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 14, 17 @ 10:49 am
In arguably the biggest office in Illinois government this guy misses no opportunity to look as small as possible.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Aug 14, 17 @ 10:54 am
===Secondarily, the fact that it was prompted by the crimes of a serial child rapist who rose through Illinois politics to become the longest serving GOP House Speaker.===

I think that came in third. The Catholic bishops have been working very diligently and very quietly against this bill. It is targeted at them for the most part, or if not targeted, it certainly exposes a tremendous amount of potential liability for each and every diocese in the state.

I suspect that’s why Rauner didn’t spike the football.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Aug 14, 17 @ 11:09 am
I think 20 years after your reach 18 is adequate. Nothing but political grandstanding against an easy target. I certainly carry no brief for child abusers but if not for then not much bi partisan support in Springfield

Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Aug 14, 17 @ 11:42 am
Rauner blew it.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Aug 14, 17 @ 12:00 pm
I habe to agree w/ 47th. look at all the catholic abuse cases kicked on limitations grounds.

Comment by Ghost Monday, Aug 14, 17 @ 12:05 pm
I habe to agree w/ 47th. look at all the catholic abuse cases kicked on limitations grounds.

This isnt really accurate. If the statute of limitations has already expired, its NOT revived by this bill. This is prospective only. There is no deluge of catholic priest cases coming down the road.

Comment by Lobo Monday, Aug 14, 17 @ 12:29 pm
IPI staff has not yet figured out how to connect the dots. They are too preoccupied for planning to avoid the worst case scenario at the state fair.
But they should relax, cause all will be well on Ag Day when the livestock farmers blubber all over Rauner in his jeans and Carhartt at Ag Day on Tuesday.
He’ll be writin big checks for sure.

Comment by Winnin' Monday, Aug 14, 17 @ 12:35 pm
Big missed opportunity for the Governor. It’s like he’s actually trying to do that.

This bill passed both chambers unanimously with multiple co-sponsors from both parties. I find the claim that the Catholic Church was working hard against this dubious at best. If that’s true, it did a terrible job.

Rauner/his staff blew an easy win - particularly at a time when they need a win. Boggles the mind.

Comment by Left Leaner Monday, Aug 14, 17 @ 3:09 pm