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* From the Illinois Constitution…
Amendments to Article IV of this Constitution may be proposed by a petition signed by a number of electors equal in number to at least eight percent of the total votes cast for candidates for Governor in the preceding gubernatorial election. Amendments shall be limited to structural and procedural subjects contained in Article IV. A petition shall contain the text of the proposed amendment and the date of the general election at which the proposed amendment is to be submitted, shall have been signed by the petitioning electors not more than twenty-four months preceding that general election and shall be filed with the Secretary of State at least six months before that general election.
* Neal Earley at the Sun-Times…
A group of political activists have filed a federal lawsuit, arguing that the signature requirements to put referenda on the November ballot must be eased because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Perhaps not surprisingly, one of their lawyers is former Gov. Pat Quinn, who stepped onto the political stage more than four decades ago by gathering signatures to put various referenda on the ballot and never kicked the habit. […]
In their lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the plaintiffs said they want the court to issue an order to allow them to collect signatures electronically, to lower the threshold signatures needed to get a question on the ballot by 50 percent and to push back the deadline to turn in signatures.
Yep. They’re asking a federal judge to do this…
Issue a temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction enjoining or modifying enforcement of Illinois’ petition collection requirements for initiative referendums for Illinois’ November 3, 2020 general election; and (ii) enabling and requiring the Defendants to allow for petitions to be submitted electronically via names of qualified electors collected by an online form to be created by the Secretary of State; extend the May 3, 2020 deadline for an Article XIV, Section 3 referendum to August 3, 2020; and reduce by 50% the number of signatures required to qualify statewide and Evanston initiative referendums for the general election ballot or some percentage of required signatures necessary to demonstrate substantial public support;
* So, what are they trying to get on the ballot? Here’s Lauraann Wood at Law360…
The committee aims to ask voters in November whether Illinois’ constitution should be amended to allow them to petition for a mandatory roll call vote on legislative bills proposing stronger ethical standards for Illinois public officials. Under current Illinois petitioning requirements, it will need to submit 363,813 signatures by May 3 to place the initiative on the November ballot, according to the suit.
Locally, plaintiff Jackson Paller wants a ballot referendum asking whether Evanston, Illinois, residents should be given petition power to propose ordinances that would require a City Council vote within 70 days. He’ll need to submit 2,800 signatures by Aug. 3 to get that question on the ballot, the suit says.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 9:50 am
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“Perhaps not surprisingly, one of their lawyers is former Gov. Pat Quinn . . . ”
Quinn, for the millionth time, please go away.
Comment by Leatherneck Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 9:54 am
Someone want to give Pat Quinn a fishing rod or something.
Comment by efudd Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 9:59 am
Pat has always been one to joust with windmills. Sometimes they sweep you up into the stars. Sometimes down into the mud.
Comment by Bigtwich Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 10:01 am
Pat Quinn, the guy who promised us reform and savings by abolishing multi-member districts and instead gave us Mike Madigan forever? That Pat Quinn?
Comment by Lynn Becker Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 10:01 am
I’d probably be more surprised if Pat Quinn wasn’t doing something like this during a pandemic.
Textbook definition of “usual suspects”
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 10:05 am
Second thought. Pat, while not being one of my favorite Govs, you seem like a decent guy.
Come down to Union county, (it’s quite a bit south of Springfield), I’ll loan you one of my poles and you can spend the day fishing my pond.
Realize there are other things to do with one’s senior years.
Comment by efudd Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 10:06 am
I, for one, am personally enjoying knowing that Pat Quinn can’t get within six feet of me.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 10:12 am
I don’t understand the negative here…who would not like to see constitutional questions get on the ballot via the citizenry versus only through Madison?
Comment by Stritz Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 10:14 am
===I don’t understand the negative here===
Oh, I dunno. Perhaps using an international pandemic to put a state constitution on hold in order to benefit your own cause?
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 10:16 am
He can get some exercise outside in this spring weather by getting out his now 70-or-so year old lawn mower and mow his yard:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcL1dZE_Eno
Comment by Leatherneck Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 10:16 am
This idea that the pandemic means the constitution can be ignored is very dangerous. Where the executive has leeway to waive enforcement or delay implementation is one thing, but to say the constitution isn’t really the constitution? There be monsters.
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 10:27 am
In Pat’s defense, he isn’t living if he isn’t passing petitions around.
Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 10:30 am
Disappointed to see David Vaught involved in this as a plaintiff.
Comment by SouthSide Markie Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 10:40 am
Not the worst governor we”ve had, but his main legacy is the Cutback Amendment, for which he can never be forgiven.
At this point, he deserves as much press attention as Blago - none.
Comment by Keyrock Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 10:57 am
Isn’t the point of a constitution to guide us when decisions are difficult? It’s easy to follow the constitution in good times. It exists for times and situations like these.
Comment by Pundent Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 11:18 am
The Bi-partisan responses to this post made my day!! They put a smile on my face! Thank you Rich
Comment by Former Candidate on the Ballot Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 11:24 am
I get a possible argument on reducing signature requirements in emergency situations.
However, a Constitutional Amendment in order to push this specific issue? We already have regular processes to bring any ethics bill to the floor for a vote, and probably will, when we get back to regular business.
Comment by walker Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 11:32 am
Pat Quinn has become the new definition of tiresome…if you ask me.
Comment by Dotnonymous Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 1:18 pm
“Disappointed to see David Vaught involved in this as a plaintiff.”
———–
Quinn, once again for the umpteenth time, please go away and take Vaught with you.
Comment by Leatherneck Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 1:49 pm
Gov. Quinn, I think there is a need for a Federal Citizens Utility Board.
Comment by Proud Sucker Friday, Apr 10, 20 @ 2:43 pm