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* When should the General Assembly reconvene? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:14 pm
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I voted by late May. They should come back, attempt to pass a budget with just the Dems (since there is no way the GOP will vote for the budget if they don’t have to). Then, when the Dems can’t muster the votes on their own (yes, I know they have super majorities… that doesn’t always work on budgets though when you have targets) they can come back in June and vote for a bipartisan budget.
Comment by DownStater Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:17 pm
Immediate. They need to show some confidence in the leadership that they are “working” for the people. Even if the accomplish nothing as usual.
Comment by Fighter of Foo Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:18 pm
Yesterday, or send back the money. Either they want to do their job, or they shouldn’t get paid.
Comment by Retired Educator Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:22 pm
Immediately (which realistically at this point is mid-May considering next Monday will be 11th).
Most of the rest of us have figured out new ways of doing our jobs remotely or with modification to minimize risk, they should too.
Comment by tea_and_honey Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:23 pm
Late May. Day after Memorial Day (May 26) to be exact. Enough to at least pass some sort of budget, plus some related important legislation. If a full budget isn’t ready, just at least try to pass a 3 or 6 month budget for the first part FY21 by then end of May, then meet later in the summer to pass the rest of the budget.
Comment by Chatham Resident Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:25 pm
Other:
When they can safely adhere to IDPH guidelines.
Comment by GregN Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:25 pm
When it is medically safe. These people saying/voting immediately .. I have 1 question. Would you spend 2 hours in the small committee room 118 with the 40 something House Republicans? Some of whom have NEVER social distances or worn a mask. How many of YOU BRAVE SOULS would do that then go home to YOUR PARENTS & FAMILIES???
Comment by Wow Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:25 pm
Late May, before needing supers for the budget. Get it done, maybe at the convention center or UIS Auditorium, back up the Governor, and then get out of dodge.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:26 pm
I voted mid May but anywhere mid-to-late May seems reasonable to me to figure out logistics and, hopefully have seen progress in testing expansion, hospitalizations, and positive rate.
Comment by In 630 Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:26 pm
I sad mid May, that’s assuming they can follow the guidelines we read the other day. As few people as possible in a room together at any time, masks and hand sanitizer, etc. I don’t really care if they rubber stamp the governor’s plan to reopen, but there’s other pressing business
Comment by Perrid Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:30 pm
Immediately. Waiting until it is “medically safe” means never. Many state workers and private sector workers have been working right on through. Legislators should show some courage and leadership (or followership) in this case and join us in getting the work done that needs to be done, virus or not.
Comment by Captain Obvious Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:31 pm
I’ve not disagreed with the governor all that much to this point, but he’s all that we’ve heard from. Our state legislators need to be involved going forward.
Why are they allowing the governor to go alone? For me it looks like we don’t need the legislators. Time to get back to part time legislators. Reduce pay and benefits.
Comment by Rural Survivor Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:32 pm
Couldn’t see any way to vote besides other. Ultimately it will come down to the conditions that will support reconvening. At this point its difficult to say when those conditions will exist. As soon as they do they should reconvene. Could be later this month may be July. This goes beyond ordering the GA to meet. There’s an infrastructure and process that is needed to support that. And it goes well beyond the members themselves. Those that argue that this can or should be done remotely don’t understand the process. The IDPH guidelines put this into perspective.
Comment by Pundent Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:33 pm
Do a virtual budget session to pass a budget by the end of May, but don’t reconvene in person until it’s medically safe to do so. That could be July, August or September. This adds new meaning to doing only what’s vitally important - passing a budget and other emergency items by the end of May - but the times call for it. Of course, the sort of universe that seems liberated from facts and science and wants to return tomorrow - well, not sure what to say other than that’s simply crazy.
Comment by west wing Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:33 pm
Immediately; these will likely be the most important six months of their professional lives. The ship is sinking, faster than it was six months ago.
Comment by essentially working Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:36 pm
I selected other. Unless the GA is willing to convene electronically, it actually sends the wrong message to suggest the representatives and senators are willing to risk the unknown in order to convene face-to-face. It sends the public message that COVID is not a threat to them, and thus not a threat. Politicians are known to often have inflated egos and see themselves as above and beyond mere mortals. But they exist in human bodies, and human bodies can fall ill and die.
When the GA assembly can provide empirical evidence (not arguments) that it is indeed safe to gather in large groups face-to-face, then they should have at it. Until then, they can convene electronically, or choose to intentionally send the wrong message to the citizens they represent.
Comment by H-W Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:37 pm
Voted “Other,” as I think they should come back in late May, but for one day only, to pass some sort of temporary budget, if possible. Have all their ducks in a row. NO other legislation, unless emergency-required, and all the bill are all greased and ready to go in one fell swoop.
And then - get out of town.
While there - social distancing, masks, etc.
Comment by Ashland Adam Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:39 pm
I voted late May. Come back to pass a budget, but let’s allow a little more time to implement the right kind of safety protocols, increase testing capacity, and better understand local infection rates. Copy as much as you can from LY’s budget, and send it to the Governor for him to cut. Once the process is figured out to convene safely, i think having a special session to address needs is appropriate?
Comment by Chambanalyst Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:44 pm
I don’t think the June 1st deadline is much of a problem for Madigan/Harmon. Next year’s budget is already in shreds, so pushing through a Democrats-only budget bill doesn’t make a lot of sense when, as of now, there’s a gigantic and growing hole in it.
They’re going to want Republicans to eat a small bite of this sandwich. There also isn’t a big rush to get it done before July 1.
I voted end of May, because there probably are some bills that can get pushed through without GOP input. For once, the budget isn’t going to be one of them.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:44 pm
I voted mid-May, but I’m okay with them passing a budget and voting on the EO and the reopening plan, then getting the heck out of Dodge.
Just need masks and social distancing. Don’t want to see stories 10-14 days later of people who picked up Corona.
Comment by Lynn S. Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:45 pm
Voted “other,” since there’s no timeline yet for when it’s safe for them to gather in person. I can see how a curtailed session in late May or June may be necessary. But even with the guidelines, I’m concerned about community spread in Springfield when 59+118 legislators come to town, especially when some of them have been conspicuously flouting health department guidelines for social distancing.
Comment by olddog Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:46 pm
I voted late May. They do have jobs to do, including passing a budget. Not convening before the end of May would also seem to signal to the public that they are abdicating their duties.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:50 pm
I’m another “other”. Would I like the GA to re-convene immediately? In May? June? Sure I would. But I don’t think they *should* re-convene until a way has been figured for it to be done safely.
And I don’t know when that will be.
Comment by JoanP Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:50 pm
Other: As soon as it can be safely done.
Comment by Dee Lay Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:53 pm
When the Republican’s offer a plan…on anything. If they just want to whine, we don’t need to risk the legislators. If they come back just to vote in remote-legislate, then cool. Get that done, then Zoom-legislate.
Comment by PublicServant Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:57 pm
Late May…pass budget and EO, plus anything else essential, and leave.
Comment by Simple Simon Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:58 pm
late may. no need to rush down until there is a plan, and it doesn’t sound like they’re there yet. if they can’t come up with a bi-partisan plan, why endanger everybody to go get nothing done?
Comment by 32nd warder Friday, May 8, 20 @ 1:59 pm
Voted “June”… but under the specific to that… June 1st.
The next three weeks, there should be a great deal of reflection, analyzing, and problem solving to getting to June 1st as *the* date.
It can also allow staff, in a plan, to prepare in every way, unprecedentedly, for a session with a blown up budget, unknown revenues at such low levels it boggles the minds, and bills and agenda type things that won’t have the usual tool of “person to person” type horse trading.
Social distancing, how many in a room, whom contacting whom…
Three weeks is enough time to map out that opening, look at other state legislatures, DC, and get wholly prepared…
“June”…. June 1st.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:00 pm
I voted immediately. They should meet in person, authorize remote meetings, either confirm the Governor’s emergency powers or more clearly defined the limitations, and then go back home.
Once they’ve done that, start having scheduled committee meetings and sessions via Zoom or equivalent, with public access to view and interested parties permitted to testify.
Should have done it weeks ago.
Comment by RNUG Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:06 pm
Start late next week with small number of legislators then slowly increase. Best practices in place such as face coverings, social distancing, temp checks, etc. Illinois citizens deserve their state government i.e., Gen Assembly working on THEIR BEHALF.
Comment by Kane County Resident Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:11 pm
Mid May, they have work to do and could meet with strict safety guideline very soon..
Comment by Elliott Ness Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:16 pm
Late May, if done electronically. Should be an agreed bill calendar of the most urgent matters only, with as little harrumphing and posturing as possible (looking at you, Eastern Block). The biggest thing right now is to get those committee meetings and planning going, to make the actual voting quick and efficient, especially if they decide they have to be physically present. JB can then call a Special Session later in the summer if needed to clean some things up.
Comment by Give us Barabbas Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:18 pm
First of all, they are meeting and working now. The question of when to reconvene is about holding committee hearings and taking votes.
Voted June (early), but late May would work as well. I would like them to convene a (very) short session to authorize remote committee meetings and voting. Then, go home and hold committee meetings and session electronically.
They need to debate and pass a budget as a well as a few other things. Most everything else can wait. Doing the budget in June will mean they have a bit more information how revenue and expenditures are being impacted. They should also plan to pass a revised budget in November (and possibly again in early 2021).
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:23 pm
Late May with necessary precautions (masks and gloves). There are certain things that need to be done before 6/30 and there’s always a bump in the process. This keeps one level of certainty in our lives if they can pass the budget etc sooner over later.
Comment by ktkat1 Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:27 pm
Get the bill written that lets them convene remotely, meet, vote yes, leave, reconvene remotely. I am happy it’s this governor who has been left in charge, but I don’t like that there’s one person left in charge.
Comment by Cheryl44 Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:28 pm
Voted late May to pass the Budget and formally approve the EO. Committee meetings need to held virtually for the foreseeable future.
Comment by bogey golfer Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:48 pm
Give them a few days to work out the details. Then back to work in mid-May.
Fireman go into burning buildings wearing protective gear. Our legislators can gear up and go forward.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Friday, May 8, 20 @ 2:50 pm
Late May….time to get organized as to which bills are most pressing (budget and COVID-19) before the higher vote requirement is needed.
Comment by Simply Sayin' Friday, May 8, 20 @ 3:04 pm
Late May to enable remote convening and maybe a budget. Then meet remotely. It would be nice to support Gov. Pritzker’s EO and other work as it would divert some of the lawsuits. The Repubs. would revamp with other issues but it would keep them busy for a time.
Comment by Froganon Friday, May 8, 20 @ 3:05 pm
I voted immediately. Our friends, family members, and neighbors have been working as grocery clerks, train and bus operators, and first responders throughout the pandemic. They are taking precautions, but still putting themselves at risk because they are essential workers. Shouldn’t our legislators be able to do the same?
Comment by Belo Horizonte Friday, May 8, 20 @ 3:41 pm
I think July could still be ideal. I base this off 2017 when the senate overrode and passed the state budget on July 4th.
Comment by RDB Friday, May 8, 20 @ 3:45 pm