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Specifically community police relations, law enforcement accountability and economic development. We are in a state of emergency and we can not wait until our November session to act. pic.twitter.com/SbEEpcu7lA
— Kam Buckner (@RepKamBuckner) June 3, 2020
*** UPDATE 1 *** From the governor’s press secretary Jordan Abudayyeh…
The Governor will support the Leaders if they request a special session. Gov. Pritzker firmly believes real structural change comes from protest paired with policy. The Governor’s office is in close contact with members of the black caucus to discuss their priorities for police reform with genuine investigations, transparency, and accountability. This administration knows we need sustained economic investment in Black and Brown communities and will work with the legislature to build on the progress we’ve made together. The Governor will do everything in his power to ensure equity is the foundation for the work in state agencies under his control. Over the weeks to come, the Governor believes it’s his role to listen, convene activists and policy experts, and support lawmakers who represent communities that have been silenced for far too long to propose policies that move our state forward.
Still waiting on responses from the two legislative leaders.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From Senate President Don Harmon’s spokesperson John Patterson…
President Harmon has been contacting caucus members and is eager to engage in building an agenda for action.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 9:12 am
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I think it is a good idea. I think now is the time.
Comment by Wow Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 9:16 am
Why not, can’t hurt.
Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 9:19 am
Yes, Rep. Welch put out a good road map yesterday on what the Legislature should initially look at in a Special Session. I’d also like to see bigger, bolder plans - the type referenced in the Kerner Commission 50 years ago - that attack both racial economic and educational disparities but also address all poverty, financial insecurity, and economic justice issues throughout the entire state.
Comment by Kat Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 9:31 am
I agree. Do it while all of this is fresh in everyone’s minds.
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 9:33 am
I think legislation needs to be introduced quickly to address this….but at the same time I think back to a couple weeks ago and how difficult convening the GA was from a logistical stand point. Having said that, I marched at Springfield’s rally on Monday and Covid-19 was about the last thing on my mind.
Comment by Dancing Bears Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 9:34 am
I agree also. It’s a national emergency and we should start acting now at every level.
Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 9:37 am
amen! lets do it until we get meaningful legislation done
Comment by austinman Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 9:46 am
I agree. The Statehouse is exactly where some of the complaints (petitions whatever) belong. Some on municipal city halls and some at the Federal level.
Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 9:50 am
Agreed. Time for action, not just words
Comment by pawn Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 9:50 am
I guess it can’t hurt but legislation hastily drafted, sparsely vetted and quickly voted on is not likely to change hearts and minds which is the only way to address these deep seated problems.
Also, voting out the current president would be a great step toward positive change.
Comment by don the legend Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 9:51 am
I agree 100%.
The communities in the City of Chicago that will benefit most from the change being demanded by all have been represented by the same party for decades in Illinois. From the local Alderman, Mayor, State Rep, State Senator, and sometimes a Governor and/or President. For members of this party who are in the super majority at all levels of State and local government in the City of Chicago to not take action at this time to make change is an abdication of their responsibilities as an elected official
Comment by Former Candidate on the Ballot Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 9:54 am
What a PR stunt.
Comment by ;) Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 9:58 am
The weak three amigo. Lol.
Comment by ;) Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 9:59 am
With all the lack of social distancing the last few days would it not be wise to wait 30 days to make sure their not a huge spike in hospitals being overwhelmed.
Comment by Nobody Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 9:59 am
Go ahead and have the special. But it’s not like this is new territory. What was done of note by the GA after Laquan McDonald?
Comment by Old McDonald Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 10:01 am
==to change hearts and minds which is the only way to address these deep seated problems.==
When Brown v. Board of Education was decided, ending school segregation was deeply unpopular. Sometimes the laws have to come first and the hearts will follow.
Comment by Chris Widger Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 10:01 am
Let’s stay focused. Police reform from the General Assembly. The General Assembly, with one swoop, can remake policing in Illinois. Change the rules. Modify union agreements. Create a state database for disciplinary records that is publicly searchable. Create an independent body to handle all disciplinary matters. Change police tactics. There are 877 policing bodies in Illinois. They’ve never reformed on their own, and doing it on a case-by-case basis, or at the local level will take 1,000 years.
Comment by Merica Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 10:01 am
If this comes to pass, there needs to be legislation addressing police discipline practices. Then it will be interesting to see the FOP work the members to block it.
Comment by Original Rambler Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 10:02 am
Well, how can you legislate the type of individual who applies and is excepted as a police officer? As an analogy making medial schools free won’t result in a different type of person going to medical school. Endemic to police forces is the type of person who decides to join the force.
Comment by the Edge Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 10:06 am
=== weak===
Is that you Donald Trump? (Sigh)
To the post,
It’s imperative that when the time dictates we all move forward for reform, the time for that is now.
Thoughtful, meaningful, and progressive legislation (progressive as in moving beyond a status quo type fix seen only as window dressing) that will be that change, that’s how we all can move forward.
A first step is needed to have further steps…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 10:07 am
Why is it that everyone is waiting for the black caucus to lead on this? We’ve got white guys leading both the Senate and the House and a white guy as governor. That’s where the power is.
A huge piece to the conversation right now is that all of what is happening is a result of systemic racism. These leaders need to stop protecting a system rigged to benefit them and be proactive. Right now, all they are doing is maintaining the status quo.
Comment by Montrose Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 10:28 am
We’re limited to groups of 10 or less gathering. How could this possibly happen. Perhaps we can confer with the scientists and epidemiologists about how to best make that happen?
Comment by Ed Equity Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 10:33 am
I always liked the idea of individual law enforcement insurance policies, whose initial level is paid for via stipend. Those cops that have had complaints upheld by an independent police review board, pay an increasing differential based on the frequency and severity of the upheld offenses, which will sunset after a period of non-offense behavior. Of course, management has to police hanging back, non or delayed response times etc to make sure officers are still doing their jobs. 99 percent of the cops do their job well, and this would not affect them, but those with continued reprimands will hit them in their pocket, and help self weed out the bad apples.
Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 10:35 am
They’d be better off with having committee hearings first and then coming up with a proposal. If they had a special session without proposals, it would be a morass that folks like the Eastern Bloc would take advantage of.
They also need to let people vent, and that can be best done via committee hearings.
Comment by Medvale School for the Gifted Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 10:37 am
===We’re limited to groups of 10 or less gathering===
You may be but they’re not. Governor’s cannot impose an EO on the General Assembly.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 10:42 am
Most of the ideas put forward yesterday are fairly long term ideas, I don’t know if slapping a bill together this week/month instead of in 5 months is going to make a big difference. But sure, why not try to ride the wave and get something done. Taking time to do it right is good, but losing the momentum and public notice isn’t productive.
Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 10:51 am
==We’re limited to groups of 10 or less gathering. How could this possibly happen. Perhaps we can confer with the scientists and epidemiologists about how to best make that happen?==
Umm, the just had legislative session 2 weeks ago. Did you miss that?
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 10:54 am
“Why is it that everyone is waiting for the black caucus to lead on this? We’ve got white guys leading both the Senate and the House and a white guy as governor. That’s where the power is”
The issues pointed out by the State rep.. “community police relations, law enforcement accountability and economic development”…
are local/state issues; JB, MJM and Harmon have supermajority power. Seems like they hold the power. So do something
Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 10:58 am
“What was done of note by the GA after Laquan McDonald?” What was not done in 2015 by then Senate Judiciary committee chairman Kwame Raoul was put criminal penalties in his much ballyhooed Body Cam bill. Raoul bargained it down with the police unions to a “departmental charge.” If every Chicago cop at the scene of the McDonald shooting deleted their vids, Jason Van Dyke could not have been charged.
Re. police accountability, start with mandatory body cams for all cops in Illinois, no exceptions. Delete the footage, it’s a felony. Upload the footage directly to the AG’s office, assuming an AG that actually takes on public corruption, not the softball who’s there now.
Comment by Elmer Keith Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 11:00 am
I’m generally opposed to passing laws in the heat of a crisis, whether a mass shooting or a horrifying episode of abuse in some setting. I also think having a special session and failing to pass anything substantive would be worse than not having one at all. That said, this is an extraordinary circumstance and not a one-time-and-place specific incident, and see the need to respond. If enough groundwork can be laid to pass something productive in a very brief special session, I support.
Comment by Earnest Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 11:02 am
Unfortunately, the best time to pass infrastructure legislation is when a bridge collapses and people die. Why is this different? Parts of the West Side of Chicago haven’t recovered since the 1968 riots. Do you want it to happen again?
Comment by levivotedforjudy Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 11:02 am
===I’m generally opposed to passing laws in the heat of a crisis===
I understand that you get around to supporting the idea of a session, but delaying from the spark of outrage is literally a tactic used by those who deliberately and intentionally want to prevent reform because for whatever reason they benefit or believe they benefit from the status quo.
To pretend that these protests are about one extra judicial murder is to miss the point of the protests entirely. It’s not as if “I can’t breathe” or “Black Lives Matter” are suddenly new slogans.
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 11:12 am
=I’m generally opposed to passing laws in the heat of a crisis=
The pot was boiling for a long time. What brings us to a crisis is an unwillingness to confront these issues during times of calm. But most importantly, if you are a person of color there really is no time of calm.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 11:43 am
To get to 71 votes I fear they’d have to bargain too much & weaken any meaningful change. Draft the legislation, vet it, do town halls, get constituent support, educate - then pass it in veto session.
Comment by LoyalVirus Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 12:24 pm
=== To get to 71 votes===
Those unwilling to look at the legislation as needed and worthy of being Red… good luck to them.
You think it’s an accident the GOP, here in Illinois and in Washington, is so silent?
It’s not because they want to vote against reforms, but it is that they refuse to be seen opposing those reforms.
The silence of the GOP… then turning to Red on the tally boards… that seems too far.
Respectfully.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 12:32 pm
OW - the inaction from the ILGOP is sadly expected. I’m more concerned w/the Ds who will find it necessary to kowtow to the police unions and weaken meaningful actions.
Comment by LoyalVirus Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 3:32 pm
=== I’m more concerned w/the Ds who will find it necessary to kowtow to the police unions and weaken meaningful actions.===
You cynicism, i get, but the global response to the happenings will make it impossible to choose law enforcement over human rights
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jun 3, 20 @ 3:41 pm