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One legislator is not a trend

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Illinois

Since there won’t be a fall veto session that was supposed to start Tuesday, and the governor doesn’t seem willing to call a special session, some are looking for joint committee hearings to provide oversight to the one-man rule approach of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 response strategy.

Citing COVID-19 concerns, leaders canceled the fall session for the Illinois legislature.

“There is a strong majority of members who would prefer the House delay convening to a later date; this is primarily motivated by concerns about the rising COVID-19 rates and proximity to upcoming holidays,” House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Chief of Staff Jessica Basham said in a letter to members. “I’m advised that there are similar concerns among Senate members, who were also surveyed over the weekend.”

The governor doesn’t expect them back until January. But there are a growing number of lawmakers wanting to get back to legislating instead of one-man-rule.

Really? Let’s see the roll call. The only Democrat they named in the story was Rep. La Shawn Ford, who appears to be their go-to House Democrat. He’s the sole reason they could run this recent headline…

Bipartisan demand for leaders to call hearings over Pritzker’s handling of pandemic response

* Back to the story…

Several House committee chairs have said they can’t hold public hearings because of the pandemic, and virtual hearings were not approved as they were in the Illinois Senate. The Illinois Senate voted in May to allow virtual hearings.

The full House rejected the idea of remote committee hearings and floor action back in May. The only way House members can currently participate in hearings is if the Senate allows them to participate in theirs.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 16, 20 @ 10:15 am

Comments

“One-man rule”??? OK.

Is there something stopping ILGOP or Rep. Ford, for that matter, from laying out a plan?

You say you want to “debate.” Ante up then. What’s your opening bid?

Don’t hide your light under a bushel.

No doubt those ideas are so well thought out that they would precipitate a public clamor for the GA to reconvene and make them law with veto-proof super-majorities.

In fact, they’re probably such good ideas the governor would sign them himself and thank their progenitors for seeing what he couldn’t.

Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Nov 16, 20 @ 10:22 am
I have seen many House Dems over the years claim they have bipartisan agreement when they only have one Republican, so it works both ways.

Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Nov 16, 20 @ 10:22 am
==Is there something stopping ILGOP or Rep. Ford, for that matter, from laying out a plan?==

Careful consideration. Acknowledgment of reality. Listening. I could go on.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Nov 16, 20 @ 10:30 am
The IL Dems have JB to make all the tough decisions and to take the slings/arrows, why would they even consider meeting?

Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Nov 16, 20 @ 10:37 am
Kids are learning by either going to school in person or remote. Yet legislators can’t meet in person or by remote. I asked who are the real grown ups in the room?

Comment by Reality check Monday, Nov 16, 20 @ 11:00 am
Greg Bishop is to journalism as Sean Hannity is to journalism.

Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Nov 16, 20 @ 11:05 am
Other states have working legislatures. We have Michael J. Madigan.

Comment by Downstate Illinois Monday, Nov 16, 20 @ 11:14 am
=== Other states have working legislatures. We have Michael J. Madigan.===

(Sigh)

Show me 60 and 30 clamoring to meet…

I think they should meet by Zoom, but I’m not one of the 177.

I think we’d hear more if there were majorities looking to meet.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 16, 20 @ 11:20 am
Seems the Democratic House didn’t have the foresight to approve remote meetings. I guess they don’t consider themselves essential workers.

Comment by Arock Monday, Nov 16, 20 @ 11:26 am
Why can’t the House hold a hearing at the Bilandic building? I get it pandemic etc but it’s not really banned is it?

Comment by Frank talks Monday, Nov 16, 20 @ 12:39 pm
With everything going on, it is irresponsible for IL not to be holding a remote veto session. There is so much tragedy going on that should not be waiting until January. Congress is absolutely essential. They are abdicating their responsibilities to take heat off Madigan

Comment by Bothanspy Monday, Nov 16, 20 @ 12:46 pm
Bothanspy, remote sessions aren’t authorized by law. An attempt to authorize them failed in the House. That’s a key part of what what this whole post is about.

Comment by Leigh John-Ella Monday, Nov 16, 20 @ 1:48 pm
Why is it with Greg Bishop he can never get a comment from Democrats? Yet seems he has Darren Bailey and Republicans on speed dial all the time. Strange how that works out in every story.

Comment by Club J Monday, Nov 16, 20 @ 3:14 pm