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This was another busy week in Springfield, and I took yesterday to take my youngest to visit his soon to be home away from home at The University of Michigan, literally hitting the road as soon as I got back from Springfield, hence the somewhat late update.
First, I want to make sure to highlight that our office hours next week will be limited due to some staffing issues. Torrence will be down in Springfield next week with me Tuesday-Thursday to help manage the air traffic control that goes into a 3rd reading deadline week with several bills still being negotiated. Wade underwent hip replacement surgery this week and will be focusing on recovering and will work his way back to full strength in the weeks ahead.
We had a very productive week with two bills resulting from the Dobbs Working Group advancing.
HB1591 was brought to us by the Illinois State Bar Association who flagged archaic language that was circulated near the turn of the century by an early version of the ultra-conservative group ALEC that sought to give states that weren’t looking to ban interracial marriage outright but could support states that did by prohibiting their residents from getting married in more permissive states. Given the explicit threat to the Obergefeld decision legalizing same sex marriage and the Loving decision repealing anti miscegenation laws, it’s important to remove this potentially harmful language from our statutes.
HB2223 is in response to a state Supreme Court decision last year that upheld the ability of a prosecutor in southern Illinois to charge an Illinois youth for a crime committed in Missouri under Missouri law. In addition to this standing in contrast to our laws regarding adult jurisdiction, this plain language in our statutes could expose a young person to serious charges under the laws in neighboring states that seek to criminalize those who assist others in accessing reproductive health care. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Next week promises to bring some significant debates as we work our way to the 3rd reading deadline on Friday to move bills to the second chamber. We continue to work to get support for HB3158 to permit terramation or natural organic reduction, HB2046 to support chronic pain patients who have been harmed by excessive crackdowns on access to pain medication that drive people into the illicit market, HB2755 to affirm that human victims of crime are given at least the same level of consideration as corporations experiencing retail theft, HB2350 which ensures that anyone with a uterus or a prostate are able to access copay free cancer screenings, and a few others still making their way through the negotiation process.
Many of our regular readers have been aware of the challenges faced by Uprising Bakery in Lake in the Hills which has been targeted by Awake Illinois and their army of transphobic, homophobic, racist hatemongers. The owner has faced so many challenges in the last year and remains committed to continuing to operate as a venue where all are welcome and embraced. She’s been hit with multiple unplanned expenses due to the attacks on her business. If you’re so inclined and able, please check out the gofundme organized for the bakery.
Early voting for the Chicago municipal elections begins on May 20th at the downtown super site and ward based sites. Turnout in our area wasn’t as high as usual in the February election, so it’s important to remind our friends and neighbors to get out and vote. Details on how to make your plan to vote are here.
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