Gov. J.B. Pritzker
By RICK PEARSON | Chicago Tribune
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed into law a comprehensive election bill that would give Democrats a significant advantage toward keeping their legislative majorities before any votes are even cast in the Nov. 5 general election.
Democrats already enjoy legislative supermajorities in the Illinois House and Senate thanks to district maps drawn by party leaders following the 2020 federal census that were crafted to minimize Republican opposition.
But the election bill given final approval by Senate Democrats Thursday, a day after the bill passed the House, would further help Democrats maintain control in the next General Assembly.
Under the new law, local political party organizations can no longer appoint candidates to fill out legislative ballots where the party did not field a primary candidate. Previous law allowed the appointment process within 75 days of the primary.
Pritzker signed the measure Thursday only hours after telling reporters he had not seen all the details of the measure. Still, he said he considered it an “ethics” bill.
“It really does make sure that we don’t have backroom deals to put people on the ballot and run as a result of some small group of people in a smoke-filled room making the choice,” Pritzker said at an unrelated news conference in Bloomington. “So I think to me, more transparency is better.”
The measure takes effect immediately.
More here.
Related: “(With cheshire grins) Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions”
The Bullies of the Ruling Class also used the SB2412 package to usher in 3 ridiculous non-binding ballot advisory questions to knock a citizen-led initiative to put a question of public policy concerning parental rights on the ballot.
PARENTS MATTER COALITION RESPONDS TO BEING BLOCKED FROM 2024 ELECTION DAY BALLOT BY DEMOCRATIC SUPERMAJORITY’S ELEVENTH HOUR ACTION
(CHICAGO, IL) – On the morning of Friday, May 3, 2024 – two days before the filing deadline for ballot initiatives in Illinois – Governor Pritzker signed SB 2412, a bill that was passed through both legislative chambers in a 48-hour period this week which will block Parents Matter Coalition’s advisory initiative from appearing on the November ballot.
SB 2412 will add three advisory questions that were written and chosen by the Democratic supermajority in the Illinois State Legislature to the ballot on Election Day. According to Illinois State Code, only three advisory questions may appear on the ballot. This means that the Parents Matter Coalition’s popular advisory question is now ineligible.
Parents Matter Coalition was formed in October of 2023 for the purpose of launching the ‘Right to Parent’ ballot initiative, which would have placed an advisory question on the 2024 ballot concerning parents’ right to be involved in minors’ medical decisions, particularly with reference to gender transition treatments and abortion.
“This was pointed and intentional,” said Jeanne Ives, co-founder of Parents Matter Coalition. “Democratic legislators were so threatened by this grassroots citizen initiative that they didn’t even wait for us to file our signatures. They squashed this effort despite widespread support from Illinois parents. This is an incredibly undemocratic way to defeat an electorate you oppose.”
“Once again, Illinois Democrats illustrate in plain sight their brazenly corrupt approach to policymaking,” said Mary Kate Zander, executive director of Illinois Right to Life, a supporting organization. “This is not the first time they’ve skirted the process to undermine their constituents. In fact, they’ve made a habit of this type of fly-by-night legislating when it comes to issues like abortion and protections for minors.”
Parents Matter Coalition will hold a press conference on Monday, May 6 at 10AM to respond to the legislature’s late action. The press conference will be held at Libreria Cristiana Vida Nueva, 2909 N. Central Ave. Chicago, IL and will feature supporters of the ‘Right to Parent initiative’ who emigrated to the U.S. from socialist countries.
For more information, go to parentsmattercoalition.org or send an email to info@parentsmattercoalition.org.
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There is only one way to counter this, and it’s not by creating new coalitions or petition drives for ballot questions. We must overturn the Democrats’ supermajorities in both the Illinois House & Senate.
We need to support the re-election of strong Republican representatives like Marty McLaughlin who represent the views and values of OUR district and we need to work to re-take other suburban districts held by the Dems. Give your money or your time or your voice to reasonable Republicans. And VOTE – early, by mail or on Election Day.