How Black Caucus passed reforms
Private negotiations, crunch-time changes led to bill’s passage
By Raymon Troncoso
Capitol News Illinois
Editor’s note: This story is part of an ongoing “Lame Duck Look Back” series in which Capitol News Illinois is following up on the major bills that passed both chambers of the General Assembly in the Jan. 8-13 lame duck session. This is the first of multiple stories examining the criminal justice reform backed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois General Assembly passed a massive criminal justice omnibus bill on Jan. 13 with only Democratic support, navigating initial opposition from labor unions and municipal interest groups, as well as intense Republican and law enforcement pushback.
Republican state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi laments democrats have become their own worst enemies in their police reform push.“I think many people are interested in certain police reform measures and some would have bipartisan support, but this bill is riddled with so many poison pills it would leave our residents unsafe and I can’t support that,” Mazzochi told the DuPage Policy Journal.
Illinois lawmakers hand Pritzker another tax loss, pass Chicago pension hike
Illinois lawmakers hand Pritzker another tax loss, pass Chicago pension hike Lame duck session was busy even when House Democrats weren’t focused on replacing Mike Madigan as speaker. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s small business tax hike died as 23 bills were passed, including one making Chicago’s pension woes worse.
As the 101st Illinois General Assembly’s lame-duck session came to a close, lawmakers rushed to send 23 bills to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk – but not the one he wanted.
In session overnight from Jan. 12 and into the morning Jan.13, lawmakers failed to support a small business tax increase, which was Pritzker’s top priority for lame duck session. Pritzker wanted to eliminate state-level tax benefits created as a form of economic relief when Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. He estimated the tax revenue loss at $500 million, but during floor
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The act is part of the Legislative Black Caucus’ education reform bill which passed through the Illinois legislature during the lame duck session.
“We really believe we can t talk about advancing racial equity in Illinois higher education without talking about how we re going to reform our development education system,” said Goldman.
She says community colleges over-rely on placement tests. That leads to over-placing Black students in those courses. The new plan allows students to show proficiency in other ways. They can get into college-level courses through high school GPA or transition classes.
“Forty-five community colleges will implement the traditional model at some level, despite its ineffectiveness,” said Goldman. “When you hear that, and you know how it affects the rate of completion of college-level coursework I think it s pretty alarming.”
Petition Urges Gov. Pritzker to Veto Illinois Police Reform Bill
Opponents of the Police Reform Bill say it doesn t allow police to fulfill their sworn oath nor keep us safe. If you agree, you should sign this petition.
The creator of this petition is hoping it will gain enough strength for Governor Pritzker to strongly consider vetoing the bill (HB 3653). Sponsors of the bill, Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, introduced the bill in response to nationwide calls for police reform following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last year.
Like any bill, there are parts you re going to be in favor of, and parts you re not. While I haven t been able to read the several hundred pages of this bill, I m a huge fan of all police being equipped with body cams.