Will County Gazette

In what Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) described on his Facebook account as unusual support from both sides of the aisle, Senate Bill 8 passed the Legislature at the end of the spring session with relative ease.

"This bill streamlines our purchasing process and saves the state a lot of money," Batinick posted. "Some of my language is in the bill. As you can see on the video, I am a chief co-sponsor. This is a rare example of bipartisan work down here."

House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) also praised the cooperation he said he witnessed.

Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) | http://www.ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?MemberID=2262

“Today’s passage of a procurement reform package requested by Gov. (Bruce) Rauner is another instance in which House Democrats have followed through on our commitment to work cooperatively with the governor to reduce the cost of government and address the issues facing our state,” Madigan said in a statement. “This bill is the result of negotiation between legislators and the administration. In January, I directed the House State Government Administration Committee to thoroughly evaluate the governor’s procurement proposal, and that committee approved the governor’s plan with bipartisan support.”