Rep. Mark Batinick | Batinick's website
Rep. Mark Batinick | Batinick's website
Plainfield Republican Rep. Mark Batinick said that the proposed Illinois House Rules do not include the revisions the lawmakers need to ensure that legislation is comprehensively reviewed.
“House Republican priorities include daily notice of what legislation will be called for consideration, Batinick said. “We have had too many instances where significant bills were brought forward for debate at the eleventh hour.”
He also said that lawmakers need an appropriate amount of time to read bills in their final form because they can’t vote on a bill unless they've been informed about it.
“It should not be a surprise as to what bills will be presented,” he said.
Additionally, Batinick has also thought of Illinoisans being informed on a daily basis of what legislation is being considered so that they are more informed of what is being discussed in the House, “allowing them a more active role in the legislative process.”
“For decades, the majority party has treated us like mushrooms: Keep us in the dark and feed us manure,” Batinick said. “That’s OK because you have the ability in the numbers to do that. The problem is, when you’re treating us that way, you’re also treating the entire general public that way.”
He concluded that the people of Illinois deserve transparency.