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House Bill 3447 passed through the House in a 61-47 vote in
April only to stall in the Senate.
The measure would have implemented looser penalties for
possessing fewer than 3 grams of any substances to a Class A
Misdemeanor.
Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs,
criticized state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Downers Grove, and
state Rep. Janet Yang Rohr, D-Naperville, for supporting the
measure. Both are DuPage County Democrats that face Republican
opponents.
"By decriminalizing these substances and making it a
misdemeanor, similar to having an open six-pack of beer, is one
of the most irresponsible votes of any legislator to do," Durkin
told The Center Square. "All while proclaiming to the people
they represent that they are all for public safety."
Durkin also called the move to support the decriminalization
disrespectful toward families of victims of these substances.
"I think its really a slap in the face to these families,"
Durkin said. "The 26 families in Naperville, the 18 families in
Downers Grove, the 14 families in Lisle, and 130 other people,
just last year."
The statement comes nearly two months before the November
election in which Durkin urged DuPage voters to reconsider their
candidates.
"DuPage voters have a choice this election cycle. They can
choose Democrats like Stava-Murray and Yang Rohr and their
disastrous soft-on-crime policies, or they can choose House
Republican candidates like Paul Leong and Rich Janor that are
focused on restoring law and order and public safety to our
communities."
Stava-Murray and Yang Rohr did not immediately respond to
messages seeking comment.
The election is Nov. 8. Early voting starts Sept. 29.
Andrew Hensel has years of experience as a reporter
and pre-game host for the Joliet Slammers, and as a producer for the
Windy City Bulls. A graduate of Iowa Wesleyan University and
Illinois Media School, Andrew lives in the south suburbs of Chicago.
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