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The
Illinois Freedom Caucus, a group of downstate Republicans, said
the practice enables House leadership to pass hundreds of bills
with a single roll call vote.
The practice is used every year in the Legislature, including
during the COVID-19 pandemic, to pass a variety of bills.
State Rep. Adam Niemerg, a member of the IFC, explained the
group's position.
"Now that we are on the tail end of COVID, COVID is over, and
now the mandates have been lifted, its time to go back to
substantive bills being properly vetted on the House floor and
held for a vote," Niemerg, R-Dieterich, told The Center Square.
The bill bundles take away an essential step in the legislative
process, he said.
"Substantive bills should be debated on the floor and allowed
that due time when it comes to that specific piece of
legislation," Niemerg said.
The Illinois Freedom Caucus released a statement calling for the
end of the practice altogether, claiming it is against the
public's best interests.
"The people of Illinois expect legislators to do their jobs, and
debating and voting on legislation is part of the job. It is
time to stop taking the easy way out. It is time to end the
Consent Calendar for substantive legislation," the statement
reads.
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch's office did not
return requests for comment.
The Illinois Freedom Caucus is comprised of Niemerg and state
Reps. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville,
Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, and Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur
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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