State Representative Charlie Meier is calling the passage of the massive criminal justice overhaul bill in the waning moments of the 101st General Assembly on Wednesday a sad day for Democracy.
Meier called the ramming through of the bill ridiculous.
“In less than an hour on a bill that was not in existence yesterday as it is the way we are voting on it and less than an hour to speak to it, there is something wrong with that. When our members are not allowed the chance to ask questions, the only active policeman in the House was denied his right to speak to the bill. Is this democracy? Is this where two sides work together? We weren’t even allowed to be heard.”
Meier said what happened clearly speaks to the need for reform in the General Assembly. He talked to one police chief at the Capitol.
“Retirement, he is going to resign because this bill passed. He’s working on that this morning because he was afraid it was going to pass. We will never get policemen back. Quality policemen will be gone and I don’t blame them if the state doesn’t want to stand for them. It’s a very sad day for the state.”
Meier said the situation almost brought him to tears.
The bill passed on a slim margin of 60-50.
Meier says the legislation contains cuts to public safety budgets and opens up officers to punishment and personal liability for unsubstantiated or unverifiable complaints. However, perhaps its worst component, it allows many potentially violent felons to avoid being held in custody.
State Senator Jason Plummer also complained about the rushed process and lack of debate when the issue passed in a similar fashion in the State Senate Wednesday morning.
A coalition representing Illinois law enforcement leadership and rank and file officers issued a statement after the vote saying they were extremely disappointed and saddened in the process, the lack of discussion with members of the law enforcement community, and the ultimate outcome in the General Assembly. They note the General Assembly ignored the pleas of more than 112,000 petition signing citizens and refused to listen to the concerns of law enforcement. The Coalition says our communities will be less safe if the legislation is signed by the Governor. But they add while the outcome is ominous for Illinois, it will not diminish their commitment and their members will continue to use all authorized means to protect every community.
Governor Pritzker issued a statement saying that he has long held that an essential mark of good governance is a willingness to change the laws that have failed the people of Illinois. He says this criminal justice package carries with it the opportunity to shape our state into a lesson in true justice by abolishing cash bail, modernizing sentencing laws, instituting a certification and decertification system for police officers statewide, requiring body cameras, reforming crowd control response and amplifying law enforcement training standards. Pritzker commended the sponsors, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, the ACLU of Illinois, and other organizations that committed themselves to building a fairer and more equitable Illinois.
