MACOMB – Assistant House Republican Leader Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) criticized House Rules passed the Speaker Madigan’s Majority Party as ‘stilted’ and ‘contrary to how we teach school-children the legislative process is supposed to work.”
“The average person in Illinois thinks of a ‘schoolhouse rocks’ explanation of how a bill becomes a law. However, what many Illinoisans don’t realize is that bills are not debated or considered just because they’re proposed. In reality, Speaker Madigan and his top lieutenants have complete control over which bills are even debated. Having served on boards with legislators from across the US, they are befuddled by the complete control the Speaker has in the Illinois House Rules. It’s simply undemocratic,” said Hammond on Tuesday from Springfield.
Hammond continued, “the public deserves the opportunity to know what their legislators are voting on. Legislators deserve the opportunity to read what they are to vote on. We all deserve better than what we are getting with these stilted House Rules designed to allow Speaker Madigan to tighten his grip on power in Illinois, all the while our state continues a downward spiral.”
Hammond supported an effort to propose alternate rules sponsored by House Republican Leader Jim Durkin. These rules would have allowed for all bills to be assigned to a committee and allow proper debate of bills proposed by duly elected legislators.
Hammond encouraged residents of the 93rd district to contact her with questions or concerns on this or any other state issue. Hammond’s Macomb district office can be contacted at (309) 836-2707. Constituents can also visit her legislative website at www.norinehammond.org to sign up for her electronic newsletter.
Hammond represents all or part of Brown, Cass, and Fulton, Knox, Mason, McDonough, Schuyler and Warren counties.
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