Springfield, IL…State Representative Mike Coffey (R-Springfield) joined Republican members of the Illinois House and Senate in a lawsuit filed in Sangamon County court to enforce the Illinois Constitution’s Third Reading Rule on Senate Bill 328. Despite the Democrats’ supermajorities in both the House and Senate, they opt to disregard the Third Reading Rule, which is outlined in the Illinois Constitution to grant public transparency to legislation as it moves through each Chamber. This litigation is an effort for Republicans to fight for transparency and adherence to the constitution.
“The Illinois Democrats’ rule breaking is appalling to taxpayers across the state, and Republicans continue to be cut out of steadily more discussion as major pieces of legislation are passed while subverting the legislative process,” said Rep. Coffey. “SB328 had no deadline, so there was ample time to follow the Constitutional process, yet Democrats chose not to. Every time the rules are ignored, the people of Illinois lose. The Democrats will continue to break rules until they are held accountable by court rulings.”
The Third Reading Rule is the final stage of debate that bills are supposed to follow as outlined in the Illinois Constitution. The legislative process is designed for legislators to have adequate time to review and debate legislation. Bills are supposed to be read by title three times on three different days; however, Democrats have repeatedly overthrown the Constitution to rush bills through without proper review.
The Republicans’ lawsuit outlines the blatant disregard for the Illinois Constitution specifically for Senate Bill 328, which passed despite the legislative process not being followed correctly. The bill creates imminent harm for Illinoisans by increasing the legal process to escalate abuse by trial lawyers, and job creators across Illinois strongly oppose it.
GOP lawsuit seeks to end ‘gut-and-replace’ legislation
For more information contact Rep. Coffey’s office at 217-782-0053 or [email protected].
Representative Mike Coffey serves the constituents of Illinois’ 95th House District that includes parts of Sangamon County, including portions of the City of Springfield and Villages of Chatham and Rochester as well as parts of Macon and Christian Counties.
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