(MUSIC)
>>> WELCOME TO "AT ISSUE." THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
MY NAME IS H. WAYNE WILSON.
EVERY FALL, THE HOUSE AND SENATE
IN SPRINGFIELD HAVE WHAT IS
COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE VETO
SESSION.
THAT'S WHERE THEY CAN CONSIDER
BILLS THAT WERE EITHER FULLY
VETOED OR AMENDATORILY VETOED BY
THE GOVERNOR.
THERE IS OTHER NEW LEGISLATION
THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED UNDER
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION, WE
HAVE FOUR LEGISLATORS WITH US,
TWO DEMOCRATS, TWO REPUBLICANS,
TWO SENATES, AND TWO
REPRESENTATIVES.
LET ME INTRODUCE JASON
BARICKMAN.
JASON REPRESENTS THE
53RD DISTRICT, PART OF TAZEWELL,
PART OF WOODFORD AND YOU GO ALL
THE WAY OVER TO INDIANA BORDER.
>> EUREKA TO INDIANA BORDER
INCLUDING BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL.
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.
HE IS THE REPUBLICAN
SENATOR. DAVE KOEHLER IS HERE, A
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING THE
NORTHERN PORTION -- WELL, YOU
REPRESENT PEORIA, FULTON COUNTY.
>> PARTS OF TAZEWELL COUNTY,
PEKIN UP THROUGH EAST PEORIA.
>> ALSO WITH US, REPRESENTATIVE
JEHAN GORDON-BOOTH, A DEMOCRAT
REPRESENTING THE SOUTHERN
PORTION OF PEORIA, BARTONVILLE,
A REAL SMALL DISTRICT, DENSELY
POPULATED.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> REPRESENTATIVE RYAN SPAIN IS
HERE.
RYAN IS A REPUBLICAN
REPRESENTING THE NORTHERN
PORTION OF PEORIA, AND UP TO
CLOSE TO I80, OVER PAST I39.
>> CORRECT.
>> THAT'S THE 73RD DISTRICT.
RYAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME.
AS DAVE KOEHLER BEFORE THE TAPE
HE POINTED OUT, THIS IS THE
FORMER CITY COUNCIL SIDE OF THE
TABLE.
RIGHT.
>> BOTH RYAN AND DAVE WERE
FORMER PEORIA CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
WE WANT TO START ON A VERY
SERIOUS TOPIC TO BEGIN THE
CONVERSATION, AND LIKE TO HEAR
FROM ALL FOUR OF YOU WITH REGARD
TO THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT
SITUATION IN SPRINGFIELD.
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE HAS
INTRODUCED SENATE BILL 2248.
I THINK THIS IS A RATHER UNUSUAL
SITUATION.
IT MIGHT MOVE FAIRLY QUICKLY.
IT IS A TRAINING ON AN ANNUAL
BASIS FOR LEGISLATORS FOR
LOBBYISTS, FOR STAFF.
HOW DID THIS ALL COME ABOUT,
DAVE?
>> WELL, REALLY I THINK THE
IMPETUS OF ALL OF THIS
NATIONWIDE WAS HARVEY WEINSTEIN
AND WHAT WAS GOING ON IN
HOLLYWOOD.
THAT IS HAS MUSHROOMED INTO ALL
OF A SUDDEN EVERYBODY TAKING
LOOK AT THE WORK CULTURES THEY
ARE INVOLVED IN, AND COMMUNITIES
THEY ARE INVOLVED IN SAYING,
HEY, THAT HAS GOT TO STOP.
SPRINGFIELD HAS TO JUMP ON THIS
RIGHT AWAY.
I REALLY APPLAUD THE SPEAKER
ESPECIALLY FOR BRINGING SOME
LEGISLATION FORWARD THAT IS
GOING TO MANDATE TRAINING FOR
EVERYBODY, LEGISLATORS AND STAFF
AND ALL THAT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT JUST
SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO EXIST IN
WORK ENVIRONMENTS OR IN OUR
SOCIETAL ENVIRONMENTS THAT WE
HAVE.
WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT.
>> DENISE ROTHEIMER WHO HAPPENS
TO BE RUNNING FOR A POSITION OUT
OF LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS, IS
CHARGING IRA SILVERSTEIN WITH
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE PAST.
BUT THIS STARTED WELL BEFORE
THAT.
IS THERE A SENSE -- ANY OF YOU
HAVE A SENSE THAT THERE WAS A
REAL SEXUAL HARASSMENT PROBLEM
IN SPRINGFIELD WITH THE HOUSE
AND SENATE BEFORE IN CHARGE BY
DENISE ROTHEIMER?
>> I THINK THERE IS A CULTURAL
ISSUE AT PLAY NATIONWIDE REALLY,
AND IT IS.
IT IS PART OF THE FALLOUT OF
HARVEY WEINSTEIN AND ALL OF
THAT.
IF YOU SEE THE ME TOO CAMPAIGN,
MY WIFE INCLUDED, HAVE
PARTICIPATED IN THE ME TOO
CAMPAIGN.
I THINK THAT MOVEMENT IS -- HAS
LEGS IN SPRINGFIELD, AND YOU
HAVE GOT A STATE GOVERNMENT THAT
IS TRYING TO BE RESPONSIVE.
I THINK THERE IS A CULTURAL
ISSUE THAT IS MUCH BROADER THAN
THE INSTITUTION OF OUR STATE
GOVERNMENT, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO
TAKE ACTION HERE.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, LEGISLATION
THAT IS GOING TO MANDATE
TRAINING AND PROVIDE FOR
REPORTING MECHANISM WHICH IS
REALLY WHAT WE HOPE TO GET TO.
I THINK THOSE ARE IMPORTANT
STEPS.
BUT THE AWARENESS THAT EXISTS I
THINK HAS BEEN HEIGHTENED AND IS
VERY IMPORTANT THAT LEGISLATORS
ARE LOOKING AT ONE ANOTHER AND
ASKING WHETHER BEHAVIORS HAVE
BEEN APPROPRIATE, WHETHER THERE
IS MORE THAT WE CAN DO WHEN WE
SEE ACTIONS.
AND I THINK THESE ARE IMPORTANT
THINGS TO COME OUT OF THIS MORE
THAN JUST THERE IS GOING TO BE A
NEW TRAINING REQUIREMENT.
>> RYAN, ARE THERE ANY PENALTIES
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BILL THAT
YOU ARE AWARE OF OR IS IT MOSTLY
JUST FOCUSED ON TRAINING TO
START WITH?
>> SURE.
THE BILL REALLY FOCUSES ON
TRAINING WHICH I THINK IS A VERY
GOOD THING.
AS A NEW LEGISLATOR, I CAN TELL
YOU THERE IS VERY LITTLE JOB
TRAINING AT ALL THAT TAKES PLACE
WITH ENTERING INTO THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.
YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY TOLD, HERE
IS WHERE YOU WILL BE SITTING,
AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.
SO I THINK THAT THE OPPORTUNITY
TO TRAIN ALL MEMBERS OF THE
LEGISLATURE, STAFF, LOBBYISTS IS
REALLY AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT
THAT WILL BE PART OF THIS
LEGISLATION AND THEN ALSO
OBVIOUSLY AND WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING A LOT ABOUT IT, WE HAVE
TO FILL THE VACANCY IN THE
OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE
INSPECTOR GENERAL.
THAT'S A POSITION THAT IS
CRITICAL FOR THESE TYPES OF
ACTIVITIES, AND IT HAS BEEN
VACANT FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW
WHICH IS REALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
>> FOR BACKGROUND FOR OUR
VIEWERS, THAT'S A SITUATION
WHERE THIS REPORT BY DENISE
ROTHEIMER WENT TO SENATE
PRESIDENT CULLERTON'S OFFICE.
CULLERTON SAID THIS IS REALLY
THE GENERAL'S POSITION.
IT WAS TO THAT OFFICE AND THEY
SENT IT BACK SAYING NO, THIS IS
A LEGISLATIVE ISSUE AND SENT IT
BACK TO CULLERTON'S OFFICE AND
NOW WE HAVE CULMINATED WHERE WE
ARE NOW.
DID YOU GET A SENSE THERE WAS
SEXUAL HARASSMENT ISSUES IN THE
LEGISLATURE BEFORE ALL OF THIS?
>> YES.
I WOULDN'T SAY I KNEW IT WAS
RAMPANT PROBLEM THAT IT WAS, BUT
CLEARLY LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, ANY
OTHER WORK PLACE, THERE ARE
PEOPLE THAT YOU MAY BE CLOSER TO
THAN OTHERS.
SO THE WOMEN THAT I HAVE BUILT A
RELATIONSHIP WITH DURING MY TIME
OF THE LEGISLATURE, ONCE YOU
BECOME CLOSE TO THEM, YOU BEGIN
TO SHARE THINGS WITH ONE
ANOTHER, YOU TALK ABOUT THE
CULTURE, AND YOU TALK ABOUT
CERTAIN PEOPLE.
AND CERTAINLY THERE WERE WOMEN
WHO SHARED THINGS WITH ME THAT
WERE PRETTY GROTESQUE.
RIGHT, THEY ARE THE KINDS OF
THINGS THE MEN AT THIS TABLE,
THEIR WIVES OR DAUGHTERS HAD TO
EXPERIENCE THOSE THINGS IN THE
WORK PLACE, THEY WOULD BE
FURIOUS.
FOR ME, PERSONALLY, I THINK MY
EXPERIENCE HAS NOT BEEN WHAT
SOME OF THE WOMEN THAT I HAVE
HEARD FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES,
BUT I THINK THAT MOST WOMEN HAVE
EXPERIENCED SEXUAL HARASSMENT OR
SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION OF SOME
SORT IN THE WORK PLACE.
I THINK WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL
LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, THERE IS A
SPECTRUM, RIGHT.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT THERE ARE
COMMENTS PEOPLE MAY MAKE, BUT
THEN OFTENTIMES THERE ARE
ACTIONS THAT PEOPLE TAKE THAT
ULTIMATELY BORDERLINE CRIMINAL
BEHAVIOR.
AND I HAVE HEARD OF ALL THOSE
THINGS HAPPENING.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE
DIFFICULTIES IS DEFINING WHAT IS
SEXUAL HARASSMENT BECAUSE WE ALL
HAVE DIFFERENT PERSONAL ZONES.
DON'T GET TOO CLOSE TO ME.
I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WHEN YOU
ARE WITHIN TWO FEET OF ME, EVEN
BETWEEN TWO MEN.
SO WHAT DEFINES SEXUAL
HARASSMENT?
IS THERE A DEFINITION OF THIS
BILL OR IS THAT LEFT TO DEVELOP
WHEN THE TRAINING STARTS?
>> THINK PERSONALLY IF I COULD
JUMP IN RIGHT HERE, I THINK THAT
YOU HAVE TO BE MINDFUL THAT I
THINK SENATOR BARICKMAN SPOKE TO
THIS, CERTAIN CULTURES ARE
CREATED, RIGHT, WITHIN ANY WORK
PLACE WHERE A CERTAIN BEHAVIORS
BECOME ACCEPTABLE.
I DON'T THINK WE, YOU KNOW,
NECESSARILY NEED THE PC POLICE
RUNNING AROUND EVERY SINGLE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MEMBERS OF
THE OPPOSITE SEX.
I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS GOING
TO GO THAT FAR, BUT I DO THINK
WE HAVE TO HAVE A PROCESS IN
PLACE SO THAT WHEN A PERSON DOES
FEEL THAT THEIR PERSONAL SPACE
HAS BEEN VIOLATED OR THEIR
PERSONAL LIBERTIES HAVE BEEN
VIOLATED THAT THERE IS A
PROCESS.
CLEARLY AS WE DISCUSSED THIS
AFTERNOON FOR THE LAST THREE
YEARS, THERE LAB NO ONE TO EVEN
GO TO WHEN THESE KINDS OF THINGS
HAPPEN.
MUCH LIKE HOLLYWOOD, THERE IS NO
HR DEPARTMENT.
THERE IS NO CLEAR CUT PATH FOR
STAPH OR EVEN LEGISLATOR IF THEY
FELT UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION
WITH A MAN, THERE WAS NO ONE TO
GO TO.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS TO BE
CLEAR, THOUGH, IS SEXUAL
HARASSMENT IS ILLEGAL TODAY.
IT IS A CRIMINAL ACT TO CONDUCT
SEXUAL HARASSMENT TODAY IN
ILLINOIS AND ELSEWHERE.
AND SO THAT'S NOT GOING TO
CHANGE BY THIS.
I THINK WHAT IS GOING TO CHANGE
IS PEOPLE HOPEFULLY BECOME MORE
AWARE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT
THEY ARE IN OUR STATE GOVERNMENT
AND COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT
IN THOSE ROLES AS A LEGISLATOR,
DEALING WITH A CONSTITUENT, IF
YOU THINK ABOUT THIS SITUATION
THAT'S PLAYED OUT WITH SENATOR
SILVERSTEIN, HERE IS SOMEONE
CAME TO HIM AND SAID "I HAVE GOT
AN ISSUE.
I HAVE GOT A PROBLEM.
I WANT YOU TO SPONSOR
LEGISLATION TO REMEDY IT."
AND IN THAT, IN THE CONTEXT OF
THAT WHICH WE ARE ALL IN THAT
CONTEXT EVERY DAY.
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DO, THEY
APPROACH US AND ASK US TO HELP
THEM WORK ON A PROBLEM.
WHAT I THINK -- WHAT I HOPE
PEOPLE BECOME MORE AWARE OF, IN
THAT SETTING, JUST IN THAT
SETTING ALONE, THERE IS A
POSITION OF AUTHORITY, WHETHER
IT BE BY A LEGISLATOR TO A
CONSTITUENT, MAY BE A LEGISLATOR
TO A STAFF MEMBER, AND WE HAVE
TO BE COGNIZANT THAT WE ARE
ABUSING THAT AUTHORITY, WHETHER
IT IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT OR NOT.
WE ARE IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY
WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE ACTING ACCORDINGLY SO AS NOT
TO COMMIT A CRIME, AS SEXUAL
HARASSMENT, BUT ALSO TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE ACTING IN THE
PROFESSIONAL MANNER OUR
CONSTITUENTS, THE PEOPLE OF THE
STATE, EXPECT US TO.
>> DAVE, YOU WANTED TO ADD.
>> THIS IS WHY THE VACANCY IN
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE
IS SUCH A PROBLEM, AND WHAT
NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED RIGHT
AWAY.
WE ARE TALKING SOME OF US
BEFOREHAND, YOU NEED TO HAVE A
PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WHEN THEY DO
FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN PUT
INTO A COMPROMISING SITUATION
THAT THEY CAN GO AND TAKE THAT
COMPLAINT SOMEWHERE AND THAT
COMPLAINT CAN BE INVESTIGATED.
AND IT HAS TO BE IN NEUTRAL
SPECIALTY ARM OF GOVERNMENT THAT
DOES THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
REALLY SEXUAL HARASSMENT, AND
CHECK WITH THE LAWYER HERE AT
THE TABLE, BUT THIS IS IN THE
EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.
IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE BEEN
HARASSED AND YOU FEEL
UNCOMFORTABLE, THEN THAT'S A
VALID FEELING.
AND THAT SHOULD BE PURSUED IN
TERMS OF HOW TO STOP THAT, HOW
TO REMEDY THAT.
>> THE POSITION HAS BEEN EMPTY
SINCE 2014, INSPECTOR GENERAL'S
POSITION HAS BEEN EMPTY SINCE
2014.
WILL THERE BE A QUICK MOVEMENT
TO FIND SOMEBODY QUALIFIED.
>> YOU BET.
>> YES.
>> BECAUSE -- AND MANY OF YOU
MAY REMEMBER LEGISLATOR BY THE
NAME OF TOM HOMER FROM PEKIN.
HE WAS THE GENERAL FOR I THINK
TEN YEARS OR SO, AND HE LEFT AND
SOMEBODY ELSE CAME IN AND THEN
IT HAS BEEN EMPTY SINCE 2014.
>> TO CORRECT YOU, HE IS FROM
CANTON.
>> CANTON.
I KNEW THAT.
DID I SAY PEKIN?
MY APOLOGIES, CANTON.
>> THEY SAY THE POSITION WILL BE
FILLED WITHIN THE WEEK.
>> WITHIN A WEEK?
>> WITHIN 9 WEEK.
>> REALLY?
>> THAT MEANS INTERIM.
>> YEAH.
THAT'S ESSENTIAL.
>> ONE MORE ISSUE THAT ISN'T
NECESSARILY GOING TO BE
CONSIDERED DURING THIS VETO
SESSION, BUT I WANTED TO GET
YOUR SENSE ON A PUBLIC WORKS
PROGRAM OF SOME TYPE.
2009, IF I RECALL THERE WAS
ILLINOIS JOBS NOW UNDER FORMER
GOVERNOR QUINN.
IT WAS FUNDED BY VIDEO GAMING.
IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR A -- SOME
SORT OF A JOBS PROGRAM AS WE
CALL IT COMING UP IN BY NEXT
SPRING?
>> I THINK IF YOU TALK TO ANY
LEGISLATOR, YOU WOULD PROBABLY
HEAR THERE IS A LOT OF WATER
COOLER CHITCHAT ABOUT THAT.
I THINK A LOT OF US BELIEVE THAT
ILLINOIS COULD BENEFIT FROM
INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.
COMING TOGETHER ON AN AGREEMENT
OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW
IT IS FUNDED I THINK IS VERY
DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW.
IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME
LEADERSHIP I THINK FROM THE
GOVERNOR AND THE LEADERS.
NEXT YEAR WILL BE A TOUGH YEAR.
NEXT YEAR IS AN ELECTION YEAR.
WE NEED THE LEADERS TO COME
TOGETHER AND ALLOW OUR STATE TO
TAKE STEPS FORWARD ON A NUMBER
OF THINGS, THIS BEING ONE OF
THEM.
BUT I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN
OVER STATE THE CHALLENGE THAT
MAY BE IN NEXT YEAR'S CLIMATE.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT FOR
JUST A MOMENT.
WE ALWAYS -- EVERY TWO YEARS
THERE IS AN ELECTION OF SOME
KIND FOR SOMEBODY IN THE
LEGISLATURE AND THAT CAUSES A
PROBLEM WITH GETTING SIGNIFICANT
LEGISLATION THROUGH.
>> THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT
WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.
SO THAT HAPPENS EVERY FOUR
YEARS.
I THINK THAT THE GOOD BAROMETER
IS GOING TO BE TO WATCH HOW THE
BUDGET PROCESS GOES.
IF THE BUDGET PROCESS COMES
TOGETHER AND WE HAVE DONE THE
TOUGH THINGS THIS LAST SUMMER TO
CORRECT THE LAST TWO YEAR'S
BUDGET.
IF WE CAN GET A BUDGET THIS
YEAR, AND HAVE IT COME TOGETHER
RELATIVELY IN AN EASY WAY,
NOTHING IS EASY IN SPRINGFIELD,
I THINK WE CAN MOVE INTO HAVING
A CAPITAL BILL.
BUT YOU CAN'T GO TO A CAPITAL
BILL WITHOUT HAVING A BUDGET AND
HAVING SOME OF THOSE THINGS IN
PLACE FIRST.
>> IF YOU LOOK, THOUGH, AT THE
2016 ELECTION AND KEY QUESTION
THAT WAS PUT ON THE BALLOT TO
DEVELOP A LOCK BOX FOR FUNDING
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, IN OTHER
WORDS PROTECT THOSE DOLLARS,
MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE GOING
WHERE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO, 80%
OF ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS
SUPPORTED THAT INITIATIVE, VOTED
YES ON THAT QUESTION.
I THINK IT IS A GREAT INDICATION
THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE VERY
INTERESTED IN INFRASTRUCTURE
FUNDING AND IT IS A KEY ISSUE
THAT CAN BRING DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS TOGETHER.
>> LOCK BOX IS A GREAT IDEA
EXCEPT WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME
FROM TO BEGIN WITH.
YET, THERE IS TALKING OF
GAMBLING EXPANSION, ET CETERA IN
CHICAGO.
IS THAT A POSSIBILITY?
>> I WOULD SAY MY ENTIRE CAREER
THERE ALWAYS HAS BEEN TALK OF
GAMBLING (LAUGHING) AND IT NEVER
COMES TO FRUITION.
WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP GIVING IT
THE COLLEGE TRY.
BUT I THINK THE MOST WE CAN DO
IS CONTINUE TO KEEP THE
CONVERSATION ALIVE, CONTINUE TO
PUSH OUR CAUCUS LEADERS TO
CONTINUE THOSE CONVERSATIONS,
BUT ALSO THE FOLKS OUTSIDE OF
THIS PROCESS ALSO HAVE TO
CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT STATE,
STATE OF THE CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT THAT ARE HAPPENING TO BE
QUITE HONEST WITH YOU.
I WAS TALKING WITH SOME
CONTRACTORS FROM THE NORTHERN
REGION, AND I WAS JUST SHARING
WITH THEM THE POSSIBILITY OF
HOPEFULLY WE WOULD GET SOMETHING
SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
I SAID AT THE OFFSET MAYBE WE
WOULD CERTAINLY PROBABLY GET
SOMETHING AFTER THE ELECTION,
AND THERE WAS THIS HUGE GASP,
AND THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, OF THE
MIND SET THERE IS NO WAY WE
COULD WAIT THAT LONG.
SO I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE
TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS,
CONTINUE TO PUSH.
>> I THINK SENATOR KOEHLER, HE
IS RIGHT, BUT I THINK A LOT OF
ATTENTION RIGHTFULLY SO SHOULD
BE PUT ON THE BUDGET OF NEXT
YEAR.
GOVERNOR IS REQUIRED TO
INTRODUCE A BUDGET EARLY PART OF
2018.
THERE IS PROBABLY, KNOW, THERE
IS TWO PATHS FOR WHICH THAT MAY
GO.
EITHER THE GOVERNOR WILL PUT OUT
A BUDGET THAT IS GOING TO
ATTRACT BIPARTISAN SPORT AND
ENABLE IT TO BECOME LAW OR
CERTAIN REPUBLICANS MAY BREAK
FROM CAUCUS AND WORK WITH
DEMOCRATS ON A BUDGET OR YOU
HAVE GOT A STALEMATE WHERE
DEMOCRATS HAVE ONE PROPOSAL AND
REPUBLICANS HAVE ANOTHER.
WHATEVER THE SCENARIO LOOKS LIKE
NEXT YEAR, I THINK DAVE IS
RIGHT, THAT IF YOU ARE LOOKING
TO INTERPRET THE CARDS, I'D LOOK
AT THAT AS A KEY INDICATOR
WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE GOING TO
COME TOGETHER ON AGREEMENTS ON A
WHOLE SORT OF THINGS.
>> YOU KNOW, I JUST DROVE TO MY
HOME STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA NOT
TOO LONG AGO AND GOT BACK
INTEREST CLEVELAND WHERE MY WIFE
IS FROM, EVERY STATE, EVERY
STATE I WENT THROUGH HAS CHEAPER
GAS PRICES THAN ILLINOIS.
EVERY STATE.
INDIANA JUST LAST YEAR RAISED
THE GAS TAX, ALSO PUT A FLAT TAX
ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
REMEMBER, THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE
DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE HAD, HOW DO
YOU DEAL WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES
THAT DON'T PAY ANY GAS TAX, IT
IS SOMETHING NOT WORKABLE.
INDIANA HAS A GOOD SOLUTION,
FLAT FEE, WE ANTICIPATE YOU ARE
GOING TO DRIVE THIS MANY MILES
AND THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE GOING
TO PAY.
WE NEED SOME KIND OF CHANGES TO
FUND THAT.
RYAN IS RIGHT, I DON'T THINK
PEOPLE MIND WHEN THEY KNOW
PAYING IN TAX GOES TO SOME
SPECIFIC PURPOSE LIKE A ROAD.
THAT'S WHAT WE DID WITH LOCK BOX
FOR HIGHWAY FUNDS, FOR MOTOR
FUEL TAX.
SO THESE CAN BE PART OF A
DISCUSSION.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF
ITEMS THAT ARE AT LEAST POSSIBLY
COMING UP.
BY THE WAY THE VETO SESSION, THE
FIRST WEEK OF THE VETO SESSION
WAS A WEEK AGO, AND NEXT ONE IS
THIS COMING WEEK.
BUMP STOCKS, HB 4117, IT FAILED
IN THE HOUSE.
WHY DID IT FAIL?
>> I BELIEVE FAILED IN THE
HOUSE, I VOTED FOR IT TO BE VERY
CLEAR.
I AM OF THE BELIEF IF AN
INDIVIDUAL WANTS TO OWN WEAPONS,
LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN, SECOND
AMENDMENT RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO
OWN WEAPONS.
I DO THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM
WHEN YOU HAVE MANUFACTURED
PIECES THAT YOU CAN ADD TO THAT
WEAPON THAT ALLOW YOU TO SHOOT
SOME 63 BULLETS IN TEN SECONDS
LIKE THE GENTLEMAN DID IN LAS
VEGAS.
THAT'S A PROBLEM, AND SO THE
BILL THAT WE VOTED ON LAST WEEK,
IT WENT A BIT FURTHER THAN THAT,
BUT AT THE TIME THAT WAS WHAT
WAS ON BOARD.
SO I VOTED FOR IT.
I DO BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A
PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WILL
COME BACK NEXT WEEK, THAT WILL
BE BUMP STOCK.
IT WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE THE
ABILITY TO STOP--
>> THAT WAS HB 4120. RYAN, WOULD
YOU VOTE FOR THAT WHICH
ADDRESSES BUMP STOCKS.
>> THE ISSUE WITH THE FIRST BILL
IT WAS OVERLY BROAD AS YOU HEARD
REPRESENTATIVE GORDON-BOOTH SAY.
YOU MAY TAKE IN THAT BILL UP TO
40, MAYBE 50% OF CURRENT
LAW-ABIDING OWNERS OF FIREARMS
IN OUR STATE AND TURN THEM INTO
CRIMINALS BY ACTION OF THAT
BILL.
SO WE ARE WAITING FOR ANALYSIS
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IMPLICATIONS
WOULD BE ON BUMP
STOCKS.
I THINK YOU HAVE HEARD
UNDERSTANDING IN THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS WITHIN HOUSE REPUBLICAN
CAUCUS AND OTHER REPUBLICAN
LEADERS HAVE SEEN BUMP STOCKS
ARE AN ISSUE.
THEY DESERVE SOME CONSIDERATION,
BUT WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WE ARE
NOT GOING MUCH FURTHER THAN
THAT.
SO BILL THAT WAS PRESENTED LAST
WEEK THAT FAILED WITH ALL
REPUBLICANS VOTING AGAINST A
NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS VOTING
AGAINST, IT WAS A BILL THAT WENT
TOO FAR AND REALLY LIKELY WASN'T
DESIGNED TO PASS IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
>> LET'S TURN TO SB1905.
THAT'S THE PROHIBITED THE
CREATION OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES
CREATING RIGHT TO WORK AREAS.
WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH I THINK
THERE IS 24 STATES IN THE
COUNTRY THAT ARE RIGHT TO WORK
STATES.
ILLINOIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
SO THIS WOULD HAVE PROHIBITED
ANY ORGANIZATION, ANY
MUNICIPALITY FROM CREATING ONE.
THE SENATE OVERRODE THE VETO.
YOU VOTED AGAINST.
YOU VOTED FOR.
WHY DID YOU VOTE YES?
>> I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
TO HAVE A CONSISTENT SET OF LAWS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
IF WE ALLOW DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES DIFFERENT
MUNICIPALITIES THAT COULD SET
THEIR OWN LAWS UP, WHAT IT DOES
IS IT REALLY I THINK IS A
DETRIMENT TO OUR LOCAL ILLINOIS
CONTRACTORS WHO WANT TO DO
BUSINESS IN THOSE AREAS.
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH
WHOLE SET OF DIFFERENT SET OF
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
WE NEED TO HAVE CONSISTENCY.
IT HAS BEEN PRETTY CLEAR, IN THE
7TH CIRCUIT COURT DECIDED THAT
WAS TRUE.
NOW IN KENTUCKY, THEY WENT THE
OTHER WAY, THE 6TH COURT SAID,
NO, THEY COULD DO THAT.
THIS WAS WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO
HAVE LEGISLATION IN ILLINOIS SO
WE CAN PUT IN LAW WHAT WE
INTENDED FOR ILLINOIS.
>> JASON, YOU VOTED NO.
>> I THINK AS A STATE WE ARE
BURYING OUR HEAD IN THE SAND ON
THIS. YOU LOOK AT SURROUNDING
STATES, LIKE MICHIGAN, AND
INDIANA, AND WISCONSIN, THEY ARE
ATTRACTING JOBS, LOTS OF JOBS.
ONE, THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR
ALONE, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS
ARE BEING LOCATED IN SOME OF OUR
NEIGHBORS STATES.
THEY ARE NOT COMING TO ILLINOIS
BECAUSE WE HAVE CREATED-- OUR
STATE HAS CREATED THIS
ENVIRONMENT THAT IS NO LONGER
COMPETITIVE WITH SURROUNDING
STATES, WITH PLACES LIKE TEXAS,
AND THE CAROLINAS AND ELSEWHERE.
SO WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING
TO ADDRESS DISMAL ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS OF OUR STATE.
THIS IS A TOOL THAT COULD HAVE
HELPED WITH THAT.
THERE IS SOME FEDERAL LAWSUIT
THAT IS ONGOING THAT WOULD BE
IMPACTED BY AN OVERRIDE OF THIS.
I THINK THAT'S OF CONCERN.
IT IS AN ISSUE ABOUT LOCAL
CONTROL, AND THERE IS A
CRIMINAL -- EVEN A, YOU KNOW, A
CRIMINAL COMPONENT WAS MADE A
PART OF THIS LEGISLATION THAT IF
MUNICIPALITIES WOULD ENACT THIS,
THIS LEGISLATION COULD IMPOSE
CRIMINAL PENALTIES ON THOSE
INVOLVED.
TO ME, THIS WAS ANOTHER EXAMPLE
OF AN OVER REACH BY OUR
GOVERNMENT AND CERTAINLY DOESN'T
ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS OF OUR STATE.
>> IT WAS OVERRIDDEN IN THE
SENATE.
IT FAILED BY ONE VOTE OF AN
OVERRIDE.
YOU VOTED NO.
RIGHT.
>> WHY DID YOU DO THAT?
>> A NUMBER OF REASONS, AS
SENATOR BARICKMAN MENTIONED.
AGAIN, IDEA, MY BACKGROUND IS IN
LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
TO HOLD A LOCAL OFFICIAL
RESPONSIBLE WITH CRIMINAL
PENALTIES FOR TAKING A VOTE FOR
SOMETHING IN THEIR MIND THEY ARE
DOING TO HELP INCREASE JOBS AND
ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR THEIR
COMMUNITY, I AM JUST REALLY IN
AWE THAT WE WOULD EVER EVEN PUT
SOMETHING LIKE THAT UP FOR
CONSIDERATION IN OUR STATE.
ILLINOIS HAS A JOBS PROBLEM.
WE ARE LAGGING BEHIND ALL OF OUR
SURROUNDING STATES IN TERMS OF
JOB CREATION.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT OUR
TRAJECTORY HAS BEEN AS A STATE,
YOU KNOW OUR TRACK RECORD IS
VERY POOR.
LOCAL CONTROL IS AN IMPORTANT
ISSUE.
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES TO SPUR
ECONOMIC GROWTH IN ILLINOIS IS
WHAT WE HAVE TO BE FOCUSED ON
WITH LASER LIKE ACCURACY.
WE HAVE DONE A BAD JOB OF IT IN
ILLINOIS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS.
>> I MENTIONED IT FAILED BY ONE
VOTE.
IT GOT 70.
IT NEEDED 71.
>> YES.
>> MIGHT IT COME BACK UP FOR
ANOTHER VOTE?
>> WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.
I DID VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE I DO
THINK IT, LIKE, MY DEMOCRATIC
COLLEAGUE IN THE SENATE, I DO
BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE
CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE BOARD,
AND I THINK IT IS, YOU KNOW, WE
CAN SPLIT HAIRS ON WHY ILLINOIS
HAS LAGGED BEHIND SOME OF OUR
NEIGHBORING STATES.
BUT I KNOW CERTAINLY OUR
NEIGHBORING STATES HAVE NOT GONE
THREE YEARS WITHOUT A BUDGET,
RIGHT.
AND SO THE FACT THAT BUSINESSES
ARE LOOKING FOR STABILITY, THEY
ARE LOOKING FOR CONSISTENCY.
THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A STRONG --
THEIR EMPLOYEES WOULD WANT A
STRONG SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THOSE ARE ALL AREAS THAT WE HAVE
BEEN LACKING IN FOR AT LEAST THE
LAST THREE YEARS UNDER THIS
LEADERSHIP.
SO I DARE SAY THE FACT THAT WE
NOW ACTUALLY HAVE A FUNCTIONABLE
BUDGET IN PLACE, THAT THE
SENATOR AND I DID WORK VERY HARD
TO PUT TOGETHER AND PUT VERY
DIFFICULT VOTES ON IN ORDER TO
PUT OUR STATE ON THE RIGHT
TRACK.
WE DO HAVE WORK THAT WE MUST
CONTINUE TO DO, BUT IN MY
OPINION, THIS WAS NOT THE RIGHT
DECISION FOR ILLINOIS.
>> WE HAVE 90 SECONDS LEFT.
>> THIS IS A BIG ISSUE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> BIG ISSUE BECAUSE IT REALLY
TALKS ABOUT THE FUTURE
PRODUCTION FOR ILLINOIS.
I HEAR FROM CONTRACTORS, I MEAN
SET UNIONS ASIDE.
UNIONS ARE CERTAINLY FOR KEEPING
ILLINOIS THE WAY IT IS.
BUT IF YOU TALK TO CONTRACTORS,
THE BIGGEST THING THEY FEAR IS
IF WE GO TO A RIGHT TO WORK
STATE.
WHAT HAPPENS IS WE OPEN THE
DOORS TO ALL THE NON-UNION, OUT
OF STATE CONTRACTORS COMING IN
AND TAKING THEIR JOBS.
I THINK WE OWE SOMETHING TO THE
BUSINESSES THAT EXIST HERE YEAR
IN AND YEAR OUT AND PAY TAXES
AND HIRE SKILL TRADESPEOPLE TO
DO THEIR WORK, YOU KNOW, THIS
WOULD BE VERY DISRUPTIVE FOR
BUSINESS IN THIS STATE.
>> I THINK YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS.
>> THAT'S A VERY FAIR POINT.
IF THEY CAN'T BE CONSENSUS ON
THIS ISSUE, LET'S LEAD TOGETHER
AND CONSENSUS TO DO OTHER THINGS
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
WORKER'S COMPENSATION REFORM,
PROPERTY TAX REFORM.
THERE ARE OTHER TOOLS WE CAN USE
TO TACKLE THESE.
>> WE WERE GOING THAT WAY IN THE
SENATE WITH GRAND BARGAIN AND
THE GOVERNOR PULLED THE RUG ON
WHOLE THING.
I WILL PULL THE RUG ON THIS
WHOLE CONVERSATION (LAUGHING)
>> GOOD.
>> SO MUCH MORE GOING ON IN
SPRINGFIELD.
WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE YOU COME
BACK AND EXPAND THE CONVERSATION
TO AN HOUR.
THANKS TO SENATOR JASON
BARICKMAN OF BLOOMINGTON, TO
REPRESENTATIVE JEHAN
GORDON-BOOTH OF PEORIA, ALSO TO
SENATOR DAVE KOEHLER OF PEORIA,
AND TO REPRESENTATIVE RYAN SPAIN
OF PEORIA.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US
ON "AT ISSUE."
WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH
ANOTHER ISSUE.
THAT WILL BE ISSUES INVOLVING
BLOOMINGTON AND NORMAL AS WE
HAVE THE MAYORS, CHRIS KOOS AND
TERRY RENNER ON THIS PROGRAM.
JOIN US THEN.
(MUSIC)
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