Illinois ballot news
From Ballotpedia
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| Propositions • | Recall | • Law |
Here you'll find a collection of ballot news stories from Illinois.
Illinois activist proposes "Putback Amendment"
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois: Illinois activist, John Bambenek, has proposed the "Putback Amendment," an initiated constitutional amendment to the Illinois Constitution.[1] The amendment proposes to create a unicameral legislature, impose a term limit of four terms, allow only "texted bills" to the legislature floor and create a mandatory 7 day period between when a final bill is finalized and voted upon to allow for the public to review the document. In order to place the measure on the November 2010 statewide ballot Bambenek must collect a minimum of 500,000 valid signatures by May 2010. If placed on the ballot the amendment would require either "50.1% of all the voters or 60% of those that vote on the amendment."[2] According to amendment supporters the measure was proposed in order to increase transparency and because "it is clear that the Illinois General Assembly is broken."[1]
Illinois General Assembly to decide on proposed recall amendment this week
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois: The Illinois General Assembly is expected to decide on proposed constitutional amendment, also known as House Joint Constitutional Amendment 31. In September 2009, Gov. Pat Quinn issued an amendatory veto on the proposed recall amendment. According to reports, before a recall supporters can begin collecting signatures, a minimum total of 30 legislators - 20 House members and 10 Senate members - must approve the amendment. "The House has already passed this resolution and I’ve been assured by the Senate President (John Cullerton) that the Senate will OK it either Wednesday or Thursday or next week," said Gov. Quinn in a statement about the upcoming vote. According to the governor, if 60% or more approve the proposal it will become part of the state constitution.[3]
Governor Pat Quinn moves forward with ethics reform
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois: Late last month Gov. Pat Quinn issued an amendatory veto on a proposed constitutional amendment, also known as House Joint Constitutional Amendment 31. The proposal was placed on the fall legislative agenda after the legislature failed to act before the end of the 2009 session.[4] "I've said many a time that we need to have an ethics initiative in Illinois that allows the taxpayers, the voters, to step in whether it be at the statewide level or local level," said Gov. Quinn about the amendment. The proposal is scheduled to appear on the 2010 ballot for voters to make the final decision. However, some lawmakers are considering challenging the use of the governor's amendatory rewrite powers.[5]
Johnsburg residents question city's appeal of SSA ruling
JOHNSBURG, Illinois: Earlier this year a court ruled against Special Service Area No. 23, a special service area that would generate funding to build infrastructure projects, in Johnsburg, Illinois. However, village officials are not stopping there, they voted to appeal the judge’s ruling. Village residents, however, said that they are concerned with how much the village is spending on this one issue.[6] As of June 2009, Johnsburg officials have already spent approximately $130,000 on the issue.[7]
Special Service Area No. 23 was created to pay for a $10 million sewer project that would connect homes currently on septic systems to the village’s new waste-water treatment facility.[7]
In order to stop a town from enforcing SSAs residents must file a petition with sufficient signatures. Rep. Jack D. Franks objects to the process and in 2009 filed Illinois Senate Bill 1555 (2009) which would require the municipality that wants to impose the tax to hold a vote before they impose the tax, rather than putting the burden of collecting signatures on those who oppose the tax.[6]
Madison County residents petition for limit on property taxes
MADISON COUNTY, Illinois: In 1999, Madison County residents voted against enacting Illinois' Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), but a group of county residents want to put the referendum back on the ballot on November 10, 2010. If enacted the law would restrict property tax increases to 5 percent or inflation. Anything greater would need voter approval before being implemented. The group, Property Tax Accountability & Relief (PTAR), is spearheading the petition in Madison County. Madison County board member Hal Patton and spokesperson for the group said that he is confident in the measure's approval by voters. "I think it would pass overwhelmingly," he said. Opponents argue that if enacted, PTELL would greatly harm education funding. In 1999 the measure failed by approximately 1,000 votes.[8]
Earlier this year, St. Claire County residents also announced that they too are circulating a petition to place the ballot measure on the county-wide ballot.
Grafton Township may vote to cancel loan for township hall building
GRAFTON TOWNSHIP, Illinois: The Grafton Township board is set to vote on whether to cancel the bank loan that was supposed to be used to fund a new $3.5 million township hall. Township officials said Harris Bank has offered to let the township out of its loan agreement if the township returns the $3.5 million and pays about $141,600 in interest. Cancelling the bank loan would allow the township to stop incurring interest payments while litigation is pending.[9]
Illinois proposed recall amendment waits on Senate decision
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois: State legislators hoped to have a decision by the Illinois Senate on a proposed constitutional amendment, also known as House Joint Constitutional Amendment 31, at the end of the 2009 legislative session but lawmakers ran out of time. They are scheduled to return to session in the Fall but according to state officials, legislators might be called to session earlier to vote on the proposed amendment. The proposal would allow voters to recall the governor and require that at least 20 state representatives and 10 state senators sign the same recall petition that voters would. The proposal developed after the highly publicized scandals surrounding former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and impeachment on January 29, 2009. Even before Blagojevich's impeachment, this has been one of current Gov. Pat Quinn's top priorities.[10]
Rep. Jack Franks said, "This really is the nuclear option. This gives citizens a right they do not have, a right they so desperately need to keep our government honest and to take their government back." Despite the wide-spread support in the legislature, state Rep. William Black said he worries that the recall could become "a politically influenced decision." But Black added, "It's better than what we had a year ago," referring to the lack of a recall provision during Blagojevich's tenure.
If Illinois lawmakers approve the recall, voters will make the final decision on the issue in November 2010.[11]
Energy cooperative sues village of Rockton over referendum
ROCKTON, Illinois: Rock Energy Cooperative filed suit this week against the village of Rockton, IL, arguing that the village does not have the authority to acquire Rock Energy's electric and natural gas distribution systems. The village, acting on authorization from a April 2005 referendum, claims it has the power to obtain those systems and issue bonds to pay for the acquisition. Rock Energy argues that the referendum is unlawful and, despite its passage, cannot grant legal authority for the village's actions.[12]
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