THE ILLINOIZE: Hearings planned on LaSalle Veterans' Home...Dem frustrated with Pritzker response...Upward mobility for House Republicans?...FOID fiasco...
May 4, 2021
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BREAKING: DEMS PLANNING HEARINGS ON LaSALLE
House Republicans are scheduled to hold a news conference today in Springfield calling for hearings into last week’s scathing report into 36 deaths in a COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home in November.
But, it sounds like they’re already scheduled.
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) texted me last night that she has already put the request in for hearings, and will likely hold the first one next week.
Though, we’re told some House Democrats are particularly upset with the Pritzker administration over its handling of the outbreak and fallout at LaSalle, and many we have spoken to believe the crisis will dog Pritzker through the 2022 election. Some expect the way he made a Legionnaire’s outbreak at the Quincy Veterans’ Home an issue in 2018 to come back at him in 2022.
“It's gonna get bad for him,” one House Democrat told us. “If the Governor used [Quincy] as a rallying cry in his election, turnabout is fair play. He's gonna have a hard time answering for this.”
SOME HOUSE REPUBLICANS EYE UPWARD MOBILITY
As Democrats power through the process to pass a legislative map by, potentially, May 31, some House Republicans are beginning to look at their options if they were to be drawn out of their current district or placed into a potentially messy member vs. member primary.
Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) has already been mentioned as a potential candidate for statewide office, but Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) told me last night he’s keeping his options open, too. And that potentially means a statewide run.
He could seek Secretary of State or, potentially, a seat in Congress, depending on what happens to districts surrounding him currently represented by Republicans Rodney Davis and Darin LaHood. Brady says its unlikely he would give up his seniority in the House (he was elected in 2000) to start over in the Senate.
Other Republicans who may see opportunities arise if they were to be drawn out of their current districts include Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria), Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville), Rep. Mike Marron (R-Fithian), and Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield).
There are a lot of chess pieces yet to move, so it will be interesting to see where some of these House Republicans aim if they feel the wrath of the Democratic map.
Here’s our story this morning.
FOID ISSUE LIKELY HEADED TO STATE SUPREME COURT
After a southern Illinois judge declared the state’s Firearm Owner’s Identification, or FOID card, unconstitutional last week, gun rights advocates celebrated while it became clear the issue will likely be decided by the state Supreme Court.
Our Ben Garbarek has more on the site.
“No one in Illinois is born with a Second Amendment right until they pay $10 and get a card,” said Richard Pearson, the executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association. “Well, that’s not what the Bill of Rights is about. That’s not what a fundamental right is about. You are born with these rights. You don’t have to pay the state or some state or government authority anything to have a fundamental right.”
Pearson said getting rid of the FOID card requirement has been a long-term goal of his. The FOID system has been plagued by backlogs which has made people wait for months, sometimes years for their card.
“A right delayed is a right denied,” he said. “The people applying for them don’t know why it’s taking two years. They might get a letter saying there’s an error on your application, but they don’t tell you what the error is. It’s a quagmire of delay and that’s a problem.”
There are several Republican-sponsored bills to scrap FOID altogether. Pearson said it’s redundant when someone must go through a background check to buy a firearm anyway.
“When it was passed, it may not have been, but it’s become redundant,” he said. “It’s become an unnecessary stumbling block.”
The White County judge’s ruling will be appealed by Attorney General Kwame Raoul. The FOID card has been seen by gun safety advocates as a necessary check to keep guns out of the hands of people who legally aren’t allowed to have one.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to my friend Chris Brown, who was sworn in yesterday as the Mayor of Morris.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Happy birthday today to former Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, and 1990 Democratic nominee for Governor Neil Hartigan, who turns 84. My friend Clark Kaericher with the Illinois Chamber also celebrates today.
Former Senator Calvin Schuneman turns 95 Friday. Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen also celebreates Friday. Former Rep. Roger Eddy and former Senator Heather Steans celebrate Saturday.
Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford and former Rep. John Bradley celebrate a birthday next Monday.
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