THE ILLINOIZE: Monday Free for All...SAFE-T Act heads to court...What's next for Adam Kinzinger?...Some say assault weapons ban doesn't go far enough
December 19, 2022
Good morning, Illinois.
Just a quick update on our schedule for you. I’ll be down in Urbana today for Sen. Scott Bennett’s public memorial service, which I’ll write up for the newsletter tomorrow. We’ll have a paid subscriber newsletter Wednesday and we’ll shut it down for the rest of the year.
Thanks for all of your support and all you’ve done this year to help make this little venture successful.
If you enjoy our content and want to help our newsletter grow, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. It’s just $99 per year or $9.99 per month. I hope you’ll join us.
Let’s get to it.
YOUR MONDAY FREE FOR ALL
(note: we’re not responsible for paywalls and restrictions from other news outlets)
SAFE-T Act set for arguments in Kankakee County court (Kankakee Daily-Journal)
Did the way the SAFE-T Act became law violate the state’s constitution?
That question will be argued before chief judge of the 21st Judicial Circuit, Thomas Cunnington, in the Kankakee County Courthouse.
The hearing comes 11 days before a crucial part of the bill, the Pretrial Fairness Act, which will abolish cash bail, will go into effect Jan. 1, 2023.
The SAFE-T Act, or Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act, was signed into law by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker in February 2021.
Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe filed the lawsuit questioning the act’s constitutionality Sept. 16.
It was one of 58 lawsuits filed by Illinois state’s attorneys that since have been consolidated into one.
The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction based upon the SAFE-T Act violating the Illinois Constitution; violating the single-subject law; violating separation of powers; being unconstitutionally vague; and violating the three-readings requirement, Rowe said.
Illinois courts might grant a permanent injunction if the party seeking the injunction shows that: It has a clear and ascertainable right in need of protection; it is likely to suffer irreparable harm without relief; and no adequate remedy at law exists.
Pritzker has said the legislation supports police departments with funds and equipment such as body cameras, and that the elimination of cash bail will prevent low-level criminals from sitting in jail for months. Illinois will be the first state in the country to eliminate cash bail.
I’m planning to be there tomorrow and paid subscribers will get the full report Wednesday morning.
Related: Opinion: Final act in SAFE-T showdown to play out in court (Champaign News-Gazette)
Opinion: Illinois SAFE-T Act reforms will still let dangerous criminals back on streets (Rockford Register-Star)
Adam Kinzinger exit interview: lauds Liz Cheney, might move away, could again seek office (Chicago Sun-Times)
U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Illinois, is leaving Congress next month after 12 years, with his legacy achievement fighting the lies, conspiracy theories and election denial leading to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
In an interview Friday, Kinzinger, 44, made clear he has plenty of options: about how he will earn a living, where he will live and whether he again will seek elected office.
Of his future, Kinzinger — whose main jobs have been military pilot and congressman — said, “The best advice I’ve gotten from people is: Just don’t be in a hurry. Like, take your time, kind of decompress, and figure it out.”
We talked the day after he scorched his Republican colleagues in his farewell address on the House floor, castigating them for going along with ex-President Donald Trump’s “lies and deceit” and slamming Democrats for boosting MAGA Republicans in primaries — making easier rivals but driving out more moderate Republicans.
On Monday, the Jan. 6 committee — on which Kinzinger and Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming are the only Republican members — delivers part of its final report and votes on criminal referrals. After that, Kinzinger, a military pilot, heads to Wisconsin for duty with his air national guard unit.
On where Kinzinger, wife Sofia and toddler Christian will live: The family sold their home in Channahon and might not stay in Illinois: “That’s something we’ll figure out.”
On Liz Cheney: History will show her work on the Jan. 6 committee as “really essential. … … I think she has helped to drive this committee to a successful conclusion.”
About running for elected office — president, governor or senator: “I would love to get back involved at some point again,” whether “that’s eventually a presidential run, whether it’s governor or Senate….
“But I’m also 44, and I’ve got plenty of time.”
Related: All eyes are on Kinzinger's Jan. 6 vote (Crain’s Chicago Business)
In farewell speech, Rep. Adam Kinzinger warns GOP ‘has embraced lies and deceit’ (Chicago Sun-Times)
I’m not going to link it because, screw that guy, but apparently Tucker Carlson tried to roast Kinzinger the other night accusing him of not being a man. Kinzinger, by the way, is a Lt. Colonel in the Air National Guard who has flown missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tucker Carlson went to boarding school here.
I hope our politics remember Kinzinger as a guy who had the guts to tell the truth.
Supporters of assault weapons ban in Illinois tell lawmakers bill doesn't go far enough (State Journal-Register)
A lengthy list of schools provided the virtual background for Joseph Saunders as he testified Thursday during a legislative committee hearing on a proposed assault weapons ban for Illinois.
The schools were connected by one issue: having a mass shooting in the past 25 years.
Saunders, a southside Chicago resident, cited statistics and incidents including more than 700 deaths and 2,800 people shot in his city this year for a House Judiciary Law Committee meeting in Chicago.
The changes promised in the proposal -- House Bill 5855 -- will fall short, Saunders said. "If this bill will pass, no more assault weapons, things will be still happening on the streets," he said. "They (illegal weapons) are out here in a major way."
Saunders and other proponents said the bill introduced by state Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, earlier this month is long overdue but more steps are needed to address gun violence in the state. Gun rights advocates, however, called out the proposal for infringing on constitutional rights.
Related: Lawmakers hear more pleas for assault weapon ban (Capitol News Illinois)
Opinion: Passing assault weapons bill is a matter of life and death (Chicago Sun-Times)
Editorial: Fining gun offenders is the right move. Keep seeking more ways to reduce gun violence. (Chicago Sun-Times)
Yep, fines will do the trick. 🙄
OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST:
The School That Calls the Police on Students Every Other Day (Pro Publica)
Illinois failed to take action even though it knew 3M had been polluting the Mississippi River with forever chemicals for more than a decade (Chicago Tribune)
Do sex toys belong in ‘comprehensive sex education’ for high school students? (WBEZ)
Opinion: Do we have enough legislative turnover in Springfield? (Shaw Media)
Shadow of Michael Madigan looms in fight for 23rd Ward alderman (Chicago Tribune)
A better picture of Willie Wilson (Chicago Sun-Times)
New year to bring new laws in Illinois (Capitol News Illinois)
SOME TOP LINKS FROM LAST WEEK
JOIN US
I am appalled that Illinois has not fined 3M for polluting the Mississippi. Illinois EPA needs to be held responsible. They should be made to drink a large glass of forever pollutants!! On a happier note, wishing you all a wonderful holiday. E