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Media
Center for the Illinois Democracy Project
Recent
News
The
following are recent news articles about the IDP and the Show Us
Amendment. The blue link will take you to the article on the
newspaper's website. Some websites allow readers to comment on the
story and to also read comments left by other readers.
Change
unfair legislation - 10/16/07 The Herald News
For years, many proposals have gone before the General Assembly
in the closing days of the legislative session. Often, last-minute
legislation is brought to the floor by one of the key statehouse
players-- the governor, House speaker or Senate president--and most
lawmakers have little or no idea about what is contained in the bill on
which they have to vote.
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/opinions/604395,4_4_JO16_EDIT_S1.article
LWV
calls for an end to shell bills - 10/16/07 Edwardsville
Intelligencer
The Edwardsville League of Women Voters heard an overview last week of
the proposed amendment to the state constitution known as the Show Us
bill, one designed to prohibit filing of "shell" bills,
seemingly innocuous bills purported to change "an" to
"the" or vice versa, and then amended during the final moments
before the vote to contain the real intent of the legislation.
http://www.goedwardsville.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18922070&BRD=2291&PAG=461&dept_id=473648&rfi=6
League
of Women Voters pushing for Show Us Amendment - 10/13/07 The
Edwardsville Journal
Albeit the Show Me state is located next door, members of the League
of Women Voters are hoping Illinois will adopt the Show Us Amendment on
this side of the river.
http://edwardsvillejournal.stltoday.com/articles/2007/10/13/news/sj2tn20071013-1014edw_lawson.ii1.txt
Public
deserves fair chance to review legislation
- 10/5/07
Daily Southtown
The Issue: Good government advocates are seeking a 21-day public review
period before nonemergency legislation is voted on in state.
We say: This initiative would be beneficial to the public.
Proponents should forge ahead to get the proposal on the November 2008
ballot.
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/news/opinion/editorials/589330,100507editlwv.article
League
of Women Voters pushing constitutional amendment - 10/1/07 Daily
Southtown
Illinois may not be the "show-me state," but some community
leaders hope it'll become home to the "show-us amendment." The
League of Women Voters and other advocacy groups are circulating
petitions for a proposed change to the Illinois Constitution, hoping to
get enough signatures to place a question on the Nov. 4, 08, ballot.
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/news/582381,100107amend.article
Legislative
dysfunction was predictable - The
St. Clair Journal 9/10/07 by Jim Broadway, IDP Chair
The current dysfunction of the Illinois legislature is
extreme, but it was also almost inevitable. The reason? The voice
of the people, the proper influence over policymakers in a democracy,
has been steadily closed off from the process by which our elected state
officials shape policy.
http://stclairjournal.stltoday.com/articles/2007/09/25/opinions/sj2tn20070905-0905gcj_pta.txt.txt
Group
hopes to end legislative surprises
- The Collinsville Herald 7/21/07Handling
the multi-million dollar budget of a school district is certainly not
the easiest job in the world. But keeping a firm grasp on finances can
quickly go from difficult to nearly impossible whenever state
politicians institute a last-minute change in policy, with no warning to
the district or the general public.
http://collinsvilleherald.stltoday.com/articles/2007/07/21/news/sj2tn20070721-0722cvj_showusamendment.ii1.txt
Amendment
gives power to the people - Sauk Valley Newspaper Group 5/30/07
Illinoisans who try to follow the activities of the Illinois
General Assembly soon may find their heads spinning. There are so many
twists and turns in the legislative process, so many characters and so
many bills that it's like trying to follow the convoluted plot of the
latest "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie. Since Gov.
Blagojevich once described lawmakers as drunken sailors, perhaps the
pirate analogy is appropriate.
http://www.saukvalley.com/articles/2007/05/30/opinion/editorials/3818141640247.txt
All
aboard for Show Us Amendment - Sauk Valley Newspaper Group 4/4/07
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's revised plan for a massive new gross receipts
tax on businesses leaves us wondering what other surprises are in store
before a final vote takes place.
http://www.saukvalley.com/articles/2007/04/04/opinion/editorials/318555621710689.txt
On
a fast track with no accountability - Sauk
Valley Newspaper Group 3/15/07
What's the point of sunshine? It is to give vision, through newspapers
like this one, to citizens in our democracy. Unless we can be in the
room when elected officials act on our behalf, and follow the paper
trail of their stewardship, the "by the people" part of
Abraham Lincoln's description of democracy is meaningless.
http://www.saukvalley.com/articles/2007/03/15/opinion/columnists/311243313874493.txt
PTA
chapters petition for “Show Us Amendment"
-
The
Ogle County News 3/14/07
When Illinois citizens recover their voice and influence over how
state laws are enacted, they will have a “local” organization —
the Parent Teacher Association chapter at their schools — to thank.
http://www.oglecountynews.com/article.php?aid=2215
As
I see it let's become the "Show Us" state
- The Lake County News-Sun 1/20/07
Frank McCloskey, the only congressman I ever knew well enough to buy a
beer, offered that serving in Washington was less fun than he thought it
would be.
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/rutter/220278,5_1_WA20_RUTTER_S1.article
Study
bill, then vote, group says -
Sauk Valley Newspaper Group 1/12/07
Missouri
may be the Show-Me State, but if members of a newly created organization
have their way, Illinois will have a Show Us Amendment.
http://www.saukvalley.com/articles/2007/01/12/news/local/337753280160769.txt
Show
us the bills (before voting on 'em) -
Sauk Valley Newspaper Group 1/12/07
Bill Campbell, a gifted Illinois editorial cartoonist from Little York,
drew a memorable cartoon in 1979 that humorously described crunch time
at the Illinois General Assembly.
http://www.saukvalley.com/articles/2007/01/12/opinion/editorials/312852597517724.txt
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