Show Us Amendment Testimonials

“As a volunteer lobbyist for the Illinois PTA in the 80s and 90s, I used to be able to engage in the committee hearing process on bills, and then mail information to our members and they would have time to express their views to their legislators.  Imagine that!  Even using our email network, there is rarely time for such input now.” - Gretchen McDowell, Past President, Illinois PTA 

"I am part of a team that registers high school seniors to vote.  I also encourage them to get involved in their own democracy by contacting their local legislators to let them know how they feel about proposals that impact students.  I tell them that their vote is important and their opinions count but I sometimes wonder if the opinions of citizens really do count when the leaders have a lock on the action.  The Show Us Amendment will help citizens know what is being proposed so we can engage in the process." -  Chris Slowik, League of Women Voters of the Palos-Orland Area, 

“I support the Democracy Project as a result of past experience.  When I tried to talk to my Senator about a complicated bill that was important to my community, he said he hadn't seen it yet; the Senate President was the only one who had seen the final version of it. So I went to see the Senate President.  He said I should talk to my Senator about it, because I don't live in the Senate President's district and he doesn't represent me. The next day the Senate voted on the bill less than an hour after the final version was presented to them. Why should I vote if my legislators have no say in what matters to me?” - Sharon G. Voliva, Member of the Thornton High School District 205 Board of Education and Chair of the Better Funding for Better Schools Coalition, Dolton, Illinois

“The way laws in this state are made now allows bad things to happen, not only to our schools, but to everyone in Illinois. This amendment can go a long way toward fixing that.”  -  Mike Johnson, Farmer and Educator, Winnebago, Illinois

“I support the ‘Show Us Amendment’ because it seems to be a first step in restoring a transparency to the decision-making process that our legislators are either not willing to provide or, due to the current political climate, are unable to provide.”  - Jerry Klooster, School Superintendent, Wyoming, Illinois

“I never want to hear ‘Are you sure? I didn't know that was in the legislation’ again.  Informed legislators can make decisions that reflect their constituency rather than just being a rubber stamp for the leadership. I want informed decision-making.”   Debbie Potts, Educator, Springfield

"We need to take back control of the democratic process in Illinois, and this will be a great start." - Anders Dillner, Sullivan, First generation immigrant and naturalized citizen. "Citizenship is a duty as well as a privilege"

“Special interests are using subterfuge to undermine democracy in Illinois.  This amendment will help restore democracy in Illinois.” - Conrad Steinhoff, Retired Social Worker, United Methodist Clergy, Lebanon, Illinois   

“As Illinois citizens, The Democracy Project is absolutely critical if we the people are to have an opportunity to have our voices heard relative to the laws that impact us daily.  We must put an end to legislation determined by uninformed legislators without even a trace of their constituencies' valuable input.” - Marty Ricconi, LaSalle County Educator

“I was upset when my legislator voted for a budget that was not supportive of education and then used the excuse that he didn't know what was in the budget bill before he voted for it. Legislators are elected to vote on all issues important to voters, not just those important to political leaders. The governor should not be able to bypass the legislature to get his own way.” - Bob Ehlke, Superintendent, Casey-Westfield School District, Casey, Illinois

“I joined [the Democracy Project] because I am tired of careers politicians who cannot identify with my daily life telling me what is good for me, why they need to be involved in my private, as well as public affairs, and generally disregarding the business of the people, such as education funding and tax swaps.” - Kevin P. Camden, Education Lawyer

“NEVER should three people, in a "smoke filled room", make legislative decisions which will impact the entire State, while the vast majority of our elected officials are kept ‘in the dark.’” - John Marshall, Educator, Ipava, Illinois [Mr. Marshall agrees that, although our legislative leaders do not smoke, they still need lots of smoke in the room, because it goes with the mirrors.]

“The bulk of power of the legislative process is truly in the hands of a few.  Representative democracy in Illinois politics is a misnomer.  The amendment will make it more difficult for last minute deals that many legislators don’t even know about or have time to research and read.” - Bill Mattingly, Superintendent, Oregon CUSD #220

“I believe it’s time for those elected to represent us to get a chance to represent us. The ‘three men in a room’ do not represent the entire state of Illinois.  Our elected officials should have the opportunity to fully understand proposed legislation, and to hear from their constituents on important legislative issues.” - Kenny Schwengel, Supt. Atwood-Hammond CUSD #39

“Why is there a need for such an amendment of Article IV of the Illinois State Constitution?  Because the basic tenet of our legislative representatives – of our democratic process itself  - has taken on such a limited, oligarchic nature that the people of Illinois are no longer being truly represented.” - Richard O'Brien, President, District 214 Education Association, Arlington Heights, Illinois

“I'm a US-based Logistics Director for a very large German multi-national firm (Siemens). As I travel globally and see other democracies at work, I am convinced that although most Americans deeply believe this to be ‘The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave,’ we are - despite our continued bravery as a People - no longer as free as we think. Our democratic ideals are founded upon the ‘informed consent of the governed.’ and many legislators, particularly in Illinois, actively and very successfully work against this very concept.

“This sad state of affairs is due in part to Illinois' abysmally low voter participation rates, the root cause of which is voter apathy fostered by the People's distrust of ‘double-talking politicians’ who promise everything to every constituency, yet deliver only self-serving results by manipulating the way legislation gets passed.  Many Illinois legislators thus ‘stack the cards’ against the very people who elected them, achieving their own ends in last-minute "deals" favoring powerful supporters. Their goal is not to serve the people of Illinois, but to do whatever is required to serve whoever will support them in their re-election. Our Illinois legislative process has become a sham, and the People have the right to know in a timely manner the specifics of proposed legislation so that they can effectively communicate their wishes to their elected representatives.” - Alexander Kentfield, Carol Stream, IL 

“We need the ‘Show Us Amendment’ so that our Legislators have a chance to know what is in a bill before it is passed. Then maybe Illinois will have a true Democracy at work.” - Michael Schmitz, Educator, Effingham, Illinois

"I support passage of the Show Us Amendment because I believe that what is in the best interest of the ‘common good’ should be determined by the common and good people who are the soul of this state.  Government executed behind closed doors eliminates the right of the rest of us to government by the people." - Mary Penich, Educator, Gurnee, Illinois