(Chicago, IL) – February 25, 2011. Freshman State Representative Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) on Wednesday introduced a Constitutional amendment that would impose term limits on the Illinois General Assembly’s legislative leaders, a measure that force fellow Democrat House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) out of his post.
“The legislature is too tightly controlled by four individuals who are not accountable to most citizens,” Biss said. “This bill aims to make the legislative process more responsive by ensuring that we hear fresh ideas from new leaders, which is vitally important to how the legislative process takes shape.”
Gulp.
With a January 2014 effective date, House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 20 would prohibit a member from serving in a leadership position for longer than ten years.
In addition to ending Madigan’s tenure as Speaker, who has held the job since 1983, with two-year hiatus between 1995-1997, Biss’ measure would also end the reign of House GOP Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego). Cross won his leadership job in 2002.
Newly minted state senate leaders, Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) and Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), would retain their posts until 2019.
“This bill is about limiting the amount of influence a small group of legislators can amass in state government,” Biss said. “The state of Illinois is ready for change, and that’s something we can’t accomplish if don’t turn away from what got us into this mess.”
One Democratic lawmaker responded to Biss’ proposal and comments, saying, “Jesus!”
UPDATE:
Thanks to the sharp eye of State Rep. Mike Fortner (R-West Chicago), a key clarification needs to be made regarding the departure dates of Mssrs. Madigan, Cross, Cullerton and Ms. Radogno were Biss’ proposal to be adopted. Fortner, who is sponsoring a nearly identical plan, HJRCA 9, and who consulted constitutional lawyers, notes that the departure clock would start ticking on the second Wednesday of January 2014, thus allowing Madigan, Cross, Cullerton and Radogno’s tenure to last until 2024.
Still, even with the 2024 end date, the proposal by freshman Biss, who will be long gone by then, would have the same obvious effect of prematurely ending Speaker Madigan’s tenure.
Gov. Pat Quinn
This is, without question, the most necessary and most formidable measure that must be taken in order to once again restore constitutional representation in our State.
Posted by WD Herrin | March 1, 2011, 1:29 PMI challenge every citizen and every representative in Illinois to take whatever steps are necessary that this legislative action be furthered.
However, while I am not fond of the Constitutional amendment component in this proposal, if it may resort to such a means, then it must be pursued.
This is fundamentally necessary simply because the Illinois citizenry have, up to this point, failed to act as good guardians of their government. As such, it is now out of control and must be reformed by this mandatory action.
I am also not satisfied with the time frames attached to this bill, and it should be taken upon advisement that the time frames should be reviewed and rethought.
Representative Biss should be commended for his actions.
And lest we forget, this is not a democrat or republican problems we must solve – it is a government problem.
Thank you.