DECATUR, IL… State Representative Regan Deering (R-Decatur) has joined a lawsuit with Republican colleagues in the House and Senate that seeks to enforce Illinois’ constitutionally-required Third Readings Rule in the Illinois General Assembly. The lawsuit, filed in the Sangamon County court, identifies SB 328 as the clearest and most blatant violation. SB 328 is gut-and-replace legislation that did not receive the constitutionally-required three readings before it was called for a vote and all Republicans voted no.
The legislation, SB 328, would overhaul Illinois’ judicial system by allowing out-of-state businesses to be sued by out-of-state plaintiffs in Illinois courts, regardless of whether the incident happened in the state of Illinois or not.
“Illinois Democrats ignore our Constitutional process time and time again,” said Rep. Deering. “The Three Reading Rule is not a suggestion, it is a constitutional mandate. Governor Pritzker has the chance to make this right and veto this egregious legislation before it becomes law. He owes it to all of Illinois to take action and avoid a constitutional violation that will harm job creators and working families.”
The Third Reading Rule refers to the final stage in debate before a bill goes for a vote. In this stage, the bill has been read into the official House record three times, on three different days, has been through appropriate committee hearings, and has allowed legislators plenty of time to review and debate the legislation. This process, though in the Illinois Constitution, is constantly and deliberately being bypassed by Democrats to push bills throughout without proper review.
“Every time the rules are ignored, the people of Illinois lose. If we don’t challenge this behavior, the Democrats will keep it up,” concluded Deering.
The legislation that was rammed through did not have a deadline, but Democrats violated the constitution anyway. Republican lawmakers are calling on Governor Pritzker to veto the legislation and are hopeful the lawsuit will prevent it from reaching his desk.
For more information, please contact Rep. Deering at (217) 876-1968 or at RepDeering.com.
###