Niemerg Calls for Accountability & Transparency
AUDIO Comments here.
On the first day of the 104th General Assembly State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) opposed the rules by which the Illinois House of Representatives will operate for the next two years (2025-26). The supermajority Democrats hold total control over the legislative process, but Rep. Niemerg and his House Republican colleagues called for greater transparency and a fairer process.
“Here we go again! Same old game with the same old stranglehold on the process to silence the voices of millions of hardworking Illinoisans that I and my Republican colleagues represent in the General Assembly,” declared Niemerg. “It’s like Mike Madigan never gave up the Speakership and is not on trial for corruption. The status quo is still alive and well in the Illinois General Assembly.”
At the beginning of each new General Assembly, the Illinois House of Representatives debates a Resolution establishing the Rules by which the chamber will operate. Instead of using this opportunity to return representative democracy to the people by allowing all bills to be assigned to a substantive committee and to receive a fair and open hearing, Niemerg argues that the “House Rules” adopted today do not accomplish that goal.
“Current House Rules provide for only one hour of advance notice prior to the House taking a vote on appropriations bills. That timeframe is ridiculous,” added Niemerg. “It allows for more abuses of the legislative process that lead to things like the budget passing in the dead of night without public knowledge or input. I believe we need time to properly evaluate the impact of spending proposals and at the very least there should be a 24-hour waiting period. The Democrats don’t let us see bills or give us time to analyze them, let alone the public. Rules should encourage collaboration and be transparent about what goes on in committees by releasing audio within 24 hours.”
The eleven proposals offered up by the Republicans to bring some semblance of fairness include:
HR 16 – Eliminates loophole that allows a substantive resolution to evade the normal requirement for publication on the agenda of pending items (the daily House calendar)
HR 17 – Requiring a committee hearing and a vote on any bill that has at least 5 co-sponsors from each party.
HR 18 – Provides public disclosure of pre-filing for Senate bill sponsorship.
HR 19 – Creates a minimum review period of 24 hours before final action on appropriation bills.
HR 20 – Utilize conference committees so proposals can retain the same bill numbers throughout GA consideration.
HR 21 – Limiting the number of bills allowed to be on a consent calendar to 25 (down from 80)
HR 22 – Restores requirement for supermajority to close floor debate.
HR 23 – Provides for Member Access to the House Chamber during Clerk’s Office Business Hours.
HR 24 – Requires that Committee and Task Force Audio Recordings be accessible on the GA website within 24 hours.
HR 25 – Requires a record vote when voting to close floor debate (if unanimous consent is denied).
HR 26 – Each member can designate at least one bill per session for a guaranteed committee hearing and vote. It would be designated as a priority bill
Constituents are encouraged to sign up for legislative updates and electronic news about the activities of the General Assembly and the State of Illinois offices and programs by going online to RepNiemeg.com. You may contact Rep. Niemerg at 217-813-6036 with any issues or concerns.
