Rule Would Make Blocking Bills Harder In State House
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM) -- A common complaint at the state Capitol is that a bill is trapped in the House Rules Committee.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Dave Dahl reports, there is disagreement on whether a proposed rules change would improve the situation.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Dave Dahl reports
Podcast
If the change were approved, instead of one person being able to stop legislation, it would take a three-fifths majority of each party in the state House of Representatives to free up a bill that has been stuck.
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) says Republicans would no longer be able to blame him.
"They use it as an excuse not to be participants in the normal legislative process," Madigan said. "We're going to have a set of rules. There are going to be changes in the rules. The changes happen because of requests of both Democrats and Republicans.
But Republicans such as Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) are not satisfied.
"Nowhere in the Constitution does it mention the word, 'You have to have a majority of a political caucus to consider something," Tryon said.
The proposed new rules face a vote in the full state House.
