At 1:00 PM today, the Senate Elections Committee is likely to hear testimony on SB 600, which would remove the current legal vehicle Republicans use to elect state central committeemen and leave only one alternative -- that of ballot election in each Congressional District. State Senator Chris Lauzen is sponsoring the legislation, and Senate Minority Leader Chris Radogno as well as other key Senate Republicans and Democrats have signed on. Illinois Review congratulates each senator who has so courageously stood for open elections and signed onto this legislation.
In the meantime, the Illinois GOP sent out a scathing email to county chairmen within the past few hours, we're told, and here's what the highly antagnostic message from the IL GOP's Political Director Curt Conrad said:
Here we go again… The Senate Republicans are floating another version of SB 600.
The state is in a fiscal crisis (9 billion dollar budget deficit), bills are not being paid, unemployment is at an all time high and we are in the depths of a historical scandal surrounding the Illinois Democrat Party. With all of this, they believe this is more important to focus upon. It is amazing to me that we would even consider modelling our party on that of the Democrats. I think we all have seen how well this has worked for them. Not to mention, we already have direct elections. Precinct Committeemen are elected by the public and, in turn, they determine the leadership of the Party – including you and the State Central Committee. Their voice should not be muted! SB 600 was defeated overwhelmingly through a standing floor vote at the State Convention. I guess this doesn’t matter.
Attached is a bulleted document with legislative contact numbers. It should provide more than enough details.
Now is the time for you, along with your Precinct Committeemen, to contact your local legislators – especially your Republican Senators. There is a committee hearing today at 1:00 p.m., therefore, quick action is necessary. We must be aggressive on this effort so that they understand that grassroots is the backbone of our party and you will not be silenced.
It is signed:
Curt Conrad
Political Director
Illinois Republican Party
217/525-0011 - Office
320 S. 4th Street
Springfield, IL 62701
