SPRINGFIELD – Six GOP state lawmakers – four in the House and two in the Senate – sent Governor Rauner a letter Friday afternoon, asking him to veto SB 31, a bill that would protect non-citizens living in Illinois from Federal law enforcement. The bill, opponents say, would provide sanctuary for those in the country illegally.
GOP Representatives Allen Skillicorn, David Allen Welter, John Cabello and Tom Morrison, as well as GOP Senators Kyle McCarter and Jim Oberweis signed onto the letter sent out Friday afternoon asking the governor to veto the bill, saying "the State should not interfere with lawful action by the federal government."
The letter said:
As elected Republican Legislators we are compelled to represent our constituents and our party by respectfully urging you to veto Senate Bill 31, the “so called” Trust Act.
Law enforcement, elected officials, and the federal government have all sworn to protect individual rights and the U.S. Constitution. We agree in checks and balances, but the State should not interfere with lawful action by the federal government.
We see SB31 as what it is, this bill is a political ploy. Signing SB31 into law does more political harm than good. Please veto SB[31] and let’s continue to work on the reforms Illinois so desperately needs.
Not only has the governor heard from these six lawmakers, he also got a letter from the Lake County GOP Central Committee earlier in the week telling the governor the bill was a "political scam" maneuvered by House Speaker Mike Madigan.
The governor's office says he plans to sign SB 31 into law Monday.
