MIG Journal, Saturday Edition

The Republican Senate Fights Back 

By: Maya Holsopple 

The Republican Senate was the minority in both committees on Friday, March 1st, but that did not stop them from fighting tooth and nail to have their voice heard. Leadership from Samuel Moore, and his assistant John Kennedy, both held up by their Whips Alex Ford, Lucas Shilling, and Johnathan Cooper, the Senate Republicans were a tough group to debate. 

One bill on the docket, SB 1283, a gender-affirming care bill, had the Republican Senate gunning for a debate. This bill wanted to ensure that IL will stay a safe haven for those in the LGBTQ+ community. The Republican Senate created many amendments to this bill, and stated that “yes, body dysmorphia and mental health is a big issue, and we want to amend this bill to help those experiencing it.” That amendment is “someone receiving gender-affirming care shall be evaluated by a psychiatrist before going through with the procedure.” To ensure that all who go through with the procedure are in stable condition and have the right mind. This amendment was passed. Another amendment, that did not pass, was to place an age restriction on gender-affirming care, placing a cap on 17 and older. To ensure, again, that the person going through the procedure was of the right mind and able to make this decision with as much certainty as possible. The bill for gender-affirming care was passed.

On the table was SB OL 0106, a bill that would amend the wage acts, decrease tip pooling, and help protect all service workers. This bill was passed unanimously by both senators. 

What a Lobbyist Has to Say.

By: Maya Holsopple 

Aliyah Houston of Millikan University had a bill passed in the Republican Senate. Bill, SB 2175 wanted to remove jail fines from felons for 180 days after their release from incarceration. She stated in her introduction that the black community is especially affected by this issue, considering how many people of color are unrightfully arrested. Many of the Democratic Senate agreed with this statement saying, “the justice system targets the impoverished and minorities.” and “a certain grace period is necessary, they already ‘paid their dues’ with jail time.” 

When asked why this bill was so important for Houston she stated, “When people hear the words ‘Black Lives Matter,’ they are only thinking of issues in the streets, but it goes so much deeper than that. There is so much systematic oppression deeply rooted in our government, and if we use these platforms to uplift the black communities, and all who are affected, we can rebuild and restore our communities, but this all starts with the laws set into place.” 

The bill was passed with a 10-6 vote. Senate Bill OL 0120 was also a bipartisan bill, passing unanimously in the Senate. This was a bill to define benefits for state workers. The Republican Senate proclaims that they are for the ‘working man’, and these bills passing will help all those in the community. 

House Committee Passes Bills on Police Training and Child Labor Exploitation 

 By Ryland Roberts

On March 1st, 2024, the House passed HBOL0301, which amends the “Illinois Police Training Act”. Republican Representative Pia Lopez stated that this bill would be asking “too much” of the police while the Majority asserted her belief that “it's additional help for police officers, mental health evaluations, and teaching them valuable skills like de-escalation”. Representative Eniola Babington expressed concern as this new bill can deter recruitment.

 A common concern on the right has been the overworking of the police officers due to the bill requiring officers to go through, a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training program where they will collaborate with families who have experience with mental health disorders, mental health professionals, law enforcement professionals, and customer advocates.

After HBOL0301 was passed, the House committee moved to HBOL0302, a bill that amends the Child Labor Law Sec. 2.6, which states that a minor under 16 cannot work in any “gainful occupation”, while those who are 14 and up are allowed to work as long as they are in a work program sponsored by the Illinois Board of Education. Representative Lopez had predicted that the creator of the original legislation was a preschool teacher,

“I'd also like to add how the creator of this original legislation is a preschool teacher; this is an experience that she's had firsthand. This is information she's had. I'd also like to add that I'm also a daycare teacher, so people within this party know exactly what's happening to our children in this new age of media. If you do not have children. Keep that in mind. If you have ever been exposed to children, children keep that in mind. Imagine if they were in a place of very blogging, which they were not in consent of. Would you do that for your own child?”

   Bill HBOL0301 had passed unanimously.

The Warring Debate Between Health and Republicans 

By Leslie Lozada

On March 1, 2024, the Senate Democrats came together in order to meet on bills relating to Committee B. During the Party Caucus meeting prior, it was highlighted within the meeting the bills that would be for relating bills in education, mental health, among other aspects.

With the Senate Republicans, they meet in Room 400 in order to get their bills passed. SB 1433 was called into question by the Majority Leader William Fuith. The bill, which was relating for firearms, had additional information regarding trauma-based protocol in school. Fuith called for an amendment in striking more of everything in the bill except for the trauma-based protocol. 

The one that made it onto the docket for the following meeting in the House, SB 1328, started with a lot of debate. The bill is about lowering the card age from 21 to 18 years old

Unity in Action: Illinois House Committee A Advances Original Legislation

By: Maggie Sterning, Chief Editor

MARCH 1, 2024- SPRINGFIELD IL- House committee A, which hears bills on AFT and education, started the first day off strong by showing cooperation, compromise and ultimately bipartisanship. A considerable amount of bills was passed unanimously. Many of which were brought to an immediate vote, notably, an original piece of legislation (OL) by Representative Brandi Whitt.

The “Teen Abuse and Suicide Prevention Act” (HBOL 0103) amends the Online Child Safety Act of 2011. It restricts access for minors on social media platforms. It also requires social media companies to design and enforce an age verification system and enforce a parental consent requirement. Rep. Whitt stated that cyberbullying is a leading cause of teen suicide and depression rates. The incidences of both cyberbullying and adolescent suicide are rising in the United States, with recent Center for Disease Control and Prevention data showing that 14.9 percent of adolescents have been cyberbullied and 13.6 percent of adolescents have made a serious suicide attempt due to cyberbullying. The bill will also force parents to have a more active role in monitoring what their children are being exposed to online. Rep. Whitt said that as a mother herself, one of the biggest things is protecting children against online predators. She also stated that she thinks everyone should be on board with this bill. “Everyone has a memory of a time they got on [social media] too young and saw things they shouldn't have seen”. The bill passed 17-0 and will reach the floor sometime this coming weekend.

The bipartisanship shown in all committees today is admirable and will hopefully continue throughout the entire weekend. 

Bipartisan Victory in House Committee Today Over Veteran Benefits Bill

By Sam Sundell

On March 1st an original piece of legislation named House Bill 0201 was introduced by Representative Clayton Lembcke during the house hearings. The bill's purpose was to create a new act referred to as the “Illinois Veterans Emergency Shelter and Services Act” (IVESA) in order to help veterans get access to benefits guaranteed by both Illinois and the United States governments, including the construction of 5 IVESA centers across the state. 

The bill was unanimously passed after both opening statements by both parties were nothing but praise for the initiative. This bill was a win for bipartisanship, a common theme for the House Committee today.