JOUR-PAC is pleased to announce our official endorsement of ten Illinois JOUR-PAC Reformers running for re-election in 2018. These ten Illinois state legislators have served their districts, state, and country honorably and have worked hard to promote Justice, Opportunity, and United Reform. We are pleased to endorse them for re-election.
Note: JOUR-PAC is focused mainly on federal Congressional races, so we do not endorse in all state legislature races, and we do not follow the bills/actions in the state legislatures as closely as we do the ones in Congress. Additionally, our support for state legislators is based on their leadership of some issue(s) that is/are important to JOUR-PAC. As always, our endorsement and reformer induction does not represent a 100% agreement with all of their views, but instead, it represents our appreciation of their leadership on important issues. State Senator Michael Connelly (R-IL SD 21): Criminal Justice Reform: "llinois takes another step toward reducing recidivism with the governor's signing today of Senate Bill 1607, which makes corrections to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act (Public Act 99-0938). Among the provisions of Senate Bill 1607 are: enhancing judges' capacity to ensure sentencing compliance supports rehabilitation by allowing court services-approved treatment to count toward community service hours; requiring individualized case planning for the IDOC's reentry programming, with a focus on the final year before release; establishing coordinated reentry programming with local, state and community partners; and ensuring programming provides skills and materials necessary for departing inmates' successful return to communities. The bill further addresses best practices for parolee supervision; establishes within the Illinois Housing Development Authority the Frequent Users System Engagement initiative to target chronic homelessness among those exiting the prison system; and strengthens the state's violence prevention services. The latter includes a requirement that the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority submit a four-year strategic plan specifically addressing victim and trauma recovery. "This bill further supports the bipartisan effort that has been taking place in this state to fix our criminal justice system," said state Sen. Michael Connelly, R-Naperville, a Senate sponsor of the legislation. "Criminal justice reform and reducing the state's prison population is something the Rauner Administration has taken very seriously, and it's a topic that continues to have support from both sides of the aisle." State Senator Tom Rooney (R-IL SD 27): Justice for Victims of Sexual Assault #1: "To everybody who’s asking in a conspiracy-suspecting tone “why are these allegations coming forward now?”: I have two words for you — Harvey Weinstein. Or these two words — #MeToo. It’s neither a mystery nor a conspiracy." Justice for Victims of Sexual Assault #2: "Apparently Roy Moore’s disastrous selfishness is still in gear." Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sentomrooney State Senator Karen McConnaughay (R-IL SD 33): Criminal Justice Reform: Governor Bruce Rauner today, joined by Secretary of State Jesse White, Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago), Sen. Karen McConnaughay (R-St. Charles), Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago), and other elected officials at A Safe Haven in Chicago, signed Senate Bill 3368, legislation to ensure that any person being released from the Department of Corrections (DOC) or Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) has a valid state identification card upon release. "Offenders who have done their time deserve a fair shot once leaving Illinois' correctional facilities. The simple act of providing low-level offenders with identification will help them to secure employment, housing, and establish financial stability," said Sen. McConnaughay, a member of the Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform. "I want to thank Governor Rauner for his leadership in the ongoing effort to reform Illinois' criminal justice system. Offering men and women an easier transition upon release will boost their opportunity for personal success. Moreover, the state as a whole will benefit from these types of commonsense reforms, which reduce recidivism and shrink the state's prison population." Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kmcconnaughay33 State Senator Sue Rezin (R-IL SD 38): Leading in Promoting Respect & Compassion: "Sen. Rezin is pleased to announce the Parental Rights for the Blind Act is now law in Illinois (effective Jan. 2018). This picture is from earlier this year when Sen. Rezin presented this legislation in a Senate Committee with Bill Reif, from the National Federation of the blind of Illinois. Under this new law, a person’s blindness could never be the basis of a denial of parenting time or responsibilities, denial of being able to adopt a child, or denial of foster care or guardianship. Sen. Rezin wants to thank Julietta Meyer, a friend of Sen. Rezin's, and her daughter, Emma, who is blind, for bringing this important issue forward." Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SenatorRezin State Representative Grant Wehrli (R-IL HD 41): Leading in Promoting Respect & Compassion: "One of the benefits of being the greatest country in the world is having the ability to help those from underdeveloped countries. Helping those less fortunate is what makes us... Americans." Leading in Promoting Respect & Compassion #2: "The Republican Party I believe in is welcoming to all. We all must take a stand against racism in all its forms and wherever we find it." Campaign Website: http://grant4illinois.com/ State Representative Sheri Jesiel (R-IL HD 61): Fighting Human Trafficking: "Governor Bruce Rauner today signed a bill to take action in combatting human trafficking. This bill protects victims who often have language barriers, emotional challenges or economic hardships by creating a Task Force to look at how the State of Illinois can partner with agencies across the state to counter these egregious offenses of human exploitation. "Human trafficking is all too pervasive, even in Illinois, but it largely goes unnoticed despite the severe impact of the crime," said Representative Sheri Jesiel (R-Winthrop Harbor). "I am proud of this legislation that will help bring this difficult issue of human trafficking to light so we can fight it and effectively support those impacted, ultimately rescuing many more victims from exploitation." Campaign Website: https://sherijesielforrep.com/ State Representative Tony McCombie (R-IL HD 71): Leading in Promoting Respect & Compassion: "As the Mayor of Savanna, Illinois Tony McCombie has a proven, nonpartisan record of finding ways to work together to improve efficiencies and solve problems that have promoted growth and morale throughout Savanna and Carroll County. Tony is running for state representative to work for all of the district and to end the culture of corruption and complacency in Springfield. She understands the need to work in a bipartisan way to develop and deliver common sense reform to Illinois." Campaign Website: https://mccombieforillinois.com/ State Representative Tim Butler (R-IL HD 87): Criminal Justice Reform: "Gov. Bruce Rauner is building on his efforts to improve outcomes for individuals who are incarcerated in Illinois. He toured Logan Correctional Center, the female inmate facility in Lincoln, just before signing House Bill 1479 and solidifying the creation of a new women's division within the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). House Bill 1479 comes on the heels of passage of House Bill 3904, the Women's Correctional Services Act. These historic pieces of legislation require the IDOC to appoint a chief administrator for the women's division, incorporate gender-responsive programming, and address the specific challenges that female offenders face. "The creation of a women's division within the Department of Corrections is a major step forward for our state," said Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield. "This division will focus resources to address the specific needs of women who are incarcerated and will make Illinois a leader on trauma-informed services specific to the female population in our correctional system. I applaud my colleagues who championed this legislation and Gov. Rauner for his commitment to reforming our criminal justice system." Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RepTimButler State Representative Tom Demmer (R-IL HD 90): Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform: "Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed HB303, bipartisan legislation aimed at reforming Illinois' asset forfeiture system. The reforms will increase transparency and shift burdens of proof to protect innocent citizens while maintaining the proper use of asset forfeiture as a tool for law enforcement. Gov. Rauner was joined by Illinois State Police (ISP) officials, ACLU members, legislators, and advocate organizations. "Illinois residents should be protected from the unfair seizure of their private property," Gov. Rauner said. "This legislation will enact needed reforms to prevent abuse of the civil asset forfeiture process, while maintaining its importance as a critical tool for law enforcement to make our communities safer." HB 303 also shifts the burden of proving guilt to the government, and increases the burden of proof to mirror that of the federal government in forfeiture cases from probable cause to a preponderance of the evidence, a fair and equitable standard. It also makes a number of other changes such as eliminating restrictive bonding requirements and adjusting the threshold amounts of money subject to forfeiture as well as the levels of cannabis and controlled substance possession that can lead to forfeiture proceedings as a way to thoughtfully limit the use of this system to its intended purposes. "Civil asset forfeiture reform is an important step to ensure the Constitutional rights of Illinoisans are being protected," said state Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Rochelle). "This law protects property rights, reduces the chance for abuses of power, and defends the rights of the individual. I'm proud to support this bipartisan initiative." Campaign Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teamdemmer State Representative Avery Bourne (R-IL HD 95): Justice for Child Victims of Sexual Assault: "Legislation that removes the statute of limitations for prosecution of felony sex crimes against minors has been signed into law by Governor Bruce Rauner. The bill’s Co-Sponsor, Representative Avery Bourne (R-Raymond), hailed the signing of Senate Bill 189 as a significant victory in the fight for child victims’ rights. Rep. Bourne stated, “This legislation was a bipartisan bill that was unanimously approved in the House and Senate.” She added, “With this change in state law there are no limitations on when an abuser can be charged after the crime occurs. Survivors of child sexual assault will hopefully be encouraged to come forward and seek justice in their own time.” Senate Bill 189, signed into law as Public Act 100-0080, provides that when the victim is under 18 years of age at the time of the offense, a prosecution for criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, or criminal sexual abuse may be initiated at any time. Under previous laws, many cases held a 10-year or 20-year statute of limitation for prosecution." Campaign Website: https://averybourne.com/ See all of our 2018 Endorsements here: JOUR-PAC 2018 Endorsements!
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