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Abortion’s influence on Illinois politics

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Abortion’s influence on Illinois politics


The Illinois Senate Republicans’ new chief, John Curran, instructed Capitol Information Illinois the opposite day there was nothing left to do on abortion in Illinois.

“The fact is, what else can we do right here in Illinois?” Sen. Curran stated. “The legal guidelines of Illinois are extra weighted in the direction of ensures of the rights to have an abortion than some other state within the nation. There’s no additional to go.”

Nonetheless, Home Speaker Chris Welch strongly indicated lately {that a} state constitutional modification guaranteeing reproductive rights was a really seemingly prospect.

“Proper now, we’re a single Legislature or a single Supreme Courtroom away from dropping [abortion] rights,” Welch instructed KSDK TV.

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Welch will quickly have extra members of his occasion than any speaker because the state structure was revised to cut back the chamber’s membership by a 3rd. He stated there have been various explanations for his caucus’ growth, however the U.S. Supreme Courtroom’s resolution to overturn Roe v. Wade was “monumental.”

“It modified the whole lot,” Welch instructed me. “And the Republican Occasion, not simply right here in Illinois however throughout the nation, is fallacious on these points. They’re simply fallacious. Till they get it proper on these points, I feel they’re gonna create alternative for us to proceed to develop.”

Welch stated he’s by no means seen Democratic numbers like this earlier than, calling the one-time Republican bastion of DuPage County “BluePage.” The county, he stated, is “a type of areas the place our message resonates greater than the Republican Occasion,” and he predicted the GOP would proceed dropping floor in the event that they don’t change.

Most each pre-election ballot claimed voters ranked abortion low on their precedence lists. But, the abortion challenge appeared to drive voters to the polls this 12 months. What occurred?

Senate President Don Harmon instructed me it could have been a few issues.

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“Throughout the nation, Democrats did about three factors higher than they have been polling. And I feel it’s partially due to the best way voters responded to [the repeal of Roe v. Wade]. That is the primary time in a very long time a long-held proper has been taken away in such dramatic vogue. I feel that did inspire voters however not essentially the voters we have been calling as a result of they weren’t a part of the turnout mannequin. So I feel once we unpack this, I feel you’re going to see some voters, youthful voters, youthful ladies particularly, however not simply ladies, who stated, ‘I’m not giving up my rights that simply, and I’m going to go vote.’

“And I additionally suspect, and would like to show it with the evaluation of the numbers, one thing we noticed anecdotally going door to door, that ladies who would historically be thought-about Republican ladies weren’t serious about voting Republican due to that challenge. They usually may need been mendacity to their husbands, they may have been mendacity to the pollsters, however they weren’t mendacity as soon as they received contained in the voting sales space.”

To sum up, Harmon stated, “I feel voters we didn’t assume have been going to end up, turned out. And I feel that voters who would historically vote for Republican candidates turned out and stated, ‘I’ve had sufficient of this nonsense. I’m going to vote for a Democrat, or I’m actually not going to vote for the loopy Republicans’ and skipped a race.”

The newly chosen chief of the highly effective and profitable abortion rights group Private PAC instructed me she would “completely” work with legislative Republicans to recruit pro-choice candidates.

Nonetheless, Sarah Garza Resnick instructed me it was “too early to inform,” when requested if she anticipated the Republicans to work together with her. “However I feel that any sensible political strategist would wish to learn the tea leaves of what’s going on and what the voters are sending a really clear message on. And if you wish to keep related and get the opposite necessary points that you just care about mentioned, then I feel it could make sense to recruit and run pro-choice Republicans.”

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Garza Resnick burdened that she hasn’t but had an opportunity to speak with all different stakeholders a few attainable constitutional modification.

Even so, she stated, “In case you have a look at what occurred in Kansas, and for those who have a look at what occurred the place [abortion] was on the poll in 5 states … on November 8, the folks of this nation overwhelmingly need option to be protected and codified they usually don’t need it to be dismantled.”

So, contemplating all that, “codifying on the constitutional stage would make sense,” Garza Resnick stated.

Wealthy Miller additionally publishes Capitol Fax, a every day political publication, and CapitolFax.com.

The Solar-Instances welcomes letters to the editor and op-eds. See our tips.

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Son of woman killed in domestic shooting helps pass Illinois law to protect victims, becomes advocate

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Son of woman killed in domestic shooting helps pass Illinois law to protect victims, becomes advocate


CHICAGO (CBS) — In July 2023, Manny Alvarez’s mother and sister were shot and killed, allegedly by his father.

Manny, now 20, usually is not comfortable with praise. But he now has something to be proud of—as he helped pass an Illinois state law that both honors his mom and helps future survivors of domestic violence.

“My life sort of ended there in terms of—that was it,” Alvarez said. “That’s kind of that chapter of my life, and I’ll never have a dad I can call again, I’ll never have a sister I can call again, and I’ll never have a mom I can call again.”

Manny Alvarez was just 18 when his dad picked up a gun and shot his sister, Daniela, and his mother, Karina Gonzalez, to death in their Little Village neighborhood apartment. Manny was shot too, but survived.

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He said he did not think his father was capable of doing such a thing.

“I mean, it’s something that we knew of, and in terms of all the domestic violence, it was very prevalent,” Manny Alvarez said, “but you know, you never really think someone’s going to go to that measure of actually hurting someone, let alone killing them, and basically ending everyone’s life.”

The deadly shooting happened during a quarrel, and two weeks after Manny’s mom was granted an order of protection against her husband, Jose Alvarez. But her husband had not been served.

“It was the worst two weeks ever,” Manny said, “because, you know, we’re just kind of sitting there going, ‘OK, like he’s not supposed to be here.”

Manny, who calls his mom the hardest working person he’s ever known, went to live with relatives. At the same time, advocates were crafting a bill requiring that police remove all guns from people with domestic violence orders of protection against them.

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The advocate asked Manny if they could name the legislation after his mom. Eventually, he said yes, and the fight to pass Karina’s Bill ramped up.

The bill passed the Illinois General Assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and Manny helped with the effort. He met with lawmakers and appeared at news conferences.

It was Manny’s way of honoring his mother.

“I can’t give her a birthday gift. I can’t give her a Christmas gift anymore,” Manny said. “But I kind of see it as a way to give back to her for all that she did for me.”

Amanda Pyron, executive director of the anti-domestic violence organization The Network, said Manny’s advocacy for getting the bill passed was “critical.”

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But Pyron said their work isn’t over—even after Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signs the bill into law.

“We absolutely will monitor accountability for survivors who go into a court and are granted an order of protection with this remedy, and don’t receive it,” Pyron said.

As for Manny, he does not like to call himself brave. But he does want to keep helping domestic violence survivors—any way he can.

“I’m all ears, and that’s kind of my calling, I guess,” he said. “If anyone comes up to me with that situation, it’s, OK, what can we do? You know, who can I put them in contact with?”

It is not clear when Gov. Pritzker plans to sign Karina’s Bill into law. But when it happens, Manny said he would like to be there.

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Bill aims to increase age for Illinois seniors to retake driving exam from 79 to 87

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Bill aims to increase age for Illinois seniors to retake driving exam from 79 to 87


CHICAGO (WLS) — Currently, the law requires drivers 79 to 80 to take a road exam if their four-year license renewal is up.

For drivers aged 81 to 86, it is every two years, and for drivers 87 and older, it is yearly.

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Organizations like AARP say that is discriminatory.

But unlike some, 82-year-old Rochelle McGee is not sure it is such a good idea to drop the road test requirements for some seniors when they get their driver’s licenses renewed.

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“I’ve been driving since I was 15, and not a lot of accidents. I have a good driving record, but as I said, everyone is not the same. So, I still think there should be some accountability for citizens,” McGee said.

The octogenarian may be in the minority as Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduce legislation which would increase the age Illinois drivers have to take a behind-the-wheel test from 79 to 87.

Illinois is currently the only state in the U.S. with a mandatory road test for seniors.

“As secretary of state, my top priority is keeping Illinois roads safe and always making improvements to ensure the safety of everyone who shares them,” Giannoulias said.

House Bill 1226, or the Road Safety and Fairness Act, was introduced last week. Sponsors made a similar attempt to alter the law in 2024.

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“This is the art of the possible. We have to get this through 177 other folks in the General Assembly,” said 70th District State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore.

The latest proposal still requires those drivers to renew their driver’s licenses in-person and take a vision test.

“The right to drive should be based on ability, not age,” said AARP Illinois State Director Phillippe Largent.

According to Chicago police crash data analyzed by the ABC7 data team, since 2018, people 65 years and older were involved in approximately 11.8% of crashes. That is slightly less than expected, given that people 65+ make up 16.3% of the Chicago driving-age population.

“This legislation is removing this archaic requirement and doing so in a very balanced way,” said 8th District State Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago.

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The proposed law also allows for immediate relatives to report unsafe motorists regardless of age to the Secretary of State’s Office.

Credible claims of cognitive decline or medical issues could result in actions ranging from retesting to taking driving privileges away entirely.

The measure could be voted on late March or early April.

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Illinois state lawmakers propose legalizing consensual sex work

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Illinois state lawmakers propose legalizing consensual sex work


CHICAGO (CBS) — Illinois could become the first state to fully decriminalize sex work among consenting adults.

Some state lawmakers are proposing legislation that would eliminate criminal penalties for adults involved in consensual prostitution.

In 2013, Illinois lawmakers approved legislation that reduced the crime of prostitution to a misdemeanor, but even still, sex workers and their clients are operating in the shadows.

Now some state lawmakers are looking to fully decriminalize the exchange of money for sex among consenting adults, citing safety and access to services:

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“Sex workers face an unprecdented amount of violence, because they are stuck and forced into the shadows,” said Illinois State Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago).

Advocates have been working on the proposal for years, saying it will allow safer practices of vetting clients, reporting crimes, and finding suitable locations to work.

The proposed legislation also would remove past arrest and conviction records for sex workers, and create a sex workers’ bill of rights.

“Sex workers should have the same basic protections when they engage in their work as anyone else does,” said Illinois State Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago).

While the legislation would decriminalize sex work among consenting adults, it would not remove criminal penalties for sex traffickers or abuse against sex workers.

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“It’s really just making sure that when we’re making these exchanges that we’re not so worried about the policing of our bodies, and also getting your door kicked in when you’re engaging into sex work,” said Reyna Ortiz, chair of the Sex Worker Advisory Group, a coalition of Black and Brown current and former sex workers who have spent years advocating for this legislation.

Ortiz said she spent 20 years as a sex worker, under the constant fear of arrest or violence.

“It’s been so hidden in this society. People don’t really understand that it really is an agreement. It is transactional, and it’s over with, and everybody goes on about their day. Unfortunately, where we are is under the threat of criminalization, which is really terrifying,” she said.

Prostitution is illegal in the vast majority of the U.S. It is legal in some parts of Nevada. In 2023, Maine became the first state to decriminalize the sale of sex, but not the purchase of prostitution services.

Specifics about the Illinois legislation, such as how it would be implemented and regulated are not yet clear. The timeline for a vote on the legislation is also unclear.

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Supporters plan to formally introduce the proposal in the Illinois General Assembly this week.



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