Rep. Tim Butler (R-87) sponsored 24 bills in the first quarter of 2019, 12 less than the average Illinois state representative, and was added as a co-sponsor on 34 bills, 25 less than the average, according to a Sangamon Sun analysis of data made available by the Illinois General Assembly.
During the first quarter, 119 representatives sponsored legislation, with Rep. Michael J. Madigan (D-22) sponsoring the most with 940 bills. There were 119 representatives that co-sponsored legislation, with Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-57) co-sponsoring 169 bills, more than any other representative.
When a bill is introduced to the House, the clerk reads the bill title before the House and it is automatically referred to the Rules Committee. If the Rules Committee thinks that the bill merits further consideration, it is assigned to another committee. If the committee reports favorably on the bill to the House, or if the committee has been discharged with respect to the bill, the bill will be ready for its second reading before the House.
According to House rules, a bill can be passed only after the House clerk has read the bill before the House on three separate days. However, many bills are introduced as shell bills in order to circumvent the rule requiring three readings before they can be passed. These shell bills, which are far more common in Illinois than in other states, are created with the purpose of beginning the often lengthy process of passing a new piece of legislation. But since they would only make trivial or meaningless changes in the law in the form that they initially appear, they are either left to die or are later changed to something more substantive that can be rushed to passage without bothering with procedure. This has the unfortunate effect of leading to laws that may not have been debated or discussed sufficiently.
Representatives that sponsor an inordinately large number of bills are often sponsoring many shell bills.
The following table shows the bills that Butler sponsored in the first quarter.
PARK DISTRICTS-PROPERTY LEASES
ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION DAY
VEH CD-EMERGENCY VEH-PENALTY
GA MEMBER-STATE PARTY CHAIR
CONCEALED CARRY-OBJECTIONS
CHILD CARE PROGRAMS-PRESCHOOL
BD OF ELECTIONS-INDEP FUNDING
ELEC CODE-LOCAL ELECTIONS
ELEC CD-ELECTORAL COLLEGE
STATE HEALTH BENEFITS EXCHANGE
LEGISLATURE-OFFICER LIMITS
PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MNTH
CONGRATS-DEREK & RENEE MARTIN
CONGRATS-WLB LADY WOLVERINES
CONGRATS-WLB 8TH GR. GIRLS BB
The following table shows the bills to which Butler was added as a co-sponsor in the first quarter.
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-71)
CRIM CODE-AGG BAT-EMPLOYEES
Rep. Thomas M. Bennett (R-106)
ST CAPITOL PRESIDENT STATUES
Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-57)
ST POLICE-BURIAL REIMBURSE
Rep. Keith R. Wheeler (R-50)
Rep. Keith R. Wheeler (R-50)
NO FUNDS W/OUT REVENUE EST
CELL-CULTURED FOOD PRODUCTS
Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit (D-84)
Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch (D-7)
STATE TREASURER-REAL PROPERTY
Rep. David McSweeney (R-52)
PENCD-GARS-GA MEMBER ELIGIBLE
Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-100)
TAXPAYER FISCAL CHARTER ACT
Rep. David McSweeney (R-52); Sen. Thomas Cullerton (D-23)
OPEN ILLINOIS CHECKBOOK ACT
Rep. Keith R. Wheeler (R-50)
Rep. Camille Y. Lilly (D-78)
TOBACCO PRODUCTS-UNDER 21
Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-39)
Rep. Margo McDermed (R-37)
GA MEMBER-STATE PARTY CHAIR
Rep. Margo McDermed (R-37)
EQUAL PAY ACT WAGE INFORMATION
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-97)
Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. (D-33)
URGE CREATION OF CANCER CAUCUS
Rep. Darren Bailey (R-109)
US CONST-ART V-APPLICATION
US CONST-ART V-APPLICATION
Rep. Michael T. Marron (R-104)
CONAMEND-LEGISLATIVE REDISTRCT
GRADUATED INCOME TAX-OPPOSE
GREAT LAKES APPRECIATION DAY
Rep. David McSweeney (R-52)
NO TAXES ON RETIREMENT INCOME
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-97)
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-97)
APPOINT LEGISLATIVE INSP GEN