Sangamon Sun

State Rep. Mike Murphy (R-Springfield) said that he sincerely hopes for opportunities to revise the House Rules going forward, noting that the “rule changes amounted to nothing more than minor tweaks.”

Proposed changes have been given by Murphy and other Republicans but none of them were accepted, by which he indicated that he wasn’t “overly surprised.”

Though he was alarmed how House Democrat Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago), who sponsored the resolution to adopt the rules, hardly wanted to implement his way in advancing bills.    

“I was taken aback to hear the Democrat Majority Leader so openly admit he is fine with a process that cuts out the other side and cuts out the public if it allows the Democrats to force through their agenda,” he said.

“I don’t care what the legislation is or what issue it is addressing, the citizens of Illinois deserve to be part of the process and ensuring time for public input is critically important to protect the rights of the people,” Murphy continued. No matter how passionately I believe in some of my own legislative proposals, the other side and the public should have a reasonable opportunity to decide for themselves before it is voted on. To not allow this to happen is undemocratic and opposed to the very principles of our Constitution.”