Gov. J.B. Pritzker | Facebook
Gov. J.B. Pritzker | Facebook
Senate Republicans continue to urge Gov. J.B. Pritzker to veto H.B. 3653 which has already been submitted to his desk for his consideration.
The Senate Republican lawmakers have formally written to the governor, appealing that he disapprove the proposal.
“House Bill 3653 goes too far, to the point of giving criminals the upper hand.” the letter reads.
Republicans also said that the proposal is confusing and mandates “potentially dangerous new standards and requirements for police departments.”
Strong efforts have been made to present the risk and consequences, including bringing together “almost 500 representatives of Illinois’ law enforcement community to discuss House Bill 3653,” the Senate GOP said.
The law enforcement community has raised various concerns, including the consequences of removing cash bail, unfunded mandates placing financial burdens on local police forces, and that “the proposal was rammed through (a) lame-duck session with no Senate Republican support.”
“House Bill 3653 will make it harder for the people working in the criminal justice system to do their jobs,” the letter continued. “An issue of this magnitude requires open debate, discussion and study, with stakeholders on all sides allowed a seat at the table. The people of Illinois deserve something better than a bill that was hastily thrown together and then rammed through the process before anyone had time to read the actual language.”
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