Sangamon Sun

The House recently passed a bill, SB 246, to establish a state-run investment pool aimed at certain non-profit organizations. This initiative would allow the State Treasurer’s Office to manage investment accounts for groups engaged in political activism, which some interpret as an endorsement by the state government.

The eligible non-profits include those involved in social advocacy, climate policy, anti-business campaigns, and labor unions with lobbying activities.

State Representative Jeff Keicher expressed concerns about the implications of this bill. He described it as "a slippery slope that creates direct government participation in helping organizations raise more money that could be used to lobby the very government that invested the money for them." Keicher questioned the appropriateness of using government resources in this manner when private investment options are already available for non-profits.