A busy day in the House

Posted on November 29, 2018
Springfield
Illinois lawmakers wrap up the 100th General Asembly this week.(WJBC file photo)

 

By Dave Dahl

The Illinois House Wednesday went 1-for-2 on overriding the governor’s vetoes of a pair of high-profile bills.

The VOICES Act, which supporters say will help immigrants who are crime victims, sets a deadline for police to fill out paperwork for those immigrants to apply for a visa. One opponent said perhaps undocumented immigrants would fake being a victim just to avoid prosecution. The bill’s supporters said Gov. Rauner vetoed the bill for political cover so voters would not consider him soft on illegal immigration.

Illinoisans age 18, 19, and 20 will still legally be able to smoke ‘em if they got ‘em. The attempt to override the veto of “Tobacco 21” fell nine votes short. But State Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago), the House sponsor, had a message for those who argue that you can be drafted at 18: “The Department of Defense, globally, will go tobacco-free in 2020. You won’t be able to buy, sell, or use tobacco products on the U.S. military’s or any bases worldwide.”

SB 34 (VOICES) has passed the Senate, 40-12, and the House, 73-34, over the governor’s veto.

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