For months now, we’ve been telling you about IL HB 723, a bill in the Illinois state legislature that would make it impossible for qualified parties to nominate someone by party meeting after the primary, unless a petition is submitted for each nominated nominee.
This legislation, nicknamed “The Protect Incumbents Act” specifically targets the Green Party of Illinois.
After the bill was passed, Christina Tobin, Founder and Chair of Free & Equal, wrote to the Governor to ask him to veto the legislation.
Governor Pat Quinn issued an “amendatory veto” on IL HB 723 in August.
Today, the Illinois Legislature will vote on overturning the veto.
In his “amendatory veto,” Governor Quinn asks the legislature to add into the bill a call for a ballot question on next February’s primary ballot:
“Should the Illinois Constitution be amended to allow the people of Illinois to initiate, by petition, a binding referendum to adopt standards of ethical conduct for officials and employees of State government?”
Sounds like a great idea, doesn’t it?
But attaching this language will do nothing to ensure that Illinois voters have a real choice in who they send to Springfield. In fact, HB 723’s election code amendments would still severely limit the already sparse choices Illinois voters have in the voting booth.
If the voters of Illinois want to break free from the corruption that plagues their state, they must first place the blame where it belongs: squarely on the shoulders of the Two-Party duopoly and machine-style politics.
The Free & Equal Elections Foundation remains opposed to this corrupt legislation.
Help us send a message to the Two-Party Duopoly in Illinois by contacting the state legislature, and urging them to vote against HB 723!
With your help, we can make sure that the “Protect Incumbents Act” is defeated once and for all!
