Rep. John M. Cabello (R-68) sponsored 20 bills in the first quarter of 2019, 16 less than the average Illinois state representative, and was added as a co-sponsor on 36 bills, 23 less than the average, according to a Rockford Sun analysis of data made available by the Illinois General Assembly.
During the first quarter, 119 representatives sponsored legislation, with Rep. Michael J. Madigan (D-22) sponsoring the most with 940 bills. There were 119 representatives that co-sponsored legislation, with Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-57) co-sponsoring 169 bills, more than any other representative.
When a bill is introduced to the House, the clerk reads the bill title before the House and it is automatically referred to the Rules Committee. If the Rules Committee thinks that the bill merits further consideration, it is assigned to another committee. If the committee reports favorably on the bill to the House, or if the committee has been discharged with respect to the bill, the bill will be ready for its second reading before the House.
According to House rules, a bill can be passed only after the House clerk has read the bill before the House on three separate days. However, many bills are introduced as shell bills in order to circumvent the rule requiring three readings before they can be passed. These shell bills, which are far more common in Illinois than in other states, are created with the purpose of beginning the often lengthy process of passing a new piece of legislation. But since they would only make trivial or meaningless changes in the law in the form that they initially appear, they are either left to die or are later changed to something more substantive that can be rushed to passage without bothering with procedure. This has the unfortunate effect of leading to laws that may not have been debated or discussed sufficiently.
Representatives that sponsor an inordinately large number of bills are often sponsoring many shell bills.
The following table shows the bills that Cabello sponsored in the first quarter.
CRIM CD-RICO-DOG FIGHTING
PEACE OFFICER MOTOR-PURSUIT
LOTTERY-STATE-LOCAL PARKS
DHS-LINK-CASH ASSISTANCE FRAUD
REINSTATES DEATH SENTENCE
HUNTING & FISHING LICENSE FEES
VETERAN REGISTRATION FEES
CRIM CD-EAVESDROPPING SUNSET
SHERIFF DEPUTY APPOINTMENT
ST POLICE-ONLINE PAYMENTS
POLICE DOG TRAINING STANDARDS
DCFS-HOTLINE-BULLYING & HAZING
PUBLIC OFFICIALS-BODY CAMERAS
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH TAX
FIREARM OWNERS ID ACT-REPEAL
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS-FIREARMS
POLICE TRAINING-CERTIFICATION
The following table shows the bills to which Cabello was added as a co-sponsor in the first quarter.
Rep. Margo McDermed (R-37)
TRACK-SEXUAL ASSAULT EVIDENCE
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-71)
CRIM CODE-AGG BAT-EMPLOYEES
ST POLICE-BURIAL REIMBURSE
Rep. Lance Yednock (D-76)
Rep. Norine K. Hammond (R-93)
POLICE DOG TRAINING STANDARDS
Rep. Andrew S. Chesney (R-89)
WILDLIFE-ENDANGERED SPECIES
Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. (D-33)
WORKER COMP-MRSA/HEARING LOSS
MISSING PERSON DNA SYSTEM
Rep. Frances Ann Hurley (D-35)
CRIM PRO-LINEUP PROCEDURE
Rep. Andrew S. Chesney (R-89)
BOAT SAFETY-WATER SKIS-MIRRORS
Rep. Ann M. Williams (D-11); Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-18)
LOCAL WIND ENERGY REGULATION
Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-100)
TAXPAYER FISCAL CHARTER ACT
Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-48)
HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING
Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy (D-14)
WORK COMP MRSA EMPLOYMENT
Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy (D-14)
WORK COMP MRSA EMPLOYMENT
Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. (D-33); Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-17)
IL SENTENCE POL COUNCIL-EXTEND
Rep. John Connor (D-85); Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-49)
CRIM PRO-SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS
Rep. LaToya Greenwood (D-114)
PARKINSON'S DISEASE AWARENESS
Rep. Michael J. Zalewski (D-23); Rep. Katie Stuart (D-112); Rep. André Thapedi (D-32); Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez (D-24); Rep. Robert Rita (D-28)
Rep. Michael J. Zalewski (D-23)
Rep. Lindsay Parkhurst (R-79)
RIVER EDGE REDEVELOP-KANKAKEE
Rep. Darren Bailey (R-109)
SCH CD-IN GOD WE TRUST DISPLAY
Rep. Jerry Costello, II (D-116)
PENCD-SERS-CONSERVATION POLICE
Rep. Terra Costa Howard (D-48)
INS CD-COVERAGE FOR INHALANTS
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-97)
CONAMEND-LEGISLATIVE REDISTRCT
GRADUATED INCOME TAX-OPPOSE
Rep. Martin J. Moylan (D-55)
MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION PROCESS
Rep. David McSweeney (R-52)
MEMORIAL-DEPUTY JACOB KELTNER
Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-60)
HONOR WOMEN IN FACILITIES
Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. (D-33)
Rep. Frances Ann Hurley (D-35)
CONGRATS-ISP DIRECTOR SCHMITZ
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-97)
Rep. Charles Meier (R-108)
PER MILE DRIVING TAX-OPPOSE
Rep. Kathleen Willis (D-77)
PEN CD-ARTS 4 & 6-TRANSFER
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