Rockford Sun

Rep. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) almost has as much issue with how a housing bill is being presented as he does the legislation itself.

“This bill is being presented by a progressive liberal democrat that seeks to force private industry to partner with public subsidies,” Chesney told the Rockford Sun. “While I can appreciate the sponsor and believe he is of the opinion this is in the best interest of his district, I was taken aback by the key witness who was former Republican Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti. This is not a bill that is bipartisan; this is not a bill that would be welcomed by both sides of the aisle.”

Sanguinetti recently appeared for a virtual Housing Committee hearing to testify in favor of a measure Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) touted as a “human rights bill that helps prevent homelessness among veterans, those with disabilities, families and seniors.”

Chesney countered that Ford’s legislation would require landlords to accept Section 8 housing vouchers, effectively putting them in bed with the government.

Now serving as executive director of HOPE Fair Housing Center, Sanguinetti told Politico she doesn’t view the matter as partisan and feels housing should be seen as a human right.

Chesney was unmoved.

“This is a partisan bill, and I have no problem debating the merits of that,” he said. “But I do take exception with this bill not only being sponsored by a liberal democrat but carried by a former Republican lieutenant governor, and I don’t know if it’s appropriate for the Republican Party or its elected officials to carry partisan democratic bills.”

Sanguinetti served as former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s second-in-command from 2015 through 2019. Rauner lost his reelection bid to the current Gov. J.B. Pritzker.