Rockford Sun

Lawmakers in Illinois kicked off the 2024 regular legislative session this week, addressing a range of issues including the ongoing immigration crisis and proposed budget cuts to programs for persons with disabilities. Republican lawmakers offered legislative solutions to the migrant crisis and called on the Governor to reverse his proposed budget cuts.

State Senator Dave Syverson expressed concerns about the lack of transparency regarding the amount of money being spent on immigration services and the impact on programs designed to help Illinois citizens. He attributed the crisis to weak border policies by the Biden Administration and Illinois laws that act as incentives for undocumented people to come to the state. Senator Syverson emphasized the need to prioritize the well-being of Illinois citizens and called for a repeal of portions of the TRUST Act that prohibit law enforcement from working with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

Another policy proposal aims to roll back laws that provide free healthcare for migrants and illegal immigrants in Illinois. Senator Syverson criticized the program, stating that it has "ballooned out of control" and that Illinois citizens are seeing their tax dollars fund healthcare programs for non-citizens that provide better coverage than they could ever afford. He argued that the focus should be on taking care of Illinois citizens, especially the most vulnerable, before opening the doors to undocumented individuals.

In addition to addressing the immigration crisis, lawmakers also discussed proposed budget cuts to programs for persons with disabilities. The Illinois Senate Republican Caucus signed a letter calling on the Governor to rescind these cuts, arguing that they would be devastating to one of the state's most vulnerable populations. Senator Syverson highlighted the Governor's failure to implement recommendations from a report by the independent Guidehouse Company, which has resulted in a half a billion-dollar shortfall for programs that help persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities over the last five years.

Lawmakers also took up the issue of the state's "assault weapon" ban. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) met to discuss new permanent rules proposed by the Illinois State Police. Concerns were raised about the potential confusion caused by the rules, with critics arguing that they are too vague and could leave gun owners struggling to understand which firearms, parts, and attachments are illegal or need to be registered. Republican members of JCAR filed a motion to prohibit the new permanent rules from being put into place, but the motion failed on a party-line vote. However, they were successful in filing a motion to object to the rules, requiring a written response from the ISP before the regulations can be adopted.

As the regular legislative session continues, lawmakers in Illinois will continue to address these pressing issues and work towards finding solutions that benefit the state and its citizens.