State Representative Tom Weber (R-Lake Villa) issued the following statement decrying the passage of a massive overhaul to law enforcement and public safety in the waning minutes of the 101st General Assembly. Amendment 2 to House Bill 3653 passed by a slim margin of 60-50 votes.
“I would say I am shocked, but this has become the norm in Springfield – wait until the last moment and then drop a bill that is more than 700 pages on the floor, preventing even a basic level of public review,” said Weber. “Make no mistake, this legislation is dangerous and makes every community less safe. Public safety budgets will be cut, unfunded mandates will be poured on local communities and police, and officers could be subjected to punishment and held personally liable for unsubstantiated or unverifiable complaints. However, perhaps the worst part, many violent felons will be able to walk free before trial.
“I agree that we should be having serious discussions about police reform, but all stakeholders, first and foremost the citizens of Illinois, should a part of the conversation in an open and honest way. This is not the way.”