[Peace] Re: [Peace-discuss] Legislature is suppressing advisory referenda

Sun Apr 13 21:34:27 CDT 2008

When I saw this legislation I contacted Ramey who is related (Son in law?--don't remember) to Pate Phillips very powerful Dem up here
Ramey brought up on his own immediately the antiwar ballot question.

He may have changed it since last year - but he told me immediately that the purpose of the legislation was to make it more difficult.

Siobhan Kolar

> Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:32:17 -0500> From: galliher at uiuc.edu> To: tabram at gmail.com> CC: peace-discuss at anti-war.net; Peace at lists.chambana.net> Subject: [Peace] Re: [Peace-discuss] Legislature is suppressing advisory referenda> > Tom--> > I think you're wrong about this, but I agree that we should make sure that we > have the correct interpretation of this legislation.> > It seems clear that the legislation will make it impossible -- not easier -- for > us to do what we've been doing, in form or content.> > Even on advance written request, no item may be added to the agenda without the > agreement of the township board -- and even then "only objects relevant to > powers granted to electors may be set forth" (as the bill repeats obsessively): > electors do not determine relevance.> > The following is from the text of the bill as passed by the House:> > ....(b) Agenda. Not less than 10 days before the annual> meeting, the township board shall adopt an agenda for the> annual meeting. Any 15 or more registered voters in the> township may request an agenda item for consideration by the> electors at the annual meeting by giving written notice of a> specific request to the township clerk no later than March 1> prior to the annual meeting. The agenda published by the> township board shall include any such request made by voters if> the request is relevant to powers granted to electors under the> Township Code.> (c) Additional agenda items. Any matter or proposal not set> forth in the published agenda shall not be considered at the> annual meeting other than advising that the matter may be> considered at a special meeting of the electors at a later> date...> > Sec. 35-5. Special township meeting. Special township> meetings shall be held when the township board (or at least 15> voters of the township) file in the office of the township> clerk a written statement that a special meeting is necessary> for the interests of the township. The statement also shall set> forth the objects of the meeting, which must be relevant to> powers granted to electors under this Code...> > Sec. 35-10. Notice of special meeting; business at meeting.> (a) Notice of a special township meeting shall be given in> the same manner and for the same length of time as for regular> township meetings.> (b) The notice shall set forth the object of the meeting as> contained in the statement filed with the township clerk, which> must be relevant to powers granted to electors under this Code.> No business shall be done at a special meeting except the> business that is embraced in the statement and notice...> > > Tom Abram wrote:> > I was very outraged when I first read about this legislation. After > > contacting Frerichs about this and several other anti-democracy measures > > (the return of straight-ticket voting and the effective elimination of > > slating, which would hurt the Greens and help incumbents), I re-examined > > it and came to a different conclusion. As I now read it, it would take > > 15 signatures to get an agenda item added, and they would be required to > > place that item on the agenda. I believe adding referendum measures is > > part of the powers granted to the electors, regardless of their > > "relevance". If this is the correct interpretation and it was in place > > last week, it may have been easier to at least place our proposals on > > the agenda. We should make sure that we have the correct interpretation > > of this legislation.> > > > Tom Abram> > > > On Sat, Apr 12, 2008 at 9:46 PM, C. G. Estabrook <galliher at uiuc.edu > > <mailto:galliher at uiuc.edu>> wrote:> > > > Apparently our use of the township advisory referenda has attracted> > the attention of the Illinois General Assembly, and they have> > decided that this embarrassing expression of popular opinion has to> > be put down.> > > > The bill described below has been passed by the House (our local> > representatives voting in favor) and sent to the Senate, where it> > has been referred to the Rules committee. Its purpose is to make> > advisory referenda on national issues impossible.> > > > Note inter alia that the "procedure for voters to add an agenda> > item" is by written petition, well before the annual meeting: we> > could not add referenda to the agenda as we have. Moreover, "only> > objects relevant to powers granted to electors may be set forth" --> > i.e, nothing on the war, impeachment, torture, etc.> > > > I suggest we publicize widely this disgusting bit of anti-democratic> > chicanery. Among other things, we need to get in touch with state> > senators and advise groups like AWARE around the state to do the> > same thing. (And a little excoriation of state reps might be in> > order, altho' it's after the fact; at least we have another reason> > to vote against them when they come up for re-election.) --CGE> > > > ===========> > > > Bill Status of HB5505 95th General Assembly> > Short Description: TWP CD-AGENDA/MEETINGS> > > > Synopsis As Introduced> > Amends the Township Code. Requires the township board to adopt an> > annual meeting agenda at least 10 days before the meeting. Provides> > a procedure for voters to add an agenda item. Items not on the> > agenda must be considered at a special meeting. In the statement of> > a special meeting, only objects relevant to powers granted to> > electors may be set forth. Limits special meetings to the business> > embraced in the statement and notice. Sets quorum requirements for> > special meetings. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.> > > > Links to full text, etc., at> > http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=5505&GAID=9&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=36820&SessionID=51&GA=95> > <http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=5505&GAID=9&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=36820&SessionID=51&GA=95>> > _______________________________________________> > Peace-discuss mailing list> > Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net> > <mailto:Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>> > http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/peace-discuss> > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------> > > > _______________________________________________> > Peace-discuss mailing list> > Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net> > http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/peace-discuss> _______________________________________________> Peace mailing list> Peace at lists.chambana.net> http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/peace
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