Membership Newsletter – January 2023

From The Chairman

 

Happy New Year!

We enter the new year even more energized to turn St. Clair County red!  To do that, we’ll continue to need your input and support!  Please consider volunteering to support our efforts to increase the turnout of Republican voters in the County.  We know we can grow the number of Republicans in Countywide and County Board positions in 2024 if we get our voters to Vote By Mail (VBM), vote early, or vote on Election Day.

 

Also, please visit our updated website at StClairCountyRepublicans.com!  We continue to increase our efforts to communicate with you through this newsletter, our website, and our Facebook pages.  As always, please let us know if you have any feedback on ways for us to improve.

Here’s to an amazing 2023 for all of us!

Cheryl Mathews

IL Supreme Court Halts Pre-Trial Fairness Act Preventing SAFE-T Act’s No Cash Bail Provision From Taking Effect

 

On December 28, 2022, Kankakee County Circuit Judge Thomas Cunnington ruled that the pretrial release provisions in the SAFE-T Act violated the Separation of Powers Clause, the Victim Rights Act, and unconstitutionally amended Article I, Section 9 of Illinois’ constitution, which codified cash bail in the state.  In his 33-page opinion, Judge Cunnington cited the need for a separation of powers, saying “…the appropriateness of bail rests with the authority of the court and may not be determined by legislative fiat.”

New Dates For Our Central Committee Meetings In 2023

Starting this month, our Central Committee Meetings will be held on the second Thursday of each month.  Our first Central Committee meeting in 2023 will be held on Thursday, January 12 at 7PM at the Shiloh Eagles Club.

All Precinct Committeemen are expected to attend and participate in our Central Committee Meetings.  Please adjust your calendars accordingly.

 

The Central Committee Meetings are open to all Republicans in St. Clair County.

St Clair County Board Committees In 2023

There are 20 County Board committees which do the work of St. Clair County.  The list of committees can be found at St. Clair County Board Committees.

The Chairman of the County Board, who is currently Democrat Mark Kern, appoints members to the committees of his choice.  In 2023, Republicans will serve on 13 of the 20 committees.  A Republican is the chairman of only one committee.

One Democrat has been appointed to serve on 9 of the 20 committees while two others will serve on 7 of the 20 committees.  One Republican will serve on 5 committees with the next busiest Republican serving on 3 committees.  Five Republican County Board members now serve on one committee each.

There have been no Republicans appointed to serve on these committees:

Property and Recreation
Southwest IL Planning
Southwest IL Law Enforcement
Emergency Readiness
Veteran’s Assistance

The position of County Board Chairman will be up for election in 2024 as will 10 of the County Board seats.  If we want Republicans to control the County Board, we will need to flip seven of those ten seats.

 

Annual St. Clair County Republican Party Lincoln Day Gala – Saturday, Feb 11th

Please plan to join us on Saturday, February 11, 2023 for the Annual St. Clair County Republican Party Lincoln Day Gala at The Regency Convention Center in O’Fallon!  The social hour will begin at 5PM with dinner being served at 6PM.

Tickets and Sponsorships can be purchased by calling the Party office at 618-416-7370 or by going to the following website:

https://tinyurl.com/57e9d95p

Lincoln Day Gala Planning /Fundraising Committee Meeting – Thursday, Jan 12th

 

Our next Lincoln Day Gala Planning/Fundraising Committee Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan 12th at 6PM at the Eagles Club in Shiloh – just prior to the Central Committee Meeting at 7PM.

 

If you’re interested in helping out with the Lincoln Day Gala and/or our future fundraising activities (e.g. Trivia Night, Meat Shoot, etc.), please join us!  Each and every dollar we raise will help us recruit and elect Republican candidates in St. Clair County!

IL Consolidated Election – April 4th

 

Please plan to vote in the IL Consolidated Election on April 4th!  The IL Consolidated Election is focused on non-partisan elected offices in school districts, cities, villages, city wards, park districts, library districts, water districts and the Regional Board of Education.

 

Given the impact each of these elected offices have on our communities and families, it’s critical that we elect conservative members of the community to these offices to ensure our values are represented.  If we ignore these elections, we’re opening our communities to far left ideologies and events such as Drag Queen Storytime at the Caseyville Public Library.

 

You can find the set of offices up for election in St. Clair County on April 4th at the St. Clair County Clerk’s website.  If you have any questions about the candidates running for these offices, please call our office at 618-416-7370 or send an email to officemanager@scilgop.com.

Lobbyists Testify Against IL House Bill 5855

 

Todd Vandermyde, a longtime gun rights lobbyist, warned that the proposal unveiled last month by Democrats in the Illinois House could lead to “civil disobedience” for gun owners like him who believe the bill runs counter to their Second Amendment rights.  “I don’t know how you’re going to enforce this.  You can’t put us all in jail,”  Vandermyde told members of the House Judiciary Committee.  “(Gun owners are) not going to surrender things.  They’re not going to turn them in.  So I ask you, what is the enforcement mechanism?  Are you going to send (Illinois) State Police house to house?”

John Weber, an official with the National Rifle Association, criticized the common shorthand of assault weapon as a “manufactured term” that gun control advocates use to describe AR-15s and other firearms.

He contended that the proposal discriminates against 18-to-20-year-olds by prohibiting them from hunting, and also argued that a magazine restriction that was part of 1994 federal assault weapons ban which expired in 2004 was ineffective.  “The legislation will not work because it’s been tried and failed,” Weber said.  “More importantly, this bill’s dangerous and places an undue constitutional burden on a person’s ability to provide for their self-defense.”

Ed Sullivan, a contract lobbyist for the Illinois State Rifle Association, said that on the day of the shooting in Highland Park, a well-to-do northern suburb with little crime, there were several shootings in parts of Chicago that experience much more crime.

He testified that the bill does nothing to “uplift communities and end economic disparities” in Chicago neighborhoods most affected by violence.  “There’s probably more guns in my neighborhood than entire wards of Chicago, but we don’t have that violence.”  Sullivan, a former Republican state representative from Mundelein, told legislators.  State Rep. Justin Slaughter, a South Side Democrat who sits on the Judiciary Committee, said the proposal was not meant to infringe on anyone’s Second Amendment’s rights.  But he told the three gun rights proponents before him that backers of their position have yet to offer any solutions that address mental health issues, or “looking at this through a public health crisis lens.”

Vandermyde said it’s unfair for someone like him to have to give up his rights to own certain guns because of people who traffic in illegal guns or use them to commit violent crimes.  “I didn’t sell them those guns. I didn’t bring those guns in here,” he said.  “I’m not running into the city on the weekend to shoot it up.”  Sullivan said gun rights advocates have gotten the short end of the stick on previous gun control legislation in the General Assembly, and that he doesn’t believe any kind of gun-ban proposal would be negotiable on his end.  “Every time we shift and support it, we’ve been run over,” Sullivan said of past gun control legislation.  “As for a gun ban, there is not a place that we can go forward.”

 

If you haven’t completed a witness slip stating your opposition to IL House Bill 5855, you can file one at IL House Bill 5855 Witness Slip.

New Laws Taking Effect Within Illinois In 2023

 

PROVISIONS OF THE SAFE-T ACT

1.  Anonymous complaints

 

Whereas previous complaints against police officers had to be signed by the complainant, as of January 1st, any person can file an anonymous complaint against a police officer with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB).

 

2.  Resisting or obstructing a peace officer changes

 

A trailer bill to the original version of the SAFE-T Act passed earlier this year made some clarifications to the area of the law relative to “resisting or obstructing.”  For resisting, there now must be an underlying offense for which the person was initially subject to arrest.  For obstructing, there does not need to be an underlying offense.

 

3.  No custodial arrests on Class B and C misdemeanors

 

Beginning in January, law enforcement can no longer arrest individuals accused of traffic offenses and Class B and Class C criminal misdemeanors when the accused person poses no threat to the community or any person.  In these cases, officers will only be able to issue a citation.  Examples of this new provision would be Peeping Toms and individuals who engage in criminal trespassing at a residence.  Under the new provisions, only a citation can be given.

 

4.  Body camera mandates

 

Body camera mandates are taking effect on a tiered schedule according to the size of a jurisdiction.  In the original schedule, municipalities and counties with populations between 100,000 and 500,000, body cameras were to be required on January 1, 2023.  However, in the latest trailer bill, HB 1095, local governments of that size now have until July 1, 2023, but only if they ordered their cameras by October 1, 2022.

 

MOTOR FUEL TAX INFLATIONARY INCREASE (Delayed from July 1, 2022)

A temporary “freeze” to the motor fuel tax will be over almost as quickly as it began.  While legislators had an opportunity in 2022 to provide real, permanent gas tax relief, the Democrats chose instead to temporarily suspend the statutory July 1, 2022 inflationary increase to the motor fuel tax.  The six-month, politically motivated suspension ends just a short time after this year’s General Election.  As a result, Illinoisans will get hit with two motor fuel tax hikes in 2023— the temporarily-suspended increase on January 1, 2023, which will be 3.1 cents, and then the normal July 1, 2023, inflationary increase.

 

MINIMUM WAGE

The annual increases in the state’s minimum wage continue, and on January 1, 2023, the minimum wage for most workers increased to $13 per hour.  The minimum wage for those who receive tips for their work (i.e., restaurant servers) rose to $7.80 per hour, and the wage for those younger than the age of 18 who work fewer than 650 hours per year ncreased to $10.50 per hour.  nnual increases continue until January 1, 2025, when the minimum wage hits $15 per hour.

CRIMINAL LAW

Protecting Child Sex Victims

House Bill 4593 (102nd GA)

Prevents those who solicit for sex from simply claiming they did not know that the individual was an underage minor as an affirmative defense to avoid punishment.  The new law places the burden on the exploiter to prove they didn’t know the age of their victim, rather than the burden on the victim and prosecutor.

Closing a Loophole in “Informed Consent”

House Bill 5441 (102nd GA)
This year, the Legislature passed a bill that closes a loophole in the Criminal Code by expanding the legal definition of consent involving sex with an intoxicated person.  It will now be a crime to engage in sex with a person who is too intoxicated to knowingly give consent, even if the accused person did not provide the intoxicating substance.

Keeping Sex Offenders Away from Children

Senate Bill 3019 (102nd GA)

Today, convicted sex offenders are prohibited from residing within a prescribed distance from schools and parks.  Through legislation passed this year, these convicted criminals are also prohibited from being employed by or associating with any community, county, or state fair, amusement park, or carnival when children are present.

Addressing the Spike in Carjackings and Vehicle Thefts

House Bill 601, House Bill 3699, House Bill 3772 (102nd GA)

Three bills were signed into law this year that seek to address a spike in carjackings and vehicle thefts in Illinois.  One new law expands the offense of “possession of burglary tools” to include possession of a device that unlocks or starts a vehicle without possession of the key or fob, or which captures a duplicate signal from a key fob to unlock or start a vehicle.  A second new law provides grants and financial support to assist in the identification, apprehension, and prosecution of car hijackers and the recovery of the stolen vehicles.  A third new law ensures those who are victims of a carjacking are not liable for violations, fees, fines, or other penalties, including towing costs, if the vehicle owner files a police report in a timely manner.

Expanding the List of “Mandated Reporters”

Senate Bill 3833 (102nd GA)

To help ensure prompt intervention in cases of child abuse or neglect, physical therapists and PT assistants, occupational therapists and OT assistants, and athletic trainers will be added to the list of mandated reporters.

EDUCATION

Improved Learning Standards for Driver Education

House Bill 4716 (102nd GA)

Prospective new teen drivers will face more rigorous classroom and laboratory standards for their driver education classes through a new law that updates standards.

Addressing the Substitute Teacher Shortage

House Bill 4798 (102nd GA)

Legislators took action to address a critical substitute teacher shortage across the state by expanding eligibility for Substitute Teaching Licenses to include college students enrolled in an approved educator preparation program who have earned at least 90 credit hours toward their degrees.

HEALTH CARE

Alzheimer’s Education

Senate Bill 3707 (102nd GA)

To provide better care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, a new law will require specific education on Alzheimer’s and dementia, safety risks, and effective communication to be included in annual training for all Community Care Program providers.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Human Services College Loan Repayment

Senate Bill 3925 (102nd GA)

To help recruit, retain, and drive more people toward careers in the human services sector, the Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program Act can provide (subject to appropriation) student loan repayment assistance to those who agree to practice post-graduation in a community-based human services agency that contracts with or is grant-funded by a State of Illinois agency.

Benefits Navigators at Public Universities

House Bill 4201 (102nd GA)

Beginning January 1, public university and community college students will have access to trained individuals who can help them identify and apply for financial assistance or other benefits.  A Benefits Navigator will identify students in need and help them determine eligibility for any federal, state, or local assistance or benefits based on their financial need.

HUNTING

Expanding the list of allowed firearms that can be used for deer hunting

House Bill 4386 (102nd GA)

For the first time, sportsmen and women who enjoy deer hunting will be able to use a single shot centerfire rifle to harvest deer during the firearm open season.  Per the new law, only straight walled rifle rounds may be used in centerfire rifles. Until now, only shotguns could be used during deer firearm season.

INSURANCE

In 2022, several bills were passed and signed into law that expand insurance coverage for specific screenings and health conditions. Beginning in the new year, insurance companies must provide coverage for:

Prenatal vitamins when they are prescribed by a physician.
Prostate cancer screenings with no co-pay required.
Medically necessary Continuous Glucose Monitors for those diagnosed with Type I or Type II diabetes.
Genetic testing to detect an increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer if the tests are recommended by a health care provider.
“Home health services” must now be covered for the duration of medically necessary care.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Legislators continued to celebrate the uniqueness of the Land of Lincoln through a series of new state designations of Illinois’ special features.  Dolostone, a fine-grained sedimentary rock like limestone, will now be known as the official State Rock.  It is quarried in Illinois and when crushed, it is widely used as a construction aggregate and road surfacing material.  The Eastern milk snake, which can be found in Central and Northern Illinois and averages 24-43 inches in length, was dubbed as the official State Snake in 2022.  This reptile can be found in fields, woodlands, rocky hillsides, and river bottoms.  It hides under logs, rocks, and boards.

TRANSPORTATION

Enhancements to Specialty License Plates

The Legislature approved several additions and enhancements to the state’s specialty license plate program in 2022.  Beginning on January 1, money generated from the sale of the Illinois Police Association plate can be used for providing death benefits for the families of Association members who die of natural causes, and scholarships for their children and spouses.

Another piece of legislation expands the list of military family members who can obtain Gold Star license plates to include widows, widowers, parents, children, stepchildren, adopted children, brothers and sisters, half brothers and sisters, siblings, daughters, and sons of those who served in the Armed Forces and lost his or her life while serving in peacetime or war.

A third new law provides for a Future Farmers of America (FFA) plate decal and creates a fund through which proceeds from the decal will be used for grants to the Illinois Association of FFA.

Fee Reduction for Illinois-Made Vehicles

Senate Bill 3609 (102nd GA)

Those purchasing a car or small truck manufactured in the State of Illinois will enjoy a cost break beginning in 2023, when registration fees for Illinois-made vehicles drop by $25.

FBI Pays Twitter $3.4M to Ban Accounts for ‘Misinformation’

Taibbi has been tweeting and The Post has been reporting screenshots of emails between the FBI and Twitter staff, with FBI flagging specific accounts for alleged “civic misinformation policy violations,” “spam behaviors,” “platform manipulation,” and “ban evasion,” asking Twitter to suspend or ban users.

The files show that Twitter held monthly meetings with the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, The Post reported.

The FBI and other federal agencies focused on social media after the 2016 election, Taibbi noted on Twitter, as the FBI’s social media task force grew to 80 agents and Department of Homeland Security worked with outside security contractors and think tanks “to pressure Twitter to moderate content.”

Taibbi revealed that the FBI was so aggressive in sending Twitter “possible violative content” to look at and go after, that an employee said the materials were a “monumental undertaking” that needed several employees to complete.

“Instead of chasing child sex predators or terrorists,” Taibbi tweeted, “the FBI has agents — lots of them — analyzing and mass-flagging social media posts. Not as part of any criminal investigation, but as a permanent, end-in-itself surveillance operation. People should not be okay with this.”

 

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY REAL CLEAR POLICY AT https://tinyurl.com/2aevfenc

Do You Have Information That Is Of Interest To Our Members?

 

If so, please send it to marketing@scilgop.com so that can publish it in an upcoming issue of the St. Clair County Republican Party Membership Newsletter (https://stclaircountyrepublicans.com).