Help us oppose Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 to IL House Bill 1752

State Senator Dan Cronin (a Republican from District 21) has proposed an amendment to House Bill 1752 which seeks to amend the Election Code by making the minimum nomination petition signature requirement for county offices in DuPage County 1.5% (now, 0.5%) of the number of voters in a certain category.

OTDB thinks it is egregious that such a state law would single out DuPage County, seemingly for the purposes of making it three times more difficult for Democratic, and especially grassroots, candidates to run for office.

What makes Sen. Cronin’s sponsorship of this amendment even more irksome is that he has recently written letters to the editor stating that, “It has become imminently clear that one-party rule in the General Assembly does not benefit the people we were elected to represent” (Elmhurst Press, 6/14/07) and that Illinois’ budget stalemate was “the result of one-party control of our system of governance, which eliminates the need for cooperation and good-faith negotiations” (Daily Herald, 8/7/07).

Noting how Sen. Cronin’s support for two-party politics seems to stop at his home turf, OTDB Steering Committee member Bob Babcock penned this Letter to the Editor:

August 13, 2007

To the Editor,

Simply put, the DuPage County Republican leadership seems to support un-American activities. Otherwise, why would Senator Dan Cronin feel free to tamper with elections? Certainly he believes his party would support him.

America is based on Democracy – our vote is sacred. It is at the core of what we all believe it means to be “American”. The very thought that ANYONE would interfere with the voice we are given through our vote is nothing but horrific!

However, Senator Cronin has seen fit to slip an amendment to House Bill 1752 that TRIPLES the number of signatures required on petitions for DuPage County elective positions. It doesn't impact any other county. It’s nothing less than dirty politics.

It shows how desperate Republicans are becoming in DuPage – apparently willing to stop at nothing to prevent Democrats from being elected.

We have a huge budget deficit in DuPage County. I’m told that Property Tax Assessors complain that they’re overburdened and there is not enough money to hire more Assessors. Guess what? The priority is residential property. Commercial property owners are getting a free ride!

Meanwhile, DuPage County Board members enjoy salaries for PART-TIME jobs that equal the median income for a FULL-TIME employed person in the county. Democrats are calling not only for a reduction in the number of DuPage County Board positions, but also in the salaries.

Why does this matter? It matters because there is ONE PARTY RULE in DuPage County. There is NO balance in DuPage County government. There’s no one “keeping them honest”.

Senator Cronin speaks from one side of his mouth decrying Democratic rule in the state, and speaks from the other side of his mouth while legislating against fair elections that might give Democrats a chance in getting elected to something as simple but important as the DuPage County Board because it impacts our taxes!

I remember the “cold war” with the Russians. Supposedly it was because the people had no voice in government – they weren’t a democracy.

Apparently, Senator Cronin doesn’t believe in democracy either.

Cronin has deceitfully added his amendment to what otherwise might be a good piece of legislation. Oppose his amendment to HB 1752 NOW. Unless you don’t believe in what America was founded on – democracy.

Bob Babcock
Downers Grove

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OTDB asks that you contact state legislators to oppose -- and otherwise spread the word about -- this horribly misguided proposal sponsored by an Elmhurst-based State Senator.