Some Clarification about SB 662/HB 1752

by Bob Peickert
Chair, OTDB

I would like to share some insightful information about Senate Bill 662/House Bill 1752 (see post below) that was obtained by members of Operation: Turn DuPage Blue. Since this issue was first brought to everyone’s attention in the OTDB Action Blog, OTDB steering committee members have been in contact with Senators Terry Link and Emil Jones’ offices as well as Senator Don Harmon.

The recent e-mails from the Democratic Party of DuPage County contain information that appears to be inconsistent with the information that we have received.

First, HB 1752 and SB 662 began as 2 different bills and were sponsored by Democrats. SB 662 deleted important language that allowed poll watchers to receive a copy of the voting tape at the closing of the polls. HB 1752 originally dealt with the pay for election judges. Republican Senator Dan Cronin, and others, made some amendments that included increasing the number of signatures required on candidate’s petitions by 300% in DuPage County only. The Democrats agreed to this amendment. No other collar counties would have this increased requirement. HB 1752 was then merged with SB 662 and that bill was passed on Wednesday August 15.

We have been told by the Democratic county leadership that the passage of this bill was the result of the Republicans holding the Early Primary situation hostage if these provisions were not included. Our information is different. First, the Early Primary issue was passed in HB 426 and signed by the governor. Staff from Senator Link’s office confirmed that the Early Primary issue had nothing to do with SB 662, contrary to what many have been told.

The inclusion of the 1.5% factor amendment was sold by the Republicans as a way of keeping the “rump” Republicans off the primary ballots. The amendment has been there for more than two months and was not recently “slipped in”. The 1.5% factor hurts the Democrats and helps the Republicans since we do not match up with the number of precinct committeemen they have to gather signatures. By minimizing or eliminating the increasing number of contested Republican primaries, the Republicans would have that much more money in an already bloated war chest to use against the Democrat challenges they are likely to face. We lose on 2 counts.

I and others from OTDB have been assured that the issue is not dead. Bob Babcock has been in constant communication with Senator Emil Jones office. Dan Bailey and I have been in touch with Senator Harmon. We have also had several calls to staff from Senator Link’s office. The likely solution is for a “trailer” bill to be passed that clears up or removes the objectionable parts. I have sent faxes and e-mails to Senators Emil Jones, Linda Holmes, Terry Link and Don Harmon. I also spoke to several State Representatives. They now understand our concerns with the language.

We will continue to be in communication with them and report any changes or plans for corrections to these bills.

(Thank you to Jean Kaczmarek, Co-Chair of the DuPage Chapter of IBIP, for bringing this matter to our attention over the weekend.)