Dear Friend,

Lawmakers will make the trip back to Springfield this week for the second week of the 2021 Veto Session. Topics that may come up for a vote include new US Congressional district maps, changes to the State’s Healthcare Right of Conscience Act, and the possible repeal of parental notification of abortion. Last week’s Session saw little action, but this week is expected to be a busy one. I’ll keep you up to date on all the news and notes as the legislature convenes starting tomorrow. Enjoy this week’s edition of The Jacobs Journal!

Veto Session Week One Recap – Democrats Change House Rules to Allow Remote Voting to Continue through 2021

Last week was pretty much a big waste of time and money in the Illinois House. Unfortunately, the only vote that was taken on the floor of the House was on a House Resolution that changes the rules for remote voting. With such a long list of controversial floor votes potentially coming this week, Democrats changed the House Rules to allow legislators to vote remotely for the rest of this calendar year.

I believe legislators should be working in person at the Capitol to conduct the business of the people of Illinois. Despite Republican objections, House Democrats pressed ahead voted to amend House Rules to ensure remote voting is allowed throughout the rest of 2021.

Repeal of Parental Notification prior to receiving Abortion, other Major Medical Services

Illinois Democrats may attempt to pass legislation this week to eliminate the requirement that health care providers notify the parents of minor children 48 hours prior to an abortion or other major medical procedure.

Current Illinois law requires parental notification prior to any major medical procedure, including abortion. Illinois already has some of the loosest restrictions of any state in the country for who can get an abortion, when someone can get an abortion and taxpayer funding of late-term abortions. If this legislation comes up for a vote, I will stand in strong opposition.

Democrats Want Changes to Health Care Right of Conscience Act

Legislation aimed at changingn the State’s Healthcare Right of Conscience Act has now been filed as SB 1169 House Amendment 2. The Health Care Right of Conscience Act would be changed by using the following stipulations:

“Violations related to COVID-19 requirements. It is not a violation of this Act for any person or public official, or for any public or private association, agency, corporation, entity, institution, or employer, to take any measures or impose any requirements, including, but not limited to, any measures or requirements that involve provision of services by a physician or health care personnel, intended to prevent contraction or transmission of COVID-19 or any pathogens that result in COVID-19 or any of its subsequent iterations.

It is not a violation of this Act to enforce such measures or requirements, including by terminating employment or excluding individuals from a school, a place of employment, or public or private premises in response to noncompliance. This Section is a declaration of existing law and shall not be construed as a new enactment. Accordingly, this Section shall apply to all actions commenced or pending on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. Nothing in this Section is intended to affect any right or remedy under federal law.”

I firmly believe in the right of free citizens to exercise your right to object to medical services, injections, or tests based on sincerely held religious beliefs or objections. This new legislative attempt unfairly targets our individual rights as citizens.

The legislature has so far not weighed in on changes to any laws governing the COVID-19 pandemic medical and public safety response. House Democrats seem to want to hand even more power over to JB Pritzker. I’ll have more on this issue if and when a vote takes place in the House this week.

Second Draft Congressional District Maps Released:
Four Republican Incumbents Drawn Together, Massive New Southern IL District Gets Even Bigger

On Saturday, House and Senate Democrats released yet another new draft of Congressional district boundaries that would be potentially be in effect after the November 2022 elections when a new Congress is seated in January 2023. The newest version of proposed maps draw together four Republican incumbent members of Congress and would make an already geographically-massive new district in Southern Illinois even bigger. You can see the gerrymandering on full display in the picture below.

This map disenfranchises voters all throughout the State of Illinois. Politicians simply should not be drawing the maps. The issue of redistricting is too important and too central to the function of our system of government to allow politicians to pick their voters. An independent commission is needed. House and Senate Democrats are likely to bring the new maps up for a vote this week following scheduled House and Senate Redistricting Hearings on Tuesday.

Stay Connected!

My staff and I are available to serve you! You can reach my offices by calling 618-534-9880 or 618-559-7018. You can also reach me by my website contact form at RepPaulJacobs.com/contact

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