Lake County Gazette

State Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich) is pushing four Senate joint resolution constitutional amendments (SJRCA) he says will give voters a bigger say in the democratic process. 

“For too long, it has been a fact in this state that Illinoisans have not had a voice in their state government,” McConchie said at a recent news conference. “They haven't had the ability to have an active role in the democratic process. We've seen that just recently in regards to the redistricting efforts that the majority party jammed through with very little transparency and very little public input.”

McConchie knows change won’t come easily, but the lawmaker is encouraged by calls from voters who are demanding a voice in their state government.

“They want a real functioning democracy here in Illinois and so that's one of the many reasons why I am renewing calls for the Senate Republican caucus’s voter empowerment project,” he said. “We are reintroducing these constitutional amendments in order to really put the people back in charge again.”

With McConchie as one of the sponsors, SJR 13 seeks to install an independent redistricting commission, while SJR 14 allows for voter-initiated amendments to the state constitution. SJR 15 and 16 paves the way for the public to repeal unpopular laws and recall elected officials, including any executive branch officer and up to auditor general.

“This is very similar to the provisions that we had in the past, that has been bipartisan in its support, but one important change this time and that is that it would go into effect immediately upon the passage of the constitutional amendment,” McConchie said. “You wouldn't have to wait 10 years in order for this independent redistricting to take place. We would be able to do it immediately upon the people telling us and amending the Constitution that they would want to do it.”

McConchie describes all the measures as protections that have clearly frayed after decades of corruption and mismanagement coming at the hands of the majority party.

“It will empower these voters here in Illinois to provide them with tools to finally take back their government,” he said. “This would empower citizens at all levels of government to hold elected officials accountable and help end corruption in our state.”