A bill that is designed to halt state funds to schools and other institutions that ban books is expected to be signed by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, as there has been controversy across the country where some are calling for books to be banned in libraries and schools.
House Bill 2789, according to a May 3 report by The Hill, instructs libraries to adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights. Part of this includes the text that “materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.” Gov. Pritzker feels that banning books is unacceptable, which is something he made public through a release in March.
“Banning books is a devastating attempt to erase our history and the authentic stories of many,” said Governor Pritzker in a statement he released in March. “Students across this state deserve to see themselves reflected in the pages of stories that teach and entertain. I’m proud to support House Bill 2789 and ensure that Illinois’ libraries remain sources of knowledge, creativity, and fact,” Pritzker said in a March release.”
Sen. Laura Murphy is a sponsor of the bill and spoke highly in favor. The signage of this bill, she said, would help prevent book banning in the future.
“Our nation’s libraries have been under attack for too long—they are bastions of knowledge and proliferate the spread of ideas,” Sen. Murphy said. “That is why I am so proud that my measure to prevent the banning of books passed in the senate today.”
Many GOP lawmakers have voiced their opposition to such policy, with state Sen. Jason Plummer recently raging “It’s offensive to the principles of good government to threaten to take away public funds from the very people whose taxes pay for these grants just because certain politicians may not agree with their beliefs.”
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