Millner Joins Bipartisan Call for Open Discussion during Special Session

SPRINGFIELD, IL— State Senator John J. Millner (R- Carol Stream) is helping lead a bipartisan initiative by rank-and-file lawmakers to ensure they are included in discussions between legislative leaders and the Governor whenever the General Assembly is called into special session.

At a press conference July 6 at the Capitol, Millner was joined by more than 15 House and Senate members from both sides of the aisle in proposing a measure that would, whenever a special session of the General Assembly is called, require the Governor and the four legislative leaders to meet and discuss the issue for which the special session was convened.

In addition, the plan would mandate that, after the meeting, the leaders and the Governor address members on the progress of any talks and field any questions members might have before a joint session of the House and Senate.

“If the Governor is going to call 177 lawmakers into town to discuss an urgent issue, at a cost of $40,000 a day, then we should all be engaged in the process and working together to find a solution to that issue,” Millner said. “Otherwise, the sessions are a waste of time and money, both of which are in short supply at the Capitol.”

Lawmakers have been called into special session since July 5 to discuss a proposal to sell the state’s Lottery and to discuss the state’s pension obligations. The talks come as leaders have yet to settle a budget stalemate that would appropriate money for the entire 2008 fiscal year.

“My caucus leader Frank Watson does an excellent job keeping us in the loop on a variety of issues, but this idea is more about process than anything else,” Millner said. “The Governor has called for special sessions, but has not addressed lawmakers about the problems he feels we need to solve. I’m not happy we have to propose a law to make these talks happen, but I believe without them, the valuable input of lawmakers and the people they represent will be lost.”