McLean County Times

State Senator Chris Balkema and State Representative Dennis Tipsword have joined fellow Republican lawmakers in Illinois to file a lawsuit in Sangamon County Court. The legal action aims to enforce the Illinois Constitution’s Third Reading Rule concerning Senate Bill 328. Despite the Democratic supermajorities in both legislative chambers, Republicans allege that procedural rules were ignored, compromising transparency.

Senator Balkema expressed his commitment to legislative integrity: “As a new legislator, I came here to do things the right way — to listen, lead, and make life better for the people I represent,” he stated. He criticized SB 328 as potentially harmful, suggesting it could lead to "abusive lawsuits" and negatively impact job creators and working families.

Representative Tipsword echoed these concerns about procedural violations during the spring session. “The Democrats’ rule-breaking procedures during the spring session had no limits,” he remarked. He highlighted issues such as suspended rules and waived posting requirements aimed at meeting deadlines.

The Third Reading Rule is intended as a safeguard within the legislative process, ensuring bills are read by title three times on separate days for thorough review and debate. The lawsuit claims that this procedure was not followed for SB 328, which passed despite these alleged shortcomings.

Republicans argue that SB 328 poses significant risks by facilitating frivolous lawsuits, thereby deterring business growth in Illinois. They contend that this legislation undermines constitutional processes designed to protect public interest.