HR0025 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0025 LRB095 04606 NHT 26252 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, For reasons known and unknown, the General Assembly has been unwilling or unable to tackle some of the most significant problems facing the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has an unacceptably large and increasing funding disparity between school districts, and the State's minimum per student foundation level of support is inadequate to such an extent that Illinois ranks 49th among the states in the portion of school funding provided by the State; and

WHEREAS, The people of Illinois deserve and demand good and honest government, and controlling any improper influence of campaign contributions on public policy is integral to rebuilding the public's trust in their elected officials and the legislative process; and

WHEREAS, Our present method of assessing property in Illinois is antiquated and inequitable, resulting in unnecessary and significant hardship to homeowners; and

WHEREAS, It is in the best interest of the people of Illinois to have the aforementioned issues substantively addressed; and

WHEREAS, Given the inability of the legislature to achieve results on these and other worthwhile issues, an alternative and practical avenue for addressing these matters and providing for overdue reforms to our laws would be through the convening of a Constitutional Convention; and

WHEREAS, A Constitutional Convention allows for elected delegates from each legislative district to assemble for the purpose of proposing amendments to the current State Constitution, which regulates the actions of the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, Pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 1 of Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution, there is one opportunity every twenty years to convene a Constitutional Convention by way of ballot referenda; and

WHEREAS, This referendum will appear on the November 2008 general election ballot; and

WHEREAS, Should these issues not be sufficiently addressed prior to such time; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that in order to address the key issues that impact the daily lives of all Illinoisans, we urge the support of the electorate on the question of whether a Constitutional Convention should be called and encourage the electorate's attention to this initiative.