Carbondale Reporter

State Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg) recently provided a preview for the Oct. 25 veto session in his weekly update.

According to Windhorst, for the week of Oct. 25, House Democrats voted to allow remote voting to continue through 2021.

"Last week was pretty much a big waste of time and money in the Illinois House," Windhorst said. "Unfortunately, the only vote that was taken on the floor of the House was on a House Resolution that changes the rules for remote voting. With such a long list of controversial floor votes potentially coming this week, Democrats changed the House Rules to allow legislators to vote remotely for the rest of this calendar year."

Windhorst predicts that House Democrats will attempt to pass legislation that will eliminate laws that require health care providers to notify parents of minor children 48 hours prior to an abortion or other major medical procedure.

"Illinois already has some of the loosest restrictions of any state in the country for who can get an abortion, when someone can get an abortion and taxpayer funding of late-term abortions," Windhorst said. "If this legislation makes its way to the House floor, I will stand in strong opposition just as I have done as I have built a 100% pro-life voting record."

Legislation passed the House that would change the language of the State’s Healthcare Right of Conscience Act to make it harder for citizens to object to medical services to prevent transmission of COVID-19.

"This would also be the first time the legislature has weighed in on changes to any laws governing the COVID-19 pandemic medical and public safety response," Windhorst said. "House Democrats seem to want to hand even more power over to JB Pritzker."

The second draft of the congressional district maps have been released which, according to Windhorst, would draw four Republican districts together. 

"This map disenfranchises voters all throughout the State of Illinois. Politicians simply should not be drawing the maps," Windhorst said. "The issue of redistricting is too important and too central to the function of our system of government to allow politicians to pick their voters. An independent commission is needed."

In September, Windhorst expressed his disdain for the ethics bill that was passed, according to SE Illinois News. Windhorst said that he didn't think the bill did enough, but said that Republican members signed it because it was the only chance to codify at least some reform.