Carbondale Reporter

Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg) recently joined House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (Savanna) and several members of the House Republican caucus in Springfield to unveil their legislative priorities for the 103rd General Assembly. McCombie announced the creation of five working groups to produce solutions to some of Illinois’ most pressing issues. 

Windhorst was chosen to be spokesperson for two committees and leader of the Improving Public Safety working group.

"I'm grateful to Leader McCombie for her placing faith and trust in me to serve as House Republican spokesman on the House Judiciary Criminal Law Committee," Windhorst said. "In addition to my role as spokesman in that committee, I'm also serving as spokesperson on the House Restorative Justice Committee. In these roles, I'm committed to working in a manner that fosters collaboration, mutual respect, and cooperation with members on both sides of the aisle to craft responsible public safety policy. The spirit of cooperation and transparency will be at the forefront of my work as a House Republican lead on the (Improving Public Safety) working group."

"I've been at this podium many times in the previous years to call for changes to the recently passed SAFE-T Act," Windhorst continued. "In the time since it passed in January of 2021, House Democrats have passed four trailer bills aimed at fixing the flawed law. Gov. Pritzker signed three of those trailer bills into law. The reason for the trailer bills was simple: the law was rushed through a process that resulted in a flawed product. As the problems with the law were revealed efforts to amend and correct the act made their way through the legislature and with that we have seen the job of law enforcement officers become more dangerous and harder to do, criminals are acting more emboldened than ever before and through a prior bail reform effort, repeat offenders are already being let out of jail with little to no cash bail and the provisions of the SAFE-T Act regarding pretrial fairness have not even taken effect yet."

Windhorst said better solutions are being sought.

"Our citizens deserve to live in safe communities and neighborhoods where they can live, work, play, and raise their families without living in fear of violent criminals who are back out on the street just a few hours after their last offense," said Windhorst. "The courts have also weighed in, with the most recent stay of the elimination of cash bail being issued by the Supreme Court. While we await a final decision on the full implementation of the pretrial fairness portion of the SAFE-T Act, legislators should be working together to bring forward constitutional solutions aimed at improving our justice system and improving public safety."

Windhorst detailed the goals of his working group.

"The purpose of this working group will be to study the law in its current form; bring together law enforcement advocacy groups, crime victims advocates, members of the law enforcement community, and legislators, and craft a comprehensive legislative package that addresses the problems of rising violence, drug trafficking, and addiction and the administration of justice in our communities and counties throughout our state," Windhorst said. "I'm excited to work closely with my partners in the Republican caucus and with all interested parties on this working group and look forward to bringing forward comprehensive solutions to make our state a better place and a safer place to live, work and raise a family."

Alongside the Improving Public Safety working group, the other four working groups are: Sustaining & Protecting At-Risk Kids; Supporting Women and Families; Reigniting Illinois’ Strong Economy; and Literacy Improves Future Endeavors.

Windhorst is a Metropolis resident who was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018 to represent all or part of the following counties: Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Saline, Williamson, White, Jackson, Pulaski, Pope, Saline, and Union. His legislative experience includes serving on the Restorative Justice and the Judiciary-Criminal committees. 

Windhorst graduated from Shawnee Community College in 1995 and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in 1997 before receiving his law degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2000.