Grundy Reporter

State Rep. Jed Davis (R-Newark) is suggesting a change in which each General Assembly member gets one bill they can introduce to the floor as opposed to the current majority party-driven process that blocks virtually all bills from the minority party. 

Davis noted the idea in his third installment of a video series “Springfield in 90 Seconds.”

“This week we're talking about bills that never hear the sound of the gavel. They are never called, issues like ethics reform,” Davis said in the video. “You know, we just witnessed convictions in trials connected with Michael Madigan. But Springfield won't even go near the issue of ethics reform. We quietly lift the rug and sweep it all under and kind of act like, hey, that never happened. I mean, come on.”

Davis mentioned there are a number of bills that have been put on the sidelines. 

“How about hospital pricing, transparency? It's actually my own bill. Were you the consumer would know the costs of procedures before walking through the door of a hospital," he said. "How great would that be? A lobbyist got a hold of it and 'poof' never be called, never to be seen again. The list could go on and on. The entire process down there is manipulative at best.”

Davis urged that legislators should be given the opportunity to have their bills presented and decided upon.

“We either are – A: afraid to give credit to the opposing party; or B: afraid to go on record in a public setting. What are we doing? Here is my proposal. Give every rep one bill, one priority bill that is actually called, debated, and voted upon on the floor of the House of Representatives. No more hiding behind committees or hiding behind lobbyists. Who knows? Hiding under your own desk. It is time that we have the courage to stand up and take votes on issues that are relevant to the people. Just one bill. What are you afraid of?”

Davis’s comments come after four convictions in a massive bribery scheme enacted between ComEd, the state’s largest utility provider, and former House Speaker Michael Madigan. A juror in the ComEd Four trial, Amanda Schnitker Sayers, stated that Madigan is responsible for the corruption that occurred, according to Prairie State Wire The convictions have fueled calls for ethics reform, as ComEd executives and lobbyists were found guilty of scheming to pay $1.3 million to Madigan-connected individuals and companies. Madigan controlled all bills brought to the floor for votes during his 36 years as House Speaker. The ComEd Four is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2024.

Davis’s Hospital Price Transparency Act was just one bill not brought up for a vote. 

“Requires facilities to maintain lists of standard charges and shoppable services and ensure that the lists are available at all times to the public. Contains reporting requirements,” the bill’s synopsis reads in part.

Davis is in his first year as a state legislator. He won the election in 2022 after beating incumbent David Welter who had held the 75th House seat since his appointment in 2016.