In the final hours of Model Illinois Government 2019, Governor Roehrs and her staff decided to throw delegates for one last loop to see how they would handle a sudden plague in Illinois.
Sunday, March 3 - FINAL EDITION
State of Emergency: Outbreak in Illinois
Jenessa Peinado
Today we have been informed that a crisis has occurred consisting of an outbreak of a plague brought back from missionaries who did work outside of The United States of America resulting in the contamination of our streets. With a current total of 3,000 deaths, Illinois’ state Governor Roehrs has closed all borders going in or out of the state. Governor Roehrs has called for the capital to take immediate action in the form of The National Guard being mobilized to carry out funding and treatments for the diseases. To combat this crisis, the state would need a total of 15 billion dollars. Both bills suggested possible solutions.
For the first proposed emergency Plan A:0001, the State would enforce a mandatory vaccine for all Illinois citizens. To fund such endeavors, Illinois would redistribute already obtained funds from the following departments: Agricultural department, Education Department, National Guard and the Department of Child-care and Family Services.
In the second proposed emergency Plan B:0002, the State of Illinois would leave the vaccine up to choice. The funding in this plan, however, came from enforcing a ten percent income tax on employers with one-hundred or more employes. They would also impose a mandatory tax bill on all religious congregations. This tax would vary dependent on size and only be a total of twenty-five percent.
With the (hypothetical) crisis underway as the Senate was caucusing, they were relayed the information that a hospital in Decatur, Illinois had been overcome, killing another 6,500 people. Due to this news, a quick, but extensive, debate in the Illinois Senate began. Emergency Plan:A0001 was brought to question referring to how funds would be taken from already existing departments. Senator Rob Hickey (D-Millikin) closed debate saying “We can not continue to steal from our future. We are just kicking the can down the road to deal with in the future.”
With emergency plan A:0001 shot down and with the need for action, hope for a bipartisanship agreement of emergency plan B:0002 grew stronger. In the end the Senate did what was necessary to save the countless lives that were possible at stake. The final voting was 30 in favor, five in dissent and five abstaining. Now the lives of the infected are in the hands of the House of Representatives. May they make the same choice in favor of the people.
Senate Debate Over Concealed Carry Closes out a Passionate Weekend of Strong Debates
Kim Wolf, Solicitor General/Senate Correspondent
As the second to last debate this years Senators participated in, HBOL1303 was to be scheduled for a short debate. Many gun laws were discussed in the past few days, but this piece of legislation wishes to amend the Firearm Concealed Carry Act thus allow individuals with a concealed carry to take their weapons on public transportation.
The debate was not bipartisan in any way. The majority referenced this bill as being reckless and dangerous. Adding guns to the altercations that already occur will not be effective as the left argues because public transportation already consists of enclosed spaces and who is to say that the aftermath of potential fatalities is not going to be traumatic for other passengers. On the other hand, the right expresses great concern with the thought of their second amendment right having another restriction on it due to this is already an uphill battle for them; it is outlined in the second amendment of the Constitution and has been referenced throughout the deliberation.
A captivating factor in this debate resides in the fact that the two Senators in leadership switched sides and spoke as the opposing leader. They both proved that they are flexible with their argument style by the ease they had contradicting their values that were addressed earlier in the simulation.
Both arguments were well presented, however this bill did not reach a majority with the final vote being 13-26-3.
Signing in: ABC’s of LGBTQ and No Sleep, No stop, No Service
Jenessa Peinado
The victor bills that made it out of both The House of Representatives and Senate were but two. In the amazing process that is our judiciary system, we have seen progression and eventual signing of two important and necessary bills. One of which I did not get the opportunity to follow from the start, but this one deemed it unacceptable for those that were not emergency personnel could not work shifts back to back without ten hours in between shifts. The other bill was Senate bill 1202 to be victorious was one I did get to follow.
Signed by Governor Elizabeth Roehrs, Senate bill 1202, was to require the teaching of LGBTQ sexual-health education. This bill was one that did survive both chambers with only minor tweaks. This bill began in committee two of the Senate during caucuses going onto survive on to the Senate floor the following night.
While on the floor, Senator Valerie Thomas (D-ICC) said “If we were to teach compassion at a young age...We can show other states that it is time, that this is the right legislation and that bigotry must die.” In response, Senator Tristan Flemmings (R-NIU) said “I think transgender sexual health is the exact same as straight sexual health” but to this Senator Isaiah Moore(R-GSU) reminded of how “America always promotes individuality and the overall idea is an American Idea. We need to protect are people from Social Abuse, they need to know they are equal to every single other citizen”.
Ismael Coredova (D-ECC) stated, “This is the reality of the sexual education that our state is providing our students. They will learn what is right and what is wrong. When I was younger they made me change outside of the locker rooms because they (my classmates) were uncomfortable when really it was them, my teachers the ones who were supposed to be accepting and caring. If we lose the stigma we can become more compassionate to those who are different like me.” Republicans ended the debate with a closing of praise. “I applaud each and everyone one of you who did speak on this because I know it was hard.” Moore (R-LLCC) through bipartisanship it was passed 37-5-5. It would later go to the house come back to the Senate after an amendment saying student did not need parents permission and once again it did pass. This time 23-9-8.
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