ILGP PRESS RELEASE: Greens Slam Democratic, Republican Collaboration

Illinois Green Party

www.ilgp.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Greens Slam Democratic, Republican Collaboration in Passing "DuPage Rule"

Contacts:

Phil Huckelberry, Illinois Green Party Government and Elections
Committee Chair, phil.huckelberry@ilgp.org, 309-268-9974

William Edgar, DuPage County Green Party Co-Chair,
bill.edgar@dupagegreens.org, 773-443-8086


The Illinois General Assembly last week passed SB 662, an
omnibus election bill, the provisions of which were essentially
kept secret from Illinois voters.  Among other changes, the
legislation institutes the "DuPage Rule", which triples the
signature requirements for candidates for county offices - but
only in DuPage County.  The Governor is expected to sign the
bill.

"This is about self-preservation for DuPage County incumbents,"
said William Edgar, Co-Chair of the DuPage County Green Party.
"The bill discourages the average citizen from running for
office, and helps a well-financed incumbent to get a challenger
thrown off the ballot."

Current Illinois law requires established party candidates for
county office to collect signatures from 0.5% of the number of
qualified primary electors of the party in the county or
district.  SB 662 raises the threshold to 1.5% - but only for
DuPage County.

Steve Alesch, DuPage County Green Party Co-Chair and candidate
for Congress in District 13, noted that while Green candidates
are impacted, the real target seems to be "mavericks" within
the other parties.  "This bill sends a clear message to
rank-and-file Republicans and Democrats who want to take back
their respective parties:  'Get lost.'  It's no wonder the
Green Party is on the rise in Illinois and throughout the
country."

State Senator Dan Cronin (R-21) originally introduced the
"DuPage Rule" as an amendment to HB 1752.  The text was then
included in a wholesale amendment to SB 662, introduced quietly
last week.  Omnibus bills and last-minute amendments are
commonly employed in the General Assembly, and seem to be
favorite tactics of House Speaker Michael Madigan.

"This trend by the two corporate controlled parties to join
together to pass legislation that a high school civics student
would easily recognize as unconstitutional is very disturbing.
The Illinois Green Party urges the Governor to veto this
unconstitutional bill," said Alesch.

Last minute changes to bills would be disallowed under the
"Show Us" Amendment, which is proposed by the Illinois
Democracy Project, and strongly supported by the Illinois Green
Party.  "Senate Bill 662 is a perfect example of why the Show
Us Amendment is needed," said Edgar.

For more information, see:
- Illinois Green Party:  www.ilgp.org
- DuPage County Green Party:  www.dupagegreens.org
- Steve Alesch for Congress:  www.votesteve.org
- Illinois Democracy Project:  www.showus.org

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