Rep. David McSweeney (R-52) sponsored 76 bills in the first quarter of 2019, 40 more than the average Illinois state representative, and was added as a co-sponsor on 29 bills, 30 less than the average, according to a McHenry Times analysis of data made available by the Illinois General Assembly.
During the first quarter, 119 representatives sponsored legislation, with Rep. Michael J. Madigan (D-22) sponsoring the most with 940 bills. There were 119 representatives that co-sponsored legislation, with Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-57) co-sponsoring 169 bills, more than any other representative.
When a bill is introduced to the House, the clerk reads the bill title before the House and it is automatically referred to the Rules Committee. If the Rules Committee thinks that the bill merits further consideration, it is assigned to another committee. If the committee reports favorably on the bill to the House, or if the committee has been discharged with respect to the bill, the bill will be ready for its second reading before the House.
According to House rules, a bill can be passed only after the House clerk has read the bill before the House on three separate days. However, many bills are introduced as shell bills in order to circumvent the rule requiring three readings before they can be passed. These shell bills, which are far more common in Illinois than in other states, are created with the purpose of beginning the often lengthy process of passing a new piece of legislation. But since they would only make trivial or meaningless changes in the law in the form that they initially appear, they are either left to die or are later changed to something more substantive that can be rushed to passage without bothering with procedure. This has the unfortunate effect of leading to laws that may not have been debated or discussed sufficiently.
Representatives that sponsor an inordinately large number of bills are often sponsoring many shell bills.
The following table shows the bills that McSweeney sponsored in the first quarter.
MUNICIPAL CONVENTION EXPENSES
MEDICAID-MCO PAYMENT INFO
HIGHR ED-RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION
MHDDC-CLEAR&PRESENT DANGER
CONTROLLED SUB-HEROIN DELIVERY
CD CORR-MURDER SENTENCING
CD CORR-CONDITIONS OF PAROLE
SELF-FUNDING LIMITATION ACT
INFORM DISCLOSURE-PUB OFFICIAL
PENCD-GARS-GA MEMBER ELIGIBLE
INC TX-GA MEMBERS-DISCLOSURE
TRUTH IN LEGISLATIVE TAXATION
VEH CD-RED LIGHT CAMERA STUDY
REDUCE GA & EXECUTIVE SALARIES
CUT GA OFFICE ALLOWANCE BY 10%
GA MEMBER COMPENSATION & COLA
STATE BUDGET-GA MEMBER SALARY
LOBBYIST-COUNTY BD PROHIBITION
COMM COLL-VOCATION SCHOLARSHIP
DISCLOSABLE PAYMENT-SICK LEAVE
MUNICIPAL CONVENTION EXPENSES
RECORDER FEES-BOARD CONTROL
FINANCE-STACKED ALT BOND DEBT
ED LABOR REL-CONTRACT APPROVAL
SCH CD-POST-RETIREMENT BONUS
SCH CD-SEXUAL ASSAULT/ABUSE
SCH CD-EMPLOYEE-SEX OFFENSE
OPEN ILLINOIS CHECKBOOK ACT
DURABLE MEDICAL SUPPLIES-RATES
INC TX-CORPORATE INCOME TAX
REPEAL/RESTORE VARIOUS-SB9
VEH CD-REPEAL REDLIGHT CAMERAS
VEH CD-REPEAL REDLIGHT CAMERAS
CONSTITUTION AMEND PUBLICATION
$ROAD FUND-INFRASTRUCTURE
VEH CD-RED LIGHT CAMERA STUDY
MCHENRY TWP & DIST DISSOLUTION
INDEPENDENT MED EXAM-ATTORNEYS
SCH CD-EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE
LIBRARIES-SECURITIES & ASSETS
GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMPENSATION
JCAR-RULES ECONOMIC IMPACT
INC TX-DEDUCT MANUFACTURING
ISP-FORENSIC SERVICES-AUDIT
CON AMEND-ABOLISH LT GOVERNOR
CON AMEND-ABOLISH LT GOVERNOR
CONDEMN-ANTI-SEMITIC SPEECH
MEMORIAL-DEPUTY JACOB KELTNER
SMOLLETT CASE-ATTORNEY GEN.
EDUCATION PENSION COST SHIFT
OPPOSE NEW ADVERTISING TAXES
FOOD & DRUGS - NO SALES TAX
OPPOSES GRADUATED INCOME TAX
NO TAXES ON RETIREMENT INCOME
COOK COUNTY BOARD-PRECKWINKLE
GA-UNIT OF LOCAL GOVT PROHIBIT
PROP TX-EDUCATION PURPOSES
DRAINAGE DISTRICTS-DISSOLUTION
The following table shows the bills to which McSweeney was added as a co-sponsor in the first quarter.
Rep. Margo McDermed (R-37)
TRACK-SEXUAL ASSAULT EVIDENCE
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-71)
CRIM CODE-AGG BAT-EMPLOYEES
PEN CD-POLICE/FIRE INVESTMENT
Rep. Natalie A. Manley (D-98)
MEDICAID-MCO PAYMENT INFO
Rep. Keith R. Wheeler (R-50)
Rep. Keith R. Wheeler (R-50)
NO FUNDS W/OUT REVENUE EST
PUBLIC OFFICE-PROHIBITED ACTS
VEH CD-EMERGENCY VEH-PENALTY
Rep. Michael J. Zalewski (D-23)
Rep. Daniel Didech (D-59)
LAKE CO-BOARD MEMBER SALARIES
Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-57)
INC TX-CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
DURABLE MEDICAL SUPPLIES-RATES
Rep. LaToya Greenwood (D-114)
PARKINSON'S DISEASE AWARENESS
Rep. Natalie A. Manley (D-98)
ELIMINATE WILL CO TWP CLERKS
Rep. Thomas Morrison (R-54)
PROP TX-BD OF REVIEW RESOURCES
Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-60)
Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe (R-20)
JUSSIE ACT-FILM TAX CREDIT
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-97)
CONAMEND-LEGISLATIVE REDISTRCT
GRADUATED INCOME TAX-OPPOSE
Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-66)
Rep. Martin J. Moylan (D-55)
MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION PROCESS
Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-57)
Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-60)
HONOR WOMEN IN FACILITIES
Rep. Mark Batinick (R-97)
Sen. Melinda Bush (D-31); Rep. Daniel Didech (D-59)
COUNTY BOARD CHAIRMAN REMOVAL
Alerts Sign-up