McSweeney Re-Introduces Township Abolition by Referendum Bill for McHenry County

The Illinois News Network‘s take on Governor Bruce Rauner’s killing of State Rep. David McSweeney’s bill to allow taxpayers to petition for referendums to abolish township government:

After veto from Rauner, lawmaker plans to re-file consolidation bill again this spring

By Cole Lauterbach | Illinois News Network

Bruce Rauner

Illinois state Rep. David McSweeney plans to re-file his local government consolidation bill after Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed it just before he left office.

[The legislation has been re-filed as House Bill 348.]

Rauner vetoed House Bill 4637, a bill that would have allowed for the consolidation of a township in McHenry County as well as abolish any road district there and in neighboring Lake County that manages less than 15 miles of road.

The former governor has been critical of the state’s 7,000 units of local government, which he said is one reason property taxes in Illinois are among the highest in the country.

In his veto message, Rauner said that he appreciated the effort to constitutionally dissolve townships, but “this is a process that should be available with equal clarity across the state.”

David McSweeney

McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, is confident that the bill will become law eventually

“I’m going to pass that bill again.

“It’s a tax cut that’s consolidation and pro-taxpayer,” he said.

The veto is what McSweeney called yet another double-cross from the former governor. McSweeney has been critical of Rauner.

“He’s responsible for

  • a major tax hike
  • out-of-control spending
  • unlimited taxpayer funding for abortions
  • made Illinois a sanctuary state and
  • destroyed the Republican party.”

Steve Reick

Woodstock Republican state Rep. Steven Reick has criticized McSweeney’s bill.

Reick said it was irresponsibly crafted and would have actually resulted in higher taxes for some people.

“I am pleased to know the Governor put the brakes on this legislation so that a future bill could be written in a much more thoughtful and comprehensive fashion,” Reick said in a statement.


Comments

McSweeney Re-Introduces Township Abolition by Referendum Bill for McHenry County — 3 Comments

  1. Those Country Board members are whores, creeps and jukes.

  2. I’d settle for a bill giving township boards real oversight over road district budgets.

    The current system offers no recourse if a kleptocrat or an incompetent with an axe to grind get elected.

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