Legislative dysfunction was predictable
The reason? The voice of the people, the proper influence over policymakers in a democracy, has been steadily closed off from the process by which our elected state officials shape policy. That is why, for example:
* Illinois has by far the largest pension debt in the nation and is steadily piling up more debt that future taxpayers, our children and grandchildren, will have to pay off.* Illinois is last in support for our children's education, and has nearly the worst disparity of educational resources. A child's chance for a good education depends on his or her zip code.
* Illinois is notorious for lacking standards of ethics in political campaigns and state hiring and contracting. Our executive branch is continually under federal investigation.
The people know something is wrong. Every poll shows that. Now they can do something about it, and the remedy is simple. It is found in the constitutionally required preamble to every law our legislature passes: "Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly."
The remedy is this: We must hold the legislators accountable to the people they represent. The people will then guide the ship of state away from the legislative abuses of the past and toward policy that will lead to a better future for our children, those who will inherit what we allow our legislators to enact.
How can the people hold Illinois legislators accountable? Your local Parent Teacher Association chapter can show you the way. They are leaders in the Illinois Democracy Project's initiative to require a 21-day period of public review before the final vote to pass any non-emergency legislation.
Those 21 days will allow your newspapers, like this one, to play the informing role Thomas Jefferson said they should in a democracy. It will give you time to learn about high-impact policy proposals, to decide how you stand on them and to tell your legislators what you think.
This "Show Us Amendment" will force legislators to listen to their constituents, rather than to their partisan legislative caucus leaders. It is an act of faith in democracy. It respects the collective wisdom of an informed citizenry by allowing the citizens to become informed.
For more about this project, visit the Illinois Parent Teacher Association Web site (www.illinoispta.org) and click the "Show Us" link on the left side of the home page or go directly to www.showus.org. You will learn that there are four easy steps any citizen can take to restore legislative accountability to the people.
The Show Us Amendment emerged from years of discussion and analysis involving major organizations and experts in government and democracy, including the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon. We have known for a long time the necessity of returning legislators' accountability to the people they represent.
If we needed any further proof, the General Assembly and the Governor have certainly provided it this year.
Jim Broadway is chairman of the Illinois Democracy Project
