Rep. Keith Wheeler is in favor of the advancements made for legislative term-limit enforcement. | Photo Courtesy of Keith Wheeler Facebook
Rep. Keith Wheeler is in favor of the advancements made for legislative term-limit enforcement. | Photo Courtesy of Keith Wheeler Facebook
Illinois House representatives passed a bill from Assistant Minority Leader Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego) to create a 10-year consecutive limit for legislators serving in General Assembly leadership roles.
The legislation, named House Bill 642, applies to House speakers, Senate presidents, and minority leaders. The bill received 115 votes in favor and one against its proposal. With the House’s approval, it will now advance to the Senate to await further consideration and approval.
"What a difference a few months make! Now that Mike Madigan is gone, we were finally able to pass a bill today imposing term limits on legislative leaders, including Speaker of the House and House Minority Leader. I was pleased to co-sponsor this bill and help to get it passed," Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-North Aurora) wrote in a Facebook post.
Like one passed on April 22, the bill will prevent representatives from serving for more than 10 consecutive years to avoid cases such as former state Rep. Mike Madigan, the Illinois House Speaker for 36 years.
Madigan’s prolonged power led to the lowest state credit ratings clashing to the lowest in the nation and more than $144 billion in pension debt. In correlation with the proposal, House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-Westchester) committed to the leadership of no longer than 10 years.
Alerts Sign-up