Republican reform gaining steam at Capitol
SPRINGFIELD - A suburban lawmaker's proposal to reform how Illinois Republicans choose their party leadership is now just one vote away from heading to Gov. Pat Quinn's desk.
An Illinois House committee on Wednesday voted along party lines to approve a plan that would give Republican primary voters the power to elect the party's state central committee. That plan, which has already been approved by the Senate, now moves to the full House for a final vote.
"The reaction from our party in denial of one person-one vote, I think is the strongest argument in favor of why we need a vote. All of us. And we need to demonstrate our respect to all the people who we ask to rebuild the Republican Party," testified state Sen. Chris Lauzen, an Aurora Republican.
Lauzen's proposal has been sharply criticized by many Republicans and GOP Chairman Andy McKenna has threatened a lawsuit if state lawmakers change the existing system. All four Republicans on the House Executive Committee voted against the plan.
"Political parties are private organizations and, as such, I think they have the right to determine self-governance," said state Rep. Michael Tryon, a Crystal Lake Republican. Tryon said delegates at the 2008 Illinois GOP convention overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to change how the party's central committee is selected.
Currently, Republican state committeemen are chosen by party ward and precinct leaders. Lauzen's proposal to give that selection to GOP primary voters would make the Republican system similar to how Illinois Democrats choose their central committee.
"I believe the proposal as we have it now makes us a mirror image of the Democrat Party and I don't want to be a mirror image of the Democrat Party. That's why I'm a Republican," Tryon said.
Lauzen said Plainfield state Rep. Tom Cross, the House GOP leader, told him he supports taking a final up-or-down vote on the plan on the House floor. However, since Republicans hold only 48 seats in the 118-member House, Democrats will ultimately control when the plan gets a final vote.
A spokeswoman for the governor said Quinn has not yet taken a position on the plan.