Lawmakers to schools: Do as I say, not as I drive

SPRINGFIELD - A few weeks ago, several Illinois senators rolled up to the Capitol, parked their foreign made cars, headed inside and then voted to require all drivers' education vehicles in the state to be American made.

The proposal, which cleared the Senate 51-0, would require all drivers ed and local government vehicles leased or purchased after it takes effect to be American made. The proposal specifies that such cars have a Vehicle Identification Number that begins in 1, 4 or 5.

Supporters say their plan is as American as apple pie and Chevrolet and that Illinois tax dollars should support American cars and American jobs.

But upon further review the issue is not so politically cut-and-dry as witnessed by Wednesday's nearly half-hour debate in the Illinois House, which ended with the sponsor - Cicero Democrat Lisa Hernandez - stopping discussion amid severe criticism. She said she'd tune up her plan and bring it back.

Critics pointed out that some of the most frequently used government vehicles, Chevy Impalas for instance, are made in Canada and would be barred under the proposal. Meanwhile, Japanese cars made at U.S. assembly plants would be OK.

State Rep. Bill Black, a Danville Republican, screamed hypocrisy at the supporters, noting they should put their money where their mandates are and drive American themselves. Taxpayers don't provide lawmakers their vehicles, but state senators and representatives get special license plates identifying them as elected state officials.

"I know every car that every member of this body drives," said Black, who drives a Buick. "Sixty-three of you do not drive an American-made car."

He declined to name names, but the Daily Herald obtained a list of vehicles registered to lawmakers via their special legislative license plates. In the Senate, seven members have one or both of their sets of legislative plates on vehicles made outside the United States.

State Sen. Louis Viverito, a Burbank Democrat, recently got a new Lexus, which he thought was assembled in Tennessee. It was actually made in Japan.

"This is my fourth Lexus. A personal friend of mine owns the dealership in Orland Park," Viverito said. "I leased it from him. I thought they were made in Tennessee or something. I supported that bill because the more American we buy the better off we are."

State Sen. Mattie Hunter, a Chicago Democrat, has a 2001 Mercedes made in Germany and a 1996 Toyota Four-Runner made in Japan.

"The Toyota I bought from a friend because the price was right," she said, "I have just always loved the Mercedes-Benz. I don't buy new cars. I buy used cars and the price was right."

"The drivers ed cars should be made in the United States," Hunter said, adding that she's purchased American-made cars in the past.

House members have yet to vote.

Hernandez, the House sponsor, said she'd tweak the deal to include American-owned car manufacturers that use American parts and bring it back for consideration.

"We are going to look into changing it to cars with 60 percent American parts," Hernandez said.

Whether such a law would have much of an effect on suburban schools is unclear.

Northwest Suburban High School District 214, which serves Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Elk Grove, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling, uses 2004 Chevy Malibus, which are American made, said Venetia Miles, director of community relations.

"In the foreseeable future this will not be a problems," Miles said.

Palatine Township High School District 211 also uses American-made Ford Taurus cars and Canadian-manufactured Chevy Impalas. The school district buys these cars through the state.

Ironically, the lawmaker pushing the proposal in the House, Rep. Hernandez, has her legislative license plate registered to a Canadian-made Mercury. She said it was recently wrecked and she's currently shopping for a car on the approved list from the United Auto Workers.

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