Editorial: Let Legislature work remotely during pandemic

In May, state Rep. Tim Butler evoked history to argue that the state legislature must continue to do its business in person, in Springfield, no matter the dangers from COVID-19.

"For 202 years Illinoisans have traveled from all corners of the state ... by car, by train, by horseback, by walking to get to the Capitol," the Springfield Republican said. "We've done it through civil war, we've done it through world wars, we've done it through the Spanish Flu ..."

He and others who scuttled a bill that month to allow the General Assembly to meet and vote remotely considered the idea a dangerous.

The romantic vision of 19th century legislators imperiling their lives to uphold their duty aside, we are pleased that two of Butler's colleagues are reviving a version of the bill in both the House and Senate.

State Rep. Ann Williams, a Democrat from Chicago, introduced the House bill on Monday and said she has been talking with Republicans and believes the new bill will be a starting point for negotiations. In the Senate, the bill was introduced by Robert Martwick, a Chicago Democrat from the 10th District, which encompasses parts of Des Plaines, Park Ridge and Rosemont.

It is time for the Illinois General Assembly to make this happen, ideally as a collaborative exercise across the aisle. The state legislature has been effectively sidelined since March, except for a four-day session last May, while Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been ruling Illinois with disaster declarations and executive orders. It is the legislature's job to manage long-term policy and planning and these elected representatives need to be able to work safely on our behalf. Illinois budget problems won't wait.

Frankly, we understand the reflexive anxiety about creating a precedent for virtual meetings. Illinois' history of backroom dealing makes it imperative that the final legislation has unbreakable safeguards and that virtual governance can happen only under extraordinary circumstances. The legislation should include a post-pandemic sunset date.

Equally important, the public must be able to view committee meetings as well as the full General Assembly, and a framework must be established for citizen comment.

With the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines being rolled out and others on the way, there is a bright spot on the horizon. But this pandemic isn't over and won't be for some time. And there will be other crises.

Currently, Williams says 24 state legislatures are using virtual technologies to meet and even pass laws. Is it ideal? No. But the alternative is either risking the health of our legislators, their staffs and their families; or members abandoning their governing responsibilities altogether.

And as businesses local governments all over Illinois who are using virtual technology would tell you, it sure beats nothing.

And what would those 19th century legislators say to that? Well, many were lawyers and therefore pragmatic. We expect they would have chosen to participate. So should today's General Assembly.