The following email was sent out at 10:00 am this morning by the Illinois Republican Party. Strangely Illinois Review didn't receive it from the IL GOP. An IR reader forwarded a copy. Since is says "Press Release" we're running it here, without comment.
Press Release from the Illinois Republican Party:
Important Reasons Christine Radogno and Senate Republicans Should Oppose The Lauzen Bill
1. The Lauzen Bill will change Republican Party elections to match those currently conducted by the Illinois Democratic Party. Currently, Illinois Republicans, like 45 other states, allow the grassroots of the Party to elect its leaders. Look at the make up of the Illinois Democratic Party, and you will see that it is comprised of Chicago Machine politicians and Party insiders. Illinois Democrats, led by Chairman Mike Madigan, don’t conduct open meetings, elect their leaders in secret and ARE THE SAME LEADERS who endorsed Blagojevich, drove Illinois $9 billion into debt and allowed the appointment of Roland Burris – click here and you will see: http://link.gop.com?42-1758-5145-210256-29945
2. An overwhelming majority of grassroots Republicans already defeated the Lauzen Bill at the 2008 Party Convention in Decatur. Senator Lauzen was motivated by a personal agenda and was afforded every opportunity to make his case. The Illinois Republican Party called for a vote that Senator Lauzen himself failed to attend, and the resolution was crushed:
78% Opposed Lauzen Bill - 22% Supported Lauzen Bill
Grassroots Republicans in all 102 counties across the state were given the choice of how our Party conducts elections and their choice was clear – if Republicans in the Senate choose to support the Lauzen Bill now, they undo the will of the same dedicated volunteers who elected them. It would be a dangerous precedent for our Republican Party if a single elected official like Senator Lauzen can force a legislative solution to change a process he didn’t like – particularly when Lauzen’s solution is copying the Democratic Party of Blagojevich.
3. Only four State Republican Parties conduct elections in a manner similar to the Lauzen Bill. In two of these four states, the cost of Party elections is astronomical. This is certainly not the time for Illinois Republicans, who are already outspent by Democrats, to drain valuable resources for 19 additional campaigns. Furthermore, because Illinois has open primaries and no formal Party registration, Democrats in the City of Chicago could elect Democrats to the Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee.
Why has a Democrat signed on to be the Chief-Sponsor of the Lauzen Bill in the Illinois House of Representatives? Senator Lauzen worked behind the scenes to secure a Democrat sponsor because he knew NO REPUBLICAN IN THE HOUSE would pass this bill. Understand, this action gives Mike Madigan and House Democrats the power to decide how the Republican Party conducts its elections.
4. Illinois Republicans have the greatest opportunity to win elections in a decade. Now is not the time to drain resources or focus from that effort. Republicans already overwhelming defeated the Lauzen Bill at Convention – instead of copying Rod Blagojevich’s Democratic Party, Republicans should be defeating them.
CALL THESE REPUBLICAN SENATORS BEFORE THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE VOTE AT 1:00 PM AND TELL THEM TO OPPOSE THE LAUZEN BILL. WE DON'T NEED TO COPY THE PARTY OF BLAGOJEVICH - WE NEED TO BEAT THEM.
Call Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (Supports Lauzen Bill) at (217) 782-9407
Call the following Republican Members of the Senate Election Committee before their meeting at 1:00 PM
Dale Righter 217-782-6674
Randall Hultgren 217-782-8022
David Luechtefeld 217-782-8137
Dan Rutherford 217-782-6597
Call these other Republican State Senators before 1:00 PM Today:
Pamela J. Althoff (217) 782-8000 CO-SPONSOR OF LAUZEN BILL
Tim Bivins (217) 782-0180 CO-SPONSOR OF LAUZEN BILL
Larry K. Bomke (217) 782-0228 CO-SPONSOR OF LAUZEN BILL
Bill Brady (217) 782-6216 CO-SPONSOR OF LAUZEN BILL
J. Bradley Burzynski (217) 782-1977 CO-SPONSOR OF LAUZEN BILL
Gary G. Dahl (217) 782-3840 CO-SPONSOR OF LAUZEN BILL
Kirk W. Dillard (217) 782-8148 CO-SPONSOR OF LAUZEN BILL
Dan Duffy (217) 782-8010 CO-SPONSOR OF LAUZEN BILL
John O. Jones (217) 782-0471 CO-SPONSOR OF LAUZEN BILL
Chris Lauzen (217) 782-0052 SPONSOR OF LAUZEN BILL
Kyle McCarter (217) 782-7730 SUPPORT OF LAUZEN BILL UNKNOWN
John J. Millner (217) 782-8192 SUPPORT OF LAUZEN BILL UNKNOWN
Matt Murphy (217) 782-4471 CO-SPONSOR OF LAUZEN BILL
Carole Pankau (217) 782-9463 SUPPORT OF LAUZEN BILL UNKNOWN
Dale E. Risinger (217) 782-1942 SUPPORT OF LAUZEN BILL UNKNOWN
Dave Syverson (217) 782-5413 CO-SPONSOR OF LAUZEN BILL
