Sen. Steve McClure | senatormcclure.com
Sen. Steve McClure | senatormcclure.com
State Sen. Steve McClure (R-Jacksonville) recently expressed doubts over the expansion of the Local Journalism Task Force.
“What I think is there are 10 vacancies currently,” McClure said during recent Senate floor debate on Senate Bill 3082. “I’m curious why we’re expanding this when the current positions are not filled?”
Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) said that the expansion was crafted to finalize the numbers on the task force, adding that additional appointments would be made later.
“We wanted to broaden and include more representatives at the table and so while we are finalizing this legislation and finalizing the makeup of the task force, some of the remaining appointments were not made, but I've talked to most members who are willing to be on the task force and they are going to be submitting their names,” Stadleman said. “So we’re just simply waiting to finalize the numbers on this task force with this legislation and then we'll move forward with the additional appointments.”
Even with McClure rejecting the plan along with Sens. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), Neil Anderson (R-Moline), Jason Plummer (R-Vandalia) and Win Stoller (R-Peoria), the measure, sponsored by Rep. Dave Vella (D-Loves Park), passed 49-5.
The bill arrived on the House Floor on Feb. 28 and is slated to have new members appointed by the governor within 30 days of the effective date.
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