South Central Reporter

Displeased with the absence of the governor’s Prison Review Board appointees at the Executive Appointments Committee hearing, three Republican senators said that the Democrats have no regard for the feelings of crime victims.

Senate Executive Appointment Committee Minority Spokesperson Jason Plummer

(R-Edwardsville), along with Sens. Steve McClure (R-Springfield), and Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) spoke to the media after the hearing was adjourned about their disappointment.

“The arrogance of the majority party, the disregard for public safety, and the way they’ve handled this process is a sham and should never happen again,” Plummer said.

They allege that the governor manipulated the system when he made his last four appointments to the Prisoner Review Board. The state constitution requires that appointees be confirmed by the Senate but over the last two years, four of Pritzker’s appointees have not been confirmed.

“Keep in mind that just because these people haven’t been confirmed doesn’t mean that they’re not still acting,” Bryant said. “They are actively releasing people from prison right now ... and they’ve never been confirmed. Seventy-one percent of the actual board has never come before the Senate for confirmation. That’s unconscionable.”

McClure accused the board members of disregarding crime victims.

“We’ve got members of the Prison Review Board who have had a staggering lack of empathy for our victims and a total disregard for public safety,” he said. “Would you want to come before our committee to answer questions about that? On top of that, they’re being paid $90,000. Think about that, you let somebody go who killed a 16-year old, while out on release from prison who raped a 14-year old, who also invaded the homes of women — stabbed one … you’re getting paid $90,000 to let these people go and have no regard at all for the feelings of the victims?"

They allege that Pritzker’s party is thwarting the state constitution.

McClure has also been advocating for compliance with the state constitution over redistricting, and that maps should be based on full and complete U.S. Census Bureau data and not the American Community Survey data which the Democrats have allegedly used in the maps they made.  

McClure stated that the redistricting hearings were rushed forward for partisan political gain.