I take strong exception to what I believe to be your cynical editorializing Dec. 31 of the events surrounding my actions in the Illinois Senate on Dec. 29 as lawmakers debated the re-enactment of the Illinois Safe Neighborhoods Act.
Let me state again that I would have voted for Gov. George Ryan’s compromise plan that would have reinstated the felony penalty for unlawful use of a weapon, with the opportunity for some first-time offenders to have their records wiped clean after a certain period of time. I strongly supported and voted for the original Safe Neighborhoods Act back in 1994, and voted against weakening the felony UUW provision in 1998. In addition, I voted in favor of Gov. Ryan’s first failed attempt to re-enact the Safe Neighborhoods Act.
As an assistant Senate Democratic leader, I spent 10 days working with Leader Emil Jones Jr. to round up Democratic votes in the Senate for Gov. Ryan’s proposal. The presiding officer in the Senate at the time of the Dec. 29 vote, Sen. John Maitland, permitted senators less than a few seconds to record their votes, an unusually swift roll call by normal Senate standards. I was not the only senator whose vote was not recorded.
Why would I change travel plans during the holiday season to travel to Springfield and not vote on this important bill when given the opportunity? My vote was not recorded for one reason–my switch malfunctioned and the presiding officer resorted to a speedy roll call. I am infuriated that you would suggest that I was derelict in my duty by not voting for this bill. I am on record as having supported this tough felony provision. For reasons beyond my control, the board did not record my vote.
