Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) | facebook.com/mccombieforilli
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) | facebook.com/mccombieforilli
State Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Sterling) is urging lawmakers in Springfield to work together to battle the rising crime rate in Illinois.
“I believe the intent of all of us on both sides of the aisle is good,” McCombie said during a recent hearing with the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee. “How we get to the finished product and what the finished product always is isn’t always so good.”
McCombie is convinced Republicans and Democrats working together on the issue would be a good starting point.
“When it comes to working together and collaboration, respect ... has to come on both sides because our initiatives being brought in on the conversation (are) extremely important,” she said. “We put ourselves on the ballot to do that with you. So we have to be heard as well and not ignored.”
Republicans note the latest uptick in crime has come after Democratic lawmakers passed House Bill 3653, also known as the SAFE-T Act, which calls for a new process for decertifying abusive officers, body cameras for all officers and a no-cash bail system for non-violent offenders.
“The best thing that could happen for Illinois is to have a little more balance," McCombie said. “Just like I don't understand Chicago, somebody might not understand Northwest Illinois, and we shouldn’t assume that."
Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago) is the chair of the 19-member House Judiciary-Criminal Committee, which also includes seven Republicans.
Slaughter recently told The Week he wants the committee to find solutions that focus “on facts, research and testimony from experts in the criminal justice field.”
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