Thank you to everyone who joined me last week for my Zoom meeting. Last week I held a meeting with workshops throughout Illinois about the pending legislation that will threaten their ability to operate workshops for individuals with developmental disabilities.
This policy that is working its way through the legislature would raise the costs for these workshops to an unsustainable level. If these workshops were to close, it would leave many individuals with disabilities and their families without another option.
As I continue to work in the legislature to make sure that we protect our Illinois citizens with developmental disabilities, keeping opportunities like these workshops open is so important.
Join me for an Evening on the Farm
Representative Charlie Meier would like to invite you and your family to the eleventh annual “An Evening on the Meier Farm.”
Friday, July 28th, 2023
5:00 – 8:00pm
13597 Railroad Rd, Okawville, IL
This event is free and open to everyone. It is a chance to meet Rep. Charlie Meier and see his historic family farm built by his Great Grandparents. Charlie’s grandmother Christina Borgmann, using mules, hauled all the logs to build this home. Charlie has preserved many family antiques and tours of the home will be available.
There will be an opportunity for kids to have a tractor ride and see what it is like living on a farm. Charlie will provide brats, hot dogs, lemonade, tea and water. We will have a tent and expect this event to happen rain or shine. Several other state and local elected officials have been invited to join in the evening.
Directions to Charlie Meier’s farm are as follows: From 64 take exit 41 and turn towards Okawville. You will take a left Hen House Road. Hen House road will be the first left and is between the Dollar General Store and Road Ranger Gas Station. You will go 1/3 of a mile to a stop sign (T road) and make a right on 5 th Street Road. Going west another 1/3 of a mile you will cross a bridge. Immediately after the bridge on the left is the driveway to the Meier Farm. This road will take you straight to the house.
Legislative Update
As I’ve written to you before, four months ago the Illinois Supreme Court heard a case on the Constitutionality of the SAFE-T Act, the law passed by the legislature that ends cash bail. The Illinois Supreme Court, last week, issued their ruling on a partisan basis, 5-2, upholding the constitutionality of the law.
I voted against eliminating cash bail when this law passed in 2021. The Illinois Supreme Court’s decision to support the elimination of cash bail will set criminals free that should otherwise remain behind bars. I am very disappointed with the ruling made by the Illinois Supreme Court Democrat majority. I have always stood with our police and will always back the men and women that wear the badge each day to help keep our communities safe.
Our Justice on the Supreme Court, Justice Overstreet wrote the dissenting opinion.
Illinois Gun Ban In Federal Court
Sometimes the only way of stopping the Democrats’ radical legislation is through the courts. The gun ban law, which I believe violates the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners, is facing a panel of Seventh Circuit appellate judges. This law bans certain kinds of firearms and ammunition. As a strong 2nd Amendment supporter, I voted against the bill as a violation of the state and federal Constitution.
Gov. Pritzker was a strong supporter of this gun ban and quickly signed the partisan proposal into law. Opponents then quickly filed legal challenges and now we await court decisions.
Opponents of the 2023 Illinois gun law have presented evidence to the court that the law goes far beyond the requirements of compelling public interest. Friend-of-the-court briefs have been filed by multiple state Attorney Generals, Second Amendment advocacy groups, and law enforcement groups to encourage the appellate court to strike down the controversial law.
This Week on the Farm:
The wheat crop is all cut and the straw is all baled.
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