I'M A LOUSY LOBBYIST!

The Chicago Tribune published a story listing a few of the 194 new laws on the books for Illinois for 2011. As I was looking through the list, I saw four that I had written about—three I was against and one I was for. So I guess I am a pathetic lobbyist!

Below is what the Tribune wrote (highlighted in red) about some of the new laws followed by my commentary.

(1) Monkey business: Animal lovers can't keep monkeys as pets unless they purchased them before December 31, 2010. There's an exception for companion monkeys for people with disabilities.


This new law is the only one listed that I was in favor of. I wrote on April 2, 2010, “George, King of the Jungle”  where I praised Sate Rep. Daniel Burke (D-Chicago) for his bill. But I did point out that it shouldn’t only be monkeys that are added to Illinois Dangerous Animal Act.


Back then I wrote, “Currently, people living in the state of Illinois are not allowed to own, keep or harbor a dangerous animal. A dangerous animal, as defined by the Illinois Dangerous Animal Act, is a lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, lynx, bobcat, jaguarondi, bear, hyena, wolf, coyote or any poisonous or life-threatening reptile. Missing from that list is actually the world’s most dangerous animal, the mosquito, an insect that causes 2-3 million fatalities a year. But I guess the wise men of Illinois don’t think anyone would keep a mosquito as a pet, so they have not banned it. Also missing from the Illinois dangerous list are shark, jellyfish, elephants, crocodiles and scorpions; all animals considered more dangerous than many that are already banned.

But at least we got the monkeys banned. Maybe the mosquitoes will be next!

(2) Back off: Motorists face tougher penalties for crowding or tailgating bicyclists. Drivers who seriously hurt a bicyclist could get two to five years in prison and fines of up to $25,000.


I wrote about this proposed law on July 7, 2010, “Bite Me, Biker.”  I really hated this bill because motorists will end up being penalized when it is really the bikers who cause the problem.


I wrote, “The synopsis of SB2951 reads, “Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person commits crowding or threatening a bicyclist when a person driving a motor vehicle recklessly drives the motor vehicle unnecessarily close to, toward, or near a bicyclist. Provides that every person convicted of crowding or threatening a bicyclist shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor if the violation does not result in great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to another. Provides that if a crowding or threatening a bicyclist violation results in great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to another, the person shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.


Bicyclists riding on Chicago streets pull in front of cars with no regard to the speed they are traveling. I could claim that the bike rider darted in front of me, but in the Mayor Daley world of loving bicyclists nobody would believe I was innocent So if a bicyclist darts ahead of me and I hit the rider, I could be subject to a term of incarceration in a state penitentiary for between one and three years and fined up to $25,000. The Class A misdemeanor could get me up to 1 year in jail; and/or a fine of up to $2,500.”


Now that this law was passed and signed, we all have to worry even more about the crazy bicyclists who ride with no regard for the rules of the road. Car drivers will basically be guilty of a felony before we are even tried in a court of law.

(3) No credit bias: Employers no longer are allowed to run credit checks on job applicants unless it's directly related to the position, such as banking, insurance, or state and national security.


I wrote about this bill (HB 4658) on March 3, 2010, “Check, Check, Sibilance, Sibilance,” when my dear friend State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) proposed it. I discussed the proposed bill with him and wrote,” What bothered me, and I explained to Jack, is that as an employer I should have the right to know if someone I am thinking of hiring has a history of credit card abuse or fraud. If someone legitimately had credit problems because of illness or losing a job, they could explain that to me and I would understand. But under the bill as it stands, I would not be able to get any information and distinguish between the true “deadbeats” and those who had justifiable credit problems.”


Now that this bill is law, employers have lost a viable method to check on potential employees. If it is MY company, why can’t I know ALL the relevant information on a possible new hire before I spend time training the person? When the State of Illinois starts signing the paychecks of private companies, then maybe they would have the right to loosen the bounds of background checks.

(4) Tie up loose ends: Hair braiders must register with the state. Those who have practiced for at least two years must pay a fee, and new braiders must undergo 300 hours of training.


I wrote about this on May 5, 2010,”Bobbing and Weaving Through The Law. This bill upset me because it was proposed to help hair braiders who were currently breaking the law by not having a license. Instead of enforcing a law, the legislators re-wrote an existing law to let cheaters get away with something.


“Currently in Illinois, if one wants to be a hair braider, they are required to have a cosmetology degree — which can take 1,500 hours of training and cost up to $15,000 for tuition fees — and then get a license. Proponents say the rules are needed to protect consumers if they develop problems such as hair loss or have service complaints. So how do the legislators in Illinois react to the hundreds of illegal braiders? Do they support the current law and encourage state regulators to shut down shops that have ignored the regulations that are in place to protect customers? NO! Instead they pass HB5783.”


So while I really did not personally lobby any legislators about proposed bills, I wrote about what I felt was wrong and in some cases did television and radio interviews on the subjects. Luckily I am not a real lobbyist or whoever I worked for would have fired me in 2010!  With the new Illinois campaign finance law in effect, I don't want to offer bets on how I will do in 2011 because it is probably illegal!