SPRINGFIELD – House Democrats Wednesday passed legislation that raises the penalty on those interfering, impeding with, or obstructing a picket, or other demonstration or protest. 

The measure calls for a Class A misdemeanor with a minimum fine of $500. The penalty enhancement is highly unusual for Democrats in the Illinois House, who have refused penalty enhancements for the past few years, going back to  2018 when in the House Judiciary Criminal Law Committee, they show down one penalty enhancement bill after another being proposed by House Republicans.

During debate on House Bill 3396, a penalty enhancement sponsored by a Democrat from LaSalle County, State Representative and House Republican Floor Leader, Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis), took to the floor to point out current Republican bills, that are good bills, are sitting in the rules committee and will die there because the Democrats refuse to deal with them because they are penalty enhancements.  

Windhorst went on to say that if we’re not going to allow penalty enhancements, let’s not allow them. Windhorst believes that if we are going to have penalty enhancements for one side, our side should be able to put those forward, allow for debate and discussion in committee, and allow for votes. That’s the proper way to do this according to Windhorst and he encouraged a no vote on the bill.