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Senate Bill 70 passed the Illinois Senate with a 57 to 2 vote in 1999. It was then sent to the House of Representatives where Rep. Michael Madigan, Speaker of the House, placed the bill in the Executive Committee which is chaired by Rep. Ralph Caparelli. Rep. Madigan makes the committee assignments for all bills brought before the House. His office recieved many calls and letters asking that the bill be placed in one of two more appropriate committees which oversee state licensing issues. Again, as in the past, Madigan placed it in the Executive Committee.
During a hearing in July, 1999, over 100 mobile/manufactured home owners attended an Executive Committee hearing in downtown Chicago. The residents joined representatives from MHOAI, AARP, SHAK, the Illinois Department of Public Health, state Senator Christine Radogno, and others to testify on behalf of SB70 and the long over–due need for state–wide enforcement of existing mobile/manufactured laws. Rep. Capparelli said he would weigh this matter and find a fair solution.
When the legislature reconvened in January, MHOAI representatives learned Rep. Capparelli's compromise was the original HR3928, a bill that was unacceptable.
When the bill came before the Executive Committee in a routine hearing, Rep. Capparelli told MHOAI representatives, and the landlord's association (IMHA) representatives to work it out. We negotiated in good faith and developed amendments that would establish a fair ombudsman board to review concerns and offer state-wide enforcement of the Landlord and Tenants Rights Act – a bill not unlike one being considered by the federal government.
After many, countless meetings between IMHA and MHOAI along with representatives from the Illinois Attorney General’s office, Illinois Department of Health, and state senators, including Sen. Radogno who sponsored SB70, and representatives, we arrived at a compromise that was considered a positive step in the right direction for home owners. As Sen. Radogno worked with us to find a fair compromise between SB70 and HR3928, Capparelli continued to sit on SB70 and even announced any amendments that would include the Landlord and Tenants Act would not be passed.
MHOAI finally accepted HR3928 as a stepping stone. The bill was then assigned to the Executive Committee of the House. It then passed the floor of the House with only 27 Representatives state-wide opposing the bill.
Once the bill left the House it went to the State License Committee, and then to the floor of the full Illinois Senate where it passed unanimously. While in the Senate, amendments were added which had already been approved by IMHA, MHOAI, and other affected agencies. MHOAI representatives then approached many of the 27 Representatives in the House who initially opposed the bill. We worked with some minor language changes so they could present the bill to their constituents. The language primarily affected those home owners who also own their land and do not live in communities covered by HR3928.
Everyone involved, including members of the Senate, House, Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Attorney General's office and MHOAI believed Capparelli would introduce the bill for its final approval before the Spring Session ended. Despite overwhelming approval from your representatives all over the state, the bill still had to make one last trip to the Executive Committee – a committee that had already approved the bill earlier this same session. Even Representatives who initially opposed the bill were now ready to place their support behind it.
They were never given the chance.
On the last day of the session, Rep. Capparelli, chairman of the Executive Committee, would not call HR3928 – would not give your elected officials the opportunity to officially enact a bill they had already passed.
What happened?
Sen. Christine Radogno wants an answer. M.H.O.A.I. wants an answer. Residents want an answer.
Sen. Radogno received a note from Rep. Madigan saying Rep. Capparelli refused to introduce the bill. Rep. Capparelli told Sen. Radogno that Rep. Madigan told him not to introduce a bill that was already passed by your elected officials.
Who's right? Who's wrong? Does the finger–pointing really matter?
HR3928 will be reintroduced during the fall session since it was approved by both the House and the Senate. But, we need to know what happened.
What is going on in the house, more to the point, in the Executive Committee? Do they think we are going to just give up and go away? Do they not know that their actions need to be explained when it affects the thousands of people who have chosen this lifestyle? This is an election year. But, perhaps they believe they are not affected by their own decisions since neither Madigan or Capparelli have mobile/manufactured home owners in their districts.
In order to find out, we need you to call the Representatives and ask them about this bill and their efforts on your behalf in Springfield.
Rep. Ralph Capparelli
Sub-Committee Member
Democrat-Dist. 13
7452 N. Harlem Ave.
Chicago, IL 60631
Ph: (773) 775-5775 (Dist. Office)
Fax: (773) 775-5773
Ph: (217) 782-8198 (Springfield)
Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan
6500 S. Pulaski Road
Chicago, IL. 60631
(773) 581-8000
300 Statehouse
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-5350
e–mail: mmadigan@housedem.state.il.us
Phone: (217) 782-5350
Fax: (217) 524-1794
And when you call, the chairman and your own Representatives, remember, this is an election year. Vote in your own best interest this year. Rep. Madigan can only retain his position as Speaker of the House of Representatives if the Democrats retain the majority of seats in the House. He is also the one that appoints chairmanships to key committees, such as the Executive Committee, and determines which committee will hear proposed bills. While we do not advocate one party over another, you, the resident, need to be aware that sometimes your vote can have far–reaching results that will affect how you live.