Two GOP candidates take on commissions
Two GOP candidates take on commissions
DEANNA BELLANDI
Copyright by The Associated Press
CHICAGO - Two GOP candidates for governor on Wednesday used the controversy surrounding a state hate crimes commission to polish their conservative credentials.
State Sen. Bill Brady announced he was proposing legislation to ban state funding for gubernatorial commissions unless their members are approved by the Senate.
Brady said Gov. Rod Blagojevich has "embarrassed" the state with his handling of the Gov.'s Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes.
Five members of the commission have resigned amid frustrations over Blagojevich's appointment of a high-ranking Nation of Islam official to the group. His appointment of Sister Claudette Marie Muhammad to the commission in August went largely unnoticed until she invited fellow commissioners to a speech last month by her boss, Louis Farrakhan, who is known for his disparaging remarks about Jews, whites and gays.
Brady said at least 15 commissions are appointed by the governor with no say-so from the Legislature. He said his proposal would prohibit funding - such as for travel expenses, per diem fees and other reimbursements - for members.
Brady said he had not talked to other lawmakers about his measure and denied it was politicking in his run for governor.
Brady's fellow Republican, Jim Oberweis, on Wednesday called on Blagojevich to remove Rick Garcia from the hate crimes commission. Garcia is political director for the gay rights group Equality Illinois.
Oberweis said Garcia should be taken off the commission for comments about Chicago's Cardinal Francis George and about opponents of gay marriage.
Two years ago at a rally outside George's mansion, Garcia criticized the Cardinal for his opposition to an anti-discrimination law protecting gays.
Garcia said the cardinal should not use church teaching to "approve and promote anti-gay sentiment," according to a copy of his statement provided by Garcia.
In January, Garcia also criticized some supporters of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
"Clearly, marriage doesn't need to be protected from gay people. It is gay people who need to be protected from anti-gay bigots," Garcia said, according to a copy of his statement provided by Garcia.
Garcia said Wednesday he has no plans to leave the hate crimes commission.
"I'm not budging and the governor's not removing me," he said.
A Blagojevich spokeswoman did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday evening.
DEANNA BELLANDI
Copyright by The Associated Press
CHICAGO - Two GOP candidates for governor on Wednesday used the controversy surrounding a state hate crimes commission to polish their conservative credentials.
State Sen. Bill Brady announced he was proposing legislation to ban state funding for gubernatorial commissions unless their members are approved by the Senate.
Brady said Gov. Rod Blagojevich has "embarrassed" the state with his handling of the Gov.'s Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes.
Five members of the commission have resigned amid frustrations over Blagojevich's appointment of a high-ranking Nation of Islam official to the group. His appointment of Sister Claudette Marie Muhammad to the commission in August went largely unnoticed until she invited fellow commissioners to a speech last month by her boss, Louis Farrakhan, who is known for his disparaging remarks about Jews, whites and gays.
Brady said at least 15 commissions are appointed by the governor with no say-so from the Legislature. He said his proposal would prohibit funding - such as for travel expenses, per diem fees and other reimbursements - for members.
Brady said he had not talked to other lawmakers about his measure and denied it was politicking in his run for governor.
Brady's fellow Republican, Jim Oberweis, on Wednesday called on Blagojevich to remove Rick Garcia from the hate crimes commission. Garcia is political director for the gay rights group Equality Illinois.
Oberweis said Garcia should be taken off the commission for comments about Chicago's Cardinal Francis George and about opponents of gay marriage.
Two years ago at a rally outside George's mansion, Garcia criticized the Cardinal for his opposition to an anti-discrimination law protecting gays.
Garcia said the cardinal should not use church teaching to "approve and promote anti-gay sentiment," according to a copy of his statement provided by Garcia.
In January, Garcia also criticized some supporters of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
"Clearly, marriage doesn't need to be protected from gay people. It is gay people who need to be protected from anti-gay bigots," Garcia said, according to a copy of his statement provided by Garcia.
Garcia said Wednesday he has no plans to leave the hate crimes commission.
"I'm not budging and the governor's not removing me," he said.
A Blagojevich spokeswoman did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday evening.
posted by Carlos T Mock at 7:43 PM
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