Illinois set to become first state to end book bans

[RandySF]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois is poised to become the first state to punish public institutions that ban books.

Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker has said he supports a House bill that would withhold state funding from any of the state’s 1,600 public or school libraries that remove books from their shelves. It passed in the Illinois Senate on Wednesday, and Pritzker is expected to sign the legislation.

“In Illinois, we don’t hide from the truth, we embrace it and lead with it,” the governor said when the bill was first presented. “Banning books is a devastating attempt to erase our history and the authentic stories of many.”

The final version of House Bill 2789 passed the state Senate 39 to 19 after it was approved in March by the House on a 66 to 39 vote.

The impetus for the legislation came from newly elected Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, whose office oversees library systems and their funding. Giannoulias, a Democrat, said he couldn’t fathom that book banning is happening in 2023.


https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/03/illinois-to-become-first-state-to-prohibit-book-bans-00095151

[Ocelot II]

1. Good!

[dalton99a]

2. Kick

[PortTack]

3. Kudos to governor Pritzker

[calimary]

4. Excellent!

Gov. Pritzker is definitely one of the good guys! Glad we still have some!

[ShazzieB]

5. Great!

[Cadfael]

6. I'm so glad Gov. Pritzker is my governor

[republianmushroom]

7. I like it

[murielm99]

8. Luv my guv!

[Hortensis]

9. Excellent. Due to the governor AND large majorities where they are needed.

Sad to say, this was a party-line vote.

Glad to say, Illinois voters gave Democrats the majorities.

And, needless to say, the Democratic Party is EXTREMELY different from the Republican Party.

[Initech]

10. Good! This shit has got to stop!

Fuck Fox News, and fuck the MAGA Christian Taliban.