Illinois state Rep. Edward Acevedo recently filed very important legislation, but it has nothing to do with the state’s epic budget stalemate and its devastating impact on his constituents.

MONTY KSYCKI
Edward Acevedo

No, Acevedo is more concerned about The Donald.

The Chicago Democrat and Assistant Majority Leader is pushing HR 761 to “call upon the Republican Party to publicly denounced Donald Trump for his disgraceful behavior and to distance itself from him in the future,” according to the bill.

The legislation contends that Trump “has repeatedly made misogynistic, sexist, and derogatory comments towards women,” as well as “offensive and abhorrent comments towards people of Latino dissent, Mexican immigrants, and Asians.”

Acevedo apparently believes that because “The Republican Party has failed to publicly denounce Donald Trump of his insulting comments” party leaders are essentially “ignoring Donald Trump in hopes that he will just fade away,” which “is not an adequate response to his inexcusable behavior,” according to HR 761.

What Donald Trump has to do with Acevedo’s constituents in Chicago is not exactly clear. The bill doesn’t do anything except send letters to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (presumably now to Paul Ryan, who recently took over as House Speaker), as well as state and national leaders in the Republican Party.

Meanwhile, the state of Illinois is burning to the ground.

The state’s lawmakers missed the deadline to pass a budget five months ago, and state Comptroller Leslie Munger predicts Illinois’ unpaid bills will top $8.5 billion by the end of the year, The New York Times reports.

The budget problems are nothing new for Illinois, but the current stalemate between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who own the General Assembly has grown to epic proportions, resulting in serious ramifications for the social service programs Acevedo’s constituents depend on.

According to the Times:

Social service organizations that have contracts with the state, and the low-income populations they serve, may be suffering the most. Some nonprofits have not received money from the state since July 1 and say they have been forced to deplete their cash reserves and scale back services. Mark Mathews, the executive director of the Child Abuse Council in Moline, which provides counseling and visits homes of troubled families, said he had eliminated two staff positions and reduced one program’s caseload by 40 percent.

“It’s definitely damaging the not-for-profit agencies,” he said. “We haven’t been serving as many families. At-risk families aren’t getting home visits or services. That’s the tough thing.”

The sheriff of Cook County, Thomas J. Dart, said that people who would normally be helped by nonprofits, like the homeless, have begun to show up at jail instead, in search of assistance. Nonprofits are cutting staff, and some could close if the impasse continues, he said.

“These are folks who have missions to help the disadvantaged,” Mr. Dart said. “What was already difficult is becoming impossible.”

Other folks told Times mental health services and after school programs for kids are also taking a big hit because Springfield lawmakers can’t get their acts together. With no solution in sight, Munger said the state will likely miss a $560 million payment for pensions in November, and December.

If that happens, it will undoubtedly impact the state’s ability to borrow money, which could cost taxpayers millions.

And while Acevedo’s focus on Donald Trump may seem illogical considering the state’s gigantic budget issues, some are arguing it’s likely illegal, as well.

The Edgar County Watchdogs website known as Illinois Leaks opined that Acebedo’s “condemn Donald Trump” bill violates state electioneering laws.

According to the site:

I am alleging that through the introduction of House Resolution 0761, which “Calls upon the Republican Party to publicly denounce Donald Trump for his disgraceful behavior and to distance itself from him in the future“, Acevedo has committed electioneering using public funds, property, or credit in an attempt at affecting the outcome of the upcoming presidential election. Additionally, he is attempting to infringe on Trump’s constitutional right to freedom of speech and association.

HR0761 “Denounce Trump” seeks to pass a resolution that would call on the Republican Party to distance itself from Trump due to certain remarks Acevedo does not appreciate hearing.

Article VIII, Section 1 (a) of the Illinois Constitution specifically states that public funds, property, or credit of this state shall be use only for public purpose. This resolution violates that Article by using public time to research and write the resolution and using public property to place it in the House webpage and by its introduction. Constitutional violations can be used as the predicate for felony offenses.

The State Officials and Employees Ethics Act also prohibits this kind of political activity in Section 5-15, and further classifies prohibited political activities as Class A misdemeanors.