• Radar
  • 7 Day Forecast
  • Live Weather Video

WEEK Weather

Radar
69 °F
OVERCAST
WIND : S
6 mph
HUMIDITY : 72 %
October 13, 2008
More Weather
  • News
  • Weather
  • Sports
  • Features
  • YouNewsTV
  • Programming
  • Community
  • Inside WEEK
  • Contact Us
  • YouNewsTV Prep Sports
  • Local & Regional
  • US & World
  • Business
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
  • Political
  • Closings
  • News Links
  • Traffic

Illinois Lawmakers in Racial Dispute

Tools

  • Save
  • E-mail
  • Print
  • YouNewsTV™
  • Most Popular
  • RSS Feed
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
Illinois Lawmakers in Racial Dispute

By WEEK Producer

Story Published: Jul 16, 2008 at 5:48 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 16, 2008 at 8:37 PM CDT

During the House Representatives session Wednesday, Monique Davis from Chicago got a little more than upset in the capitol.

Multimedia

  • Watch The Video

A dispute arose during a debate that would help ex–convicts start businesses.

Davis claimed some lawmakers oppose legislation that might reduce crime because they have prisons in their districts and want to keep them full.

"It's a war, we've got to have those prisoners, they've got to come down here from Chicago, and we've got to keep them filled because that's how we get work. That's our economy, we no longer plant corn, we no longer farm we don't keep cows and pigs, we keep prisoners," said Rep. Davis.

Republican Representative Ron Stephens said Davis was alleging that some lawmakers wanted to keep the prisons full of African–Americans from Chicago.

Davis is denying she said that and says the issue is about economics, not race.

View Oldest Comments First

Sunday, Jul 20 at 10:50 PM Broke wrote ...

I wouldn't mind starting a business and I even have a professional skill to offer. Too bad, tough luck...I'm not a criminal.

Friday, Jul 18 at 9:20 PM are you serious? wrote ...

ALRIGHT PEOPLE THIS AFRICAN AMERICAN CARD IS REALLY OLD..... GET OVER IT.... NO ONE " OWES" ANYONE ANYTHING AND PEOPLE NEED TO STOP PLAYING THE RACE CARD WHEN SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS IF YOU CHOOSE THE ACTION NO MATTER WHAT COLOR SORRY TO SAY YOU HAVE TO PAY THE TIME... and when did we stop farming? are you blind or do you sit at home on welfare all day while other people are out working and farming????

Thursday, Jul 17 at 9:46 PM BK wrote ...

WAY TO GO BOOHOO!!! RIGHT THERE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY ON THIS!!!!!!

Thursday, Jul 17 at 8:48 AM BooHoo wrote ...

Chicago must be further north than I suspected. Someone please tell me when we stopped farming and planting corn. If this is true then there should be no reason for me to follow slow moving tractors anymore. And if we no longer raise pigs then where is the terrible smell outside of Ipava coming from. Is it possible the reason Prisons are full of inner city Chicagoans is because that's where most crime comes from? No, surely it's not their fault. It's because we haven't given them enough. Boohoo

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

Comments are moderated and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

WEEK News 25 and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Most Popular

  • Flying Boat Kills Motorcyclist
    Watch Video
  • Soldier Fighting Two Battles
    Watch Video
  • Crash Kills Father & Injures Children
    Watch Video
  • Bark at the Park
    Watch Video
  • It's Pumpkin Time!
    Watch Video
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Alexander Travel

When your journey from a dream to a great story includes us, you travel better.

On Demand

  • All Video All Video
  • News 25 @ Your Desk News 25 @ Your Desk
    Watch Video
  • RSS Feeds RSS Feeds
  • News 25 Notifier News 25 Notifier
  • Mobile Edition Mobile Edition

Stock Quotes

What's On TonightFull Schedule

7:00
Chuck
8:00
Heroes
9:00
My Own Worst Enemy
Local Business Dir

Most Popular

  • Flying Boat Kills Motorcyclist
    Watch Video
  • Soldier Fighting Two Battles
    Watch Video
  • Crash Kills Father & Injures Children
    Watch Video
  • Bark at the Park
    Watch Video
  • It's Pumpkin Time!
    Watch Video
  • Rezko on Illinois Corruption
    Watch Video
  • Two Fires One Lesson
    Watch Video
  • Friday Night Football
    Watch Video
  • Voter Registration Deadline Tuesday
    Watch Video
  • Chris Spahn Benefit
    Watch Video

Poll

Do Political Debates Help You Decide Who to Vote For?

  • Yes, I wait until I see and hear the candidates before I make a choice
  • No, I know whom I’m voting for
  • I watch to see if someone messes up
Copyright © 2008
WEEK, a Granite Broadcasting Station
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
NBC
Powered by Broadcast Interactive Media.