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Illinois Lawmakers in Racial Dispute

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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.

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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