Prairie State Wire

A bill that would create a commission to investigate reparation for communities impacted by slavery was advanced on Saturday out of the House State Government Committee.

The bill, House Bill 5024, is sponsored by Rep. Will Davis (D-Hazel Crest) and creates a committee to look at reparation for the black community.

Davis said, the Washington Examiner reported, that the bill would create the committee instead of “writing a bill that would say this specifically is what it would do or this is what would be owed to or paid back to individuals impacted by slavery, the thought was let’s put a group together, let’s put a commission together.”

Davis said many had looked into the issue

“There are a number of national experts and scholars that have studied this issue, that has put a lot of time and energy into this conversation that we could bring in, that we could make part of this discussion so that it would be one that is very informed,” Davis said, the Washington Examiner reported.

State Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore), however, wants the bill to be amended to also include tribal lands and Native Americans.

“It is specific in the title of the commission ‘African Descent Citizens’ Reparations Commission,’ would you consider striking reparations in light of Native American concerns that might be out there?” Keicher questioned.

Davis said while there have been considerations of including Native Americans, he believed the answer to Keicher’s question would be ‘no.’

“You see proliferation for casinos that are specific to Native American communities,” Davis said. “It was something that was offered to them to repair the relationship. I can’t point to something that was given to African Americans in the same vein.”

State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) disagreed with the bill completely.

“I believe that your concept is well-intentioned and well-meaning, but again my concern is that the current conditions of the finances of the state and with our people,” Halbrook said. “I guess I would just like to have longer discussions about some of the workings, about the finances, just to make sure the funding source is correct and proper.”

Halbrook said he didn’t think Illinoisans could afford new spending.