Reforming Illinois GOP
by Doug E. Ibendahl

Republicans around the country are in a bit of a funk these days. In Illinois the gloom weighs even heavier, as the state GOP didn't participate in the historic advances made by the national party in recent elections. We're starting behind the pack.

Fortunately, most of the Illinois GOP's problems are self-inflicted and could be easily solved. House Minority Leader Tom Cross has one more opportunity to brighten the party's prospects. As the veto session in Springfield comes to a close, a bill that would open up the Illinois GOP and empower Republicans still sits in committee. One phone call from Cross would get this bill on the floor for an up-or-down vote. House Speaker Mike Madigan has already promised he won't stand in the way of this internal Republican reform.

S.B. 600 would return direct democracy to the Illinois GOP by allowing all Illinois Republicans to directly elect their state central committee. The 19-member Central Committee acts as essentially a board of directors for the state GOP. It was this committee that abandoned the choice of Republican voters last year, purportedly over an unsubstantiated sex scandal (with no sex) between Jack Ryan and his own wife.

A six-week train wreck followed, with the committee eventually slating Alan Keyes for the replacement slot. Rank-and-file Republicans had no say in the matter.

State Sen. Chris Lauzen led this bill to unanimous passage earlier this year. It would merely return the Illinois GOP to the same open system the state party used until the late 1980s. A few GOP insiders decided to change the rules back then so that power could be better consolidated with Republican governors and their friends. The results have been disastrous. The Illinois GOP is unaccountable to Republican voters. Every Republican should now understand why every corporation allows even the smallest shareholder to cast votes directly for a board of directors.

Illinois Republicans deserve the same level of democracy every Illinois Democrat already enjoys in his or her party. If Republicans are going to be asked to volunteer their time and money, they have a right to expect some trust and respect in return from their state GOP leadership. The ball is now in Minority Leader Tom Cross' court.

Doug E. Ibendahl, chairman, Republican Young Professionals

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