Jul 16, 2008 2:46 pm US/Central
State Reps Accuse Colleague Of 'Racial Hatred'
Lawmakers Say Rep. Monique Davis Accused Downstate Reps Of Wanting To Keep Prisons Full
Three Republican state representatives accused a Democratic colleague of "race-baiting" and spreading "racial hatred" during a committee meeting Wednesday and demanded an investigation by the speaker of the House.
"That type of racial hatred that was displayed in committee went out with the '70s, and I respectfully request that you review the transcript," Rep. Jim Sacia, R-Freeport, said on the House floor.
The target of the allegations, Rep. Monique Davis, D-Chicago, denied making any racial remarks.
The dispute arose when a committee debated legislation setting up a loan program to help ex-convicts start businesses and go straight.
Both sides agree Davis claimed some lawmakers oppose legislation that might reduce crime because they have prisons in their districts and want to keep the facilities full.
Republicans described her comments as part of a tirade with clear racial overtones. Davis is black, and the critics of the legislation are white, as are most lawmakers with prisons in their districts.
Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Greenville, alleged that Davis specifically said some lawmakers want to keep prisons filled with "black people from Chicago."
He called it "Alice in Wonderland kind of stuff" to suggest any lawmaker would want to keep crime rates up. Suggesting a racial motivation is even worse, he said.
"That is a criminal insult and she should be sanctioned," Stephens said.
Rep. Dennis Reboletti, R-Elmhurst, agreed. He accused Davis of "race-baiting."
Davis said the angry Republicans had misunderstood her remarks.
She denied suggesting any racial motivations, arguing instead that some lawmakers have economic incentives to keep prisons full so they bring jobs and money to nearby towns.
"I never said 'black.' I did not say color at all," she said. "It's economics."
Sacia acknowledged he didn't hear Davis say "black." But he said the implication was clear.
Rep. LaShawn Ford, a Chicago Democrat who sponsored the legislation that sparked the dispute, said he didn't recall Davis specifically bringing race into the discussion or saying anything offensive.
Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, said the speaker's office will "work to comply with the request" for a review of the comments. He would not elaborate.
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