METROPOLIS – State Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) is in just his 2nd term as 118th district State Representative, but the sophomore lawmaker is proving to be an integral piece of the Illinois House Republicans’ efforts to strengthen ethics and corruption laws in Illinois and support the police in the face of sweeping criminal justice reforms.
Rep. Windhorst released his list of House Committee assignments this week. Windhorst will serve as a member of the Illinois House Human Services Appropriations, Ethics and Elections, Judiciary Civil Law, Judiciary Criminal Law, and Restorative Justice Committees.
“I am thankful to have the opportunity to use my experience as a prosecutor and as a member of the Illinois House Judiciary Criminal Law Committee during the previous General Assembly to continue working to support law enforcement officials and protect public safety,” Windhorst said. “I am new to the Judiciary Civil Law Committee and the Restorative Justice Committees. I will use my position on those Committees to ask the tough questions, demand transparency and a better process, and ensure our law enforcement officials are treated fairly and given the tools they need to do their jobs.”
Windhorst will also serve as a member of the newly established House Ethics and Elections Committee. Windhorst was named a member of the previous Illinois General Assembly’s Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform. The Commission’s work was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic and political and legal controversies swirling around former House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and other Democratic members of the House and Senate that had been arrested and charged with various crimes.
“I was greatly disappointed that the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform accomplished next to nothing at a time when ethics and corruption reform was so obviously needed,” Windhorst said. “We have a new Speaker now. Mike Madigan is gone, and Speaker Welch has indicated that he agrees with House Republicans like me that ethics reforms are necessary. Protecting the integrity of our elections is also a top priority for me, so I am looking forward to continuing to vote to protect and ensure free and fair elections in Illinois as a member of the Ethics and Elections Committee.”
Windhorst is also a member of the Illinois House Human Services Appropriations Committee.
“The newly passed federal coronavirus bill contains billions in spending for healthcare and human services,” Windhorst said. “The State of Illinois is going to receive a lot of money from the US Government to speed up coronavirus vaccine distribution and provide healthcare services to underserved areas. I believe the Human Services Appropriations Committee should do the tough work to go line-by-line in the Human Services budget to make sure we are maximizing our ability to provide quality human services to the people of Illinois.”
The Illinois House voted in February to allow virtual committee meetings for the first time. House Committees have been meeting throughout February and March viz Zoom as bills begin to move through the legislative process.
Rep. Windhorst serves all or parts of Alexander, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, and Union Counties.
