Ill. lawmakers make room for offbeat issues amid light agenda

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Heading into an election year, state lawmakers have education and the budget on their minds -- as well as trivia games, power window accidents, fast food and fast cars.

Lawmakers have filed more than 3,700 pieces of legislation this spring, and sprinkled among them are a few that deal with the obscure and offbeat.

Some attempt to address problems worrying people, such as teen drivers endangering people by chatting on cell phones. Others try to prevent problems, including whether courtrooms can be flooded with lawsuits against fast-food restaurants.

Few of the bills will pass. Even some lawmakers acknowledge they don't necessarily support the bills they've introduced for constituents or friendly lobbyists.

That's the case with a bill that would let doctors prescribe marijuana to patients who have a debilitating condition. Rep. Angelo "Skip" Saviano, R-Elmwood Park, said he sponsored the bill on behalf of some health-care workers as a "trial balloon" solely to spark discussion.

Illinois residents looking to sue restaurants that serve fatty foods for contributing to their obesity would be out of luck under the proposed "Commonsense Consumption Act." Rep. John Fritchey, D-Chicago, acknowledges no one has filed an obesity lawsuit against a fast-food restaurant in Illinois yet, but he wants to prevent such complaints from competing with more important matters on crowded court dockets.

"Don't biggie-size your meals every day for 10 years and turn around and sue the restaurant because you're overweight," Fritchey said.

Vehicle research

Another lawmaker wants the state to track the number of accidents involving vehicle power windows.

Rep. Deborah Graham, D-Chicago, said she saw a heart-tugging television story about parents who had mistakenly backed over their young children while pulling out of the driveway. She thought the problem was worth studying and decided to include power-window injuries in her bill, too.

"We track everything else, why not track this?" Graham said.

Another bill would require the embattled State Board of Education to put together and market a trivia game featuring questions submitted by Illinois school kids. The proceeds would go to fund schools and the project would help students learn, sponsoring Rep. Naomi Jakobsson said.

"I don't even know where it's going to go this year, but I think it's a good idea to get started on a thing like this," the Urbana Democrat said.

Videotaping is a hot topic at the Capitol. Lawmakers have bills to crack down on people who tape without permission at movie theaters and in restrooms, tanning beds, dorms, hotels and locker rooms. Even people who tape family members naked at home without their consent are being targeted.

Drivers under 19 would not be allowed to use hand-held cell phones on the road under legislation pushed by Rep. Robert Rita, D-Blue Island. He also wants Corvette owners to get a special license plate for use on their back bumper, rather than both front and back.

Rita said the Corvette idea came from a constituent and the cell phone measure is a safety issue. He wouldn't predict how each bill would fare in Springfield but said all his bills are important.

"If a constituent comes with a reasonable request, that's part of the job to come down here -- to represent our district and see where it goes," Rita said.

OFFBEAT IDEAS

A look at some of the more offbeat and unusual ideas being floated this spring in the Illinois Legislature:

Developing and marketing a trivia game featuring questions submitted by Illinois schoolchildren and using the proceeds to help fund schools. HB6572.

Creating special license plates for the rear bumper of Corvettes. HB4345.

Banning drivers under 19 from using hand-held cell phones while behind the wheel, except in emergencies. HB6568.

Making it a felony to bring a video recorder into a movie theater without permission. SB2134.

Creating the Truth in Pumping Act to require the posting of an itemized list of state, federal and local gasoline taxes on pumps at gas stations. SB2627.

Requiring teens under 18 to pass drug tests before they can receive instructional permits to drive. HB4456.

Authorizing investigation and drug testing of individuals who interfere with firefighters' work if firefighters believe they are under the influence of drugs. HB 4314.

Letting doctors prescribe up to six plants or one ounce of usable cannabis, or marijuana, for patients with debilitating conditions. HB4868, SB2440.

Creating the Illinois Commonsense Consumption Act to prevent lawsuits against fast-food restaurants accused of making people obese. HB3981.

Requiring the secretary of state to keep records of accidents in which people are injured by power windows or in which vehicles back into pedestrians. HB4086.