Kankakee Times

State Representative Jackie Haas is organizing a "New Bill" roundtable in Kankakee to discuss constituents' ideas for new bills and give them information on upcoming issues. 

"Save the Date: On December 15th I will be hosting a New Bill Roundtable at my district office. I hope to see you all there!!" Haas said in Facebook post.

Individuals interested in speaking with Haas can schedule a time by calling 815-523-7779. Availability will begin at 1 p.m. and wrap up at 5:30 p.m.  The district office is located at 370 E, Court St., in Kankakee. 

In June, Representative Jackie Haas sponsored a bill that would fund the proposed Nicor Gas natural gas pipeline for the village of Hopkins Park in Pembroke Township. 

The bill generated controversy in Hopkins Park, according to the Grundy Reporter. Haas praised the bill in a post to her Facebook account in June, calling it "long overdue". Proponents, which include Hopkins Park mayor Mark Hodge, believe the pipeline will spark economic growth and create jobs, while opponents of the pipeline are alarmed by its potential impact on the environment. 

Opponents of the bill went so far as trying to strike the bill from the record so it would not receive a vote in the legislature, a parliamentary maneuver that failed, according to the Grundy Reporter. 

Haas has also called the redistricting hearings held this year across the state a "sham." Nonetheless, the new maps passed the House by a partisan vote of 73 to 43. 

Haas also criticized the special session as being held without the capacity or oversight of feedback from other legislators. In addition to the Illinois Republican Party, other organizations such as The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund opposed the sessions, even going so far as attempting legal action to stop the new maps from going into force.