Batinick backs Asian-American history bill
Batinick backs Asian-American history bill (Springfield, IL) – Veteran state Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) recently took to the House floor to make his feelings known about a bill seeking to add Asian-American history into school curricula.
“I have to give a shoutout to my brother-in-law’s dad and his brothers who were Japanese-American and some were interned,” Batinick said in a video posted to YouTube. “Two fought in World War II and two served subsequently. All the brothers were Japanese-Americans. I know that was taken out in the Senate, but I hope it’s still in the spirit of the bill.”
House Bill 536 seeks to amend the Courses of Study Article of the School Code so that every public elementary school is required to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Asian-American history. The bill, that has already passed both Houses and sits on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk, also adds that “the teaching of history of the United States shall include the study of the wrongful incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and the heroic service of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team of the United States Army during World War II.”
Batinick also recently used his time on the floor to push a constitutional amendment that would pave the way for term limits for legislators. Republicans see that as a way of starting to address the corruption plaguing Springfield.
“I got pretty excited this week at the thought of a constitutional amendment,” he said. “I know we’ve been talking about something like this for quite a while. I thought maybe we’re finally going to get a constitutional amendment on term limits. Maybe a constitution amendment to address the ethics issues we have or we could do a recall and allow citizens to recall corrupt elected officials. Maybe even an ethics bill. Maybe constitutional amendment on property taxes that are driving people out of this state.”
Batinick argues fair maps also need to come to Illinois if the state is going to have its best chance of thriving and keeping residents and businesses here.
“Over 1 million people [are] moving out of the state because we don’t have a fair map, because we have ridiculously high property taxes, because we fail to address our ethics issues in this state,” he added. “Folks, we are debating the wrong constitutional amendment. We are trying to cover up our issues.”
Batinick backs Asian-American history bill
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