State Senator Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) released the following statement on the nomination withdrawal/resignation of Oreal James and the failed Senate confirmation vote on Eleanor Wilson:
“The confirmation process is an important part of the Senate’s role as a co-equal branch of government, to ensure that the best possible individuals are serving in the interests of the people of this state. The recent votes on nominations to the Prisoner Review Board were long-overdue. It is unacceptable for the Pritzker administration to continue to play games and skirt constitutional requirements with nominations to a state board where decisions can have life-and-death consequences. It is clear that there is a bipartisan majority of Senators who are no longer willing to give the Governor a pass on his nominations to the PRB, it would appear that this is now clear to the Governor as well.
“I believe that the members of the Senate are more than willing to carefully consider the Governor’s nominations to the Prisoner Review Board and to vote to confirm individuals who are best suited to serve in this role. I look forward to working with the administration in any way I can to help find and advance individuals who are best suited to this role.
“This process needs more transparency and more accountability, not more politics.”