MIG Journal ninth of September 2012

Juvenile Detention age increase topic of discussion at recent Mig meeting By: Scott Scholl, MIG Journal Staff Writer Springfield- Senators debated Juvenile detention age increases and scholarship awards legislation at the Model Illinois Government session Tuesday. The majority leaders of the Democratic majority of the Senate expressed support for the bill. The bill, if passed, could mean the difference between the detention of a 10 year old child to a 13 year old. The opposition minority leader expressed the words, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Among certain points the majority brought up, was of the opposition not looking at the bill thoroughly. Senator Jones voiced concern about mutual support, rather than division over the bill. The majority said that the juvenile should not be put in with adults. The minority rose to opposition of the bill. The point the minority said was that the age is not important with the crime. The problem, the minority argued was with the legal system. The minority said that the concentration should be on those children with mental disabilities. The majority said that the children that are age 10 that exhibit the symptoms should be the ones to be concerned about. The focus the opposition said should not be on just those children that are committing more limited acts. The one senator for the minority said "children are bad". The opposition said that children can commit bad things. The minority pointed out the movie of the omen. The minority said that children know right from wrong. The bill passed with 9 yea, 6 no, and 2 abstaining. The bill on scholarships deals with the ability for scholarships to be awarded. The exact details of the bill deal with the nomination of scholarships, dates that the nomination is eligible for, and the nominations for those parts that are not used or vacated. The majority rose in opposition to this bill. The main reason the majority opposition said was because of the previous bill. The bill in opposition, the majority said, was putting a burden on children already with the approval of the juvenile age increase. The majority reported that the bill was flawed. The majority requested the bill be sent back to the original committee. The majority drew the oppositions focus on financial reform. The minority rose in support. The bill, the minority said, was to not hand out political favors. The minority simply did not see a reason to send it back to be revised in a comittee. The arguments won out for the minority as they were able to sway senators to their side. The bill passed with 12 yeas, 8 nos, and no one abstaining. Minority Senate Leader Will Newton said they "put up a good fight".