South West Illinois News

State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) has announced her support for a slate of Republican candidates that includes incumbent House member Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton).

“I am really proud to support Jeff Bullard for Jefferson County Sheriff, Dave Severin for State Rep. and Barry Vaughan for Appellate Court Justice,” Bryant posted on Facebook.

Severin recently announced he plans to seek re-election in the 117th District on a platform that includes standing up to Democrats and giving more of a voice to voters.

"I have worked to rid this state of the corrupt influence of Chicago politicians, stop the radical abortion agenda, and protect our God-given constitutional freedoms in the face of an out-of-control Governor," Severin posted on Facebook. "JB Pritzker has used COVID-19 to destroy businesses and control every aspect of our lives through Executive Order. Enough is enough."

Since taking office in 2017, Severin said he has followed through on many of the pledges he made as a candidate.

"Voting in the House, I have said no to higher taxes, no to taxpayer-funded abortions, no to a bailout of Chicago Public Schools and no to placing Mike Madigan as Speaker of the House,” he said. “I'll keep taking our voice and Southern Illinois values to Springfield every day."

Severin recently spoke out against repealing the parental notification act, which established that a parent be notified before his or her minor child is going to have an abortion.

"My voting record reflects my strong conservative Republican principles," he said. "I have opposed all of the Democrats' gun-grabbing attempts, I voted no on repealing a parent's right to know if their minor child is going to have an abortion, I voted against JB Pritzker's plan to limit religious freedoms in health care matters, and I voted against the Democrats' ridiculous gerrymandered legislative maps. I have a long conservative legislative record that puts me in the strongest position to continue representing the people of Southern Illinois in a new district.”

Severin also recently announced he is co-sponsoring House Bill 4239, which would create the COVID-19 Religious Exemption Act that would outlaw discrimination against individuals who decline a COVID-19 vaccination if it conflicts with their religious beliefs.

"The legislation makes it unlawful for any person, public or private institution, or public official to discriminate against any person in any manner because of such person’s refusal to obtain, receive, or accept a COVID-19 vaccination contrary to his or her belief," Severin stated in a press release.

Bryant recently took Democratic lawmakers to task over the judicial subcircuit maps they pushed through the Legislature.

"Absolute partisan politics at its worst,” she posted on Facebook. “It is court packing and stacking as well as a violation of the Separation of Powers. We spent only one day in Springfield last week all so that the legislature could pass this crap.