(The Center Square) – The prohibition against penalty enhancement legislation in Springfield is sparking heated debate.

A Democratic bill that would enhance penalties for anyone who allows someone to pet their bear or monkey was recently introduced in the Illinois House.

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, said she has been trying to get a bill to the floor since 2017 that would increase penalties for those who attack caseworkers for the Department of Children and Family Services.

“This is ridiculous. What are we doing?” McCombie said about the Democratic bill. “Let’s have respect for the dead. Deidra Silas and Pam Knight deserve it. Our DCFS workers deserve it. If we are going to pass penalty enhancements, then let’s by god pass them. Let’s pass them when they make sense.”

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