East Central Reporter

Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Effingham) recently reposted a video from Breakthrough Ideas in which he questions Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Collinsville) on a resolution that would reaffirm the state's commitment to equal rights.

HR733 was filed by Stuart on March 16. According to the General Assembly synopsis, the bill "recognizes the impact of Title IX and recommits the State of Illinois to the ideals of the original legislation and commits to building upon its foundation to continue and expand the protection of equal rights."

In the video, Wilhour questions Stuart about how she defined a woman. 

"Could you give us a definition of a woman?” Wilhour asks. 

Stuart interpreted his question as an attack on the resolution.

“I really am just shocked that there's opposition to supporting something like Title IX which has given opportunities to people who have been held back for generations,” she responds.

"Nobody is in opposition to Title IX," Wilhour says. "Title IX is is protecting girl sports and we're all for that.” 

“Title IX is protecting anybody who identifies as female,” Stuart replies.

In the Facebook post sharing the video, Wilhour wrote, “How can you say you are fighting for women if you can’t or won’t define a woman? This is what the people of IL are putting up with from their elected representatives.Time for a change."

The resolution passed the House April 4 with 67 yes votes and 11 no votes. Wilhour voted no.

According to its website, "Breakthrough Ideas is a policy advocacy and education network that advances the causes of peace, prosperity, and freedom by highlighting the virtue of taxpayer-centric and liberty-focused policy, and the ways in which they benefit all members of a community."