PEORIA, Ill. – A central Illinois state legislator is explaining his reasoning for voting against a proposed bill that would ban Native American mascots.
The bill, HB 1237, which passed the Illinois House last week, would ban K-12 schools from using Native Americans for team names, logos, and mascots. Area schools that could be affected include the Brimfield Indians and the Dee-Mack Chiefs.
The bill’s sponsor, State Representative Maurice West (D-Rockford) has tried multiple times to pass the ban.
State Representative Bill Hauter (R-Morton), who voted ‘no’ on the bill, tells WMBD’s “The Phil Luciano Show” that such imagery is a connection to the Native American heritage in the area.
“Many of these communities, they have a great source of pride and connection, and really just the heritage that we have,” Hauter said. “In no way is an insult or trying to be demeaning to these cultures.”
Hauter says such imagery exists on other teams in the state, such as the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL, and the Illinois Fighting Illini. The bill would not apply to professional or collegiate teams.
Hauter also cites an overreach of state authority in his opposition to the bill. He believes that decisions on mascots should be made on a local level, saying that a local community would know better on what direction a school should take.
There were also cost concerns in Hauter’s opposition to the bill. He believes that it would cause an unfunded mandate on schools by having to change things such as uniforms, logos, stationary, banners, and flags, without funding from the state.
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