(CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says he tried several times to get legislation passed that would challenge automobile insurance rate increases, only to be defeated every time by the insurance industry.

But the measure is now waiting for Governor Pritzker’s signature after passage, because Giannoulias tried a different path.

“On the religious side — our pastors, our deacons — who, when we called on them for help, responded in ways I never could have imagined,” said Giannoulias, during a news conference Thursday.  “I just wanted to let you all know how grateful I am.  Because sometimes in politics when we work with pastors, it becomes political.  This was about helping people, and fighting for people.”

Giannoulias says even drivers who have no blemishes on their record have been hit with skyrocketing car insurance rates — ones that increased as much as 18 percent on average in the last year.  That’s based on things he heard from town hall meetings, religious leaders who talked to their congregations, and others.

“They hear every single day from members of their congregations as to the struggle that they’re facing on a daily basis,” said State Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago).  “They were able to help bring those voices to light, and bring those voices forward, which made all the difference in this campaign.”

Giannoulias says the bill would mean more oversight of insurance companies, and those companies will have to give at least a 30-day warning before a price hike.

The bill is SB 714.