We don't write papers, we build scrapbooks
We don't write papers, we build scrapbooks
Sorted by date Results 76 - 84 of 84
Illinois Democrats had a moment during the final week of legislative session in 2019. Some might say a rare moment; others may say a moment they can choose to take at any time. Federal investigations are swirling about multiple Democrat leaders in Chicago City Hall, the Illinois House, and the Illinois Senate. Democrats had a moment to step back, fix the immediate problems, work on the long-range problems, and attempt to persuade the public they are worthy of their continued trust running all...
Four weeks ago, I called on Senator Marty Sandoval (D-Chicago) to resign from Chairmanship of the Senate Transportation Committee, after he became ensnared in a federal investigation. Later that day, Sandoval did resign his committee chairmanship, but not his Senate seat (he should do that too). Last week, legislators were to return to Springfield for Week 1 of the Fall Veto Session. The Fall Veto Session is supposed to be a time each year dedicated to considering the Governor’s vetoes of b...
Pension Reform Is The 800-Pound Gorilla You cannot address budgetary reform in Illinois without addressing pension reform. You cannot address high property taxes in Illinois without addressing pension reform. You cannot understand the push by the tax-and-spend crowd to tax retirement income without understanding the need for pension reform. You see, pension reform is the 800-pound gorilla of state government dysfunction. Illinois has a Pension Protection Clause in our State Constitution. The...
Well by now we’ve all heard the news. Another Chicago-area lawmaker ensnared in a federal investigation with search warrants served on multiple state and local government offices in Chicago, the suburbs, and even the State Capitol Office of State Senator Marty Sandoval, Chairman of the powerful Senate Transportation Committee. In total, over 70 people and entities were listed in federal search warrants. Senator Sandoval chairs one of the most influential Senate Committees, in charge of the l...
In my last column, I wrote about how priorities matter with limited time the General Assembly is in Session. One of the ways I sought to “practice what I preach” was to spend time this Spring working on several measures to protect vulnerable groups, like senior citizens. I was proud to co-sponsor and support several consumer protections that will help with important problems faced by our senior population in Northwest Illinois. One of those measures was to co-sponsor Public Act 101-264. Thi...
Priorities matter. How we spend our time is a statement of those priorities. Unfortunately, time is limited in our lives and in the government bodies influencing our lives and livelihoods. As such, with limited time and resources, it matters a great deal how we spend our time in bodies like the Illinois General Assembly. Are we making the best and ultimate use of that time, addressing priorities of our constituents, or is too much time being squandered on crass appeals that are designed to...
There are so many issues in Springfield that Democrats and Republicans are on polar-opposite viewpoints. Tax policies, how to keep businesses in Illinois, how to keep people in Illinois, how to improve our economy for a better future— all very different ideas between the two parties in Illinois. However, there are also those issues that provide rare, hopeful moments of bipartisan progress. One of those issues is enforcement of roadway safety surrounding protection of our law enforcement, e...
On Tuesday, July 30th, I was honored to be joined by over 4 dozen taxpayers for my most recent “Pizza & Politics” event at the iconic Timmerman’s Supper Club overlooking the Upper Mississippi River Valley in East Dubuque. This event included a legislative update about what really happened in Springfield during the Spring Session as well as an extended question & answer session. I strive for these events to address the state issues that citizens want to talk about and bring forward. As alway...
I talk a lot with constituents in our district about "Northwest Illinois Values." Often, when I use this term, I get questions. In society these days, whenever anyone tries to say that there are "shared values", the very concept is often met with skepticism. While it's certainly true that there are "values" that are not as widely shared by everyone else in our region, I contest that there are some "shared values" that we can almost ALL agree on. I believe that we should talk more about those...
