CORRUPTION
McClain wants to be tried separately from Madigan in federal corruption case. A defendant in the upcoming federal prosecution of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan wants his own trial separate from Madigan.

Defendant Michael McClain, a former state lawmaker and ComEd lobbyist known for his close association with Madigan, has filed a request to sever his trial from Madigan's because Madigan's defense team plans to blame McClain for any wrongdoing.

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris will kick-off with the opening ceremony on July 26 and conclude on August 11. Athletes will compete in 32 sports and 329 medal events. 27 Olympic athletes and 9 Paralympic athletes from Illinois will represent the U.S. at the Summer Games.

The State Archives serves as the depository of public records of Illinois state and local governmental agencies which possess permanent administrative, legal, or historical research values. More than 75,000 cubic feet of paper, microfilm, photographs and audio and film recordings are housed in the Margaret Cross Norton Building on the capitol complex in Springfield. Paper records date back before 1818 statehood and include governors' correspondence, public acts, departmental histories, census records, military records, election results and more.

In February 2024 the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that U.S. Army Air Forces Tech Sgt. William L. Leukering, 28, of Metropolis, Illinois, killed during World War II, was "accounted for" eight decades after his bomber was shot out of the sky. His remains were identified on March 20, 2023. Luekering was buried with full military honors exactly 80 years after his death.

If you have a stash of unwanted paint, cleaners, batteries, light bulbs or other household hazardous materials stored in your home, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) wants to help you dispose of them safely.

Household hazardous wastes (HHW) are materials that are residentially generated but potentially have the dangerous properties of hazardous waste when they are no longer used for their intended purpose.

The most important numbers about Illinois’ population loss may be from the Internal Revenue Service. That’s because the IRS knows exactly how many taxpayers are filing returns and how much income they have, by state.

The new numbers released by the IRS this past month are more bad news for Illinois. Illinois continues to bleed taxpayers, taking billions of dollars of income with them. Our tax base is fleeing.

In all, Illinois netted a loss of 87,000 residents, with 175,000 people moving into Illinois from other states and 262,000 moving out. That loss was the third-largest in the country, with only California and New York netting bigger losses of residents. Read the rest of the story by Mark Glennon on the Daily Journal.

When Faith Colson was an Illinois high school student she was made to feel special by one of her teachers. He became a trusted adult to whom she could turn when needed. Until he wasn't. 

Until he kissed her then sexually abused her. Until he betrayed her trust. 

Illinois State Representative Kevin Schmidt has not slowed down since returning full time to the 114th District in June after a long legislative session in Springfield.

Schmidt kicked-off the summer with Mobile Office Hours in Dupo, Freeburg, Lebanon and Millstadt to ensure constituents from throughout the district have easy access to their State Representative. He also hosted shred events in Lebanon and Freeburg and sponsored a blood drive in O’Fallon. 

Changes to primary election fundraising, the electoral college and the state’s voter registration database are now law after Gov. JB Pritzker signed a wide-ranging bill on July 1.

The legislation, containing several unrelated election measures, passed near the end of the legislature’s spring session on a vote of 68-38 in the House and 51-3 in the Senate.

A measure loosening restrictions on political parties’ spending during primary campaigns sparked pushback from some House Republicans during debate of the bill.

Former President Donald Trump was grazed by a bullet in an assassination attempt on Saturday at a Rally in Pennsylvania. One attendee was killed and two spectators were critically injured as gunfire interrupted the event. The U.S. Secret Service counterassault team killed the shooter. 

Statements from House Republican Legislators on the attempted assassination:

CHILD WELFARE

Reick calls for GA oversight of DCFS investigation into latest abuse allegations. After recent news stories surfaced about alleged sexual abuse of foster children in the care of Aunt Martha’s Integrated Care Center in Chicago, State Representative Steve Reick issued the following statement:

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced it has been awarded $1.8 million by the Federal Transit Administration to initiate a pilot program aimed at improving access to public transportation in Southern Illinois. This program will specifically benefit individuals with disabilities, older adults, and low-income residents.

When Illinois high school students sit down to take their annual state assessments next year, they will take a different exam than in recent years.

The Illinois State Board of Education recently announced that starting next spring, it will use the ACT exam rather than the SAT.

Both are standardized tests that measure students’ proficiency in core subjects such as English language arts and math. Both are also commonly used for college admissions – although many colleges and universities have stopped requiring them – as well as scholarship applications.

Illinois State Representative Jennifer Sanalitro's calendar has been filled with meetings, tours and events since she returned to the 48th District after spending months in Springfield for the legislative session. Since returning, she has made it her mission to get out into the District to touch base with residents, local leaders and employers to ensure she provides them with the ultimate representation when she is in Springfield.

After recent news stories surfaced about alleged sexual abuse of foster children in the care of Aunt Martha’s Integrated Care Center in Chicago, State Representative Steve Reick (R-Woodstock) issued the following statement:

A unique and historic event happened at the Brookfield Zoo in August 2023. An epaulette female shark pup was born without fertilization. The shark was conceived through parthenogenesis, a reproductive process that involves an embryo developing from an unfertilized egg cell. 

This is the second known instance of asexual reproduction by a shark at a U.S. facility in recorded history, with the first being at the New England Aquarium. The baby shark’s mom had not encountered a male since arriving at Brookfield in 2019. Upon reaching sexual maturity, the female shark began laying two to four eggs each month starting in 2022, with the fertile egg hatching an epaulette female shark after a five-month incubation period. 

Shark Week, a creation of the Discovery Channel in 1988, has grown immensely in popularity over the years. Since 2010, Shark Week, which is held annually in July or August, has become the longest-running cable television programming event in history. Shark Week also been dubbed a ‘cultural phenomenon.’ The 1975 film “Jaws” set the stage for the rise in awareness and popularity of sharks in the U.S.

In our lifetime the 4th of July has meant cookouts, fireworks and travel but throughout Illinois’ history the July 4th date has had other significant historical importance. Here are a few July 4th dates beyond 1776 that impacted Illinois:

On July 4, 1778, George Rogers Clark, the highest-ranking Patriot military officer on the northwestern frontier during the Revolutionary War, reached Kaskaskia, seizing it from the British and bringing the colonies’ battle for independence to the western edge of British territory in North America. Villagers celebrated by ringing a bell that is known today as “the Liberty Bell of the West.” The bell, cast in La Rochelle, France in 1741 and sent to the French settlers in Kaskaskia by King Louis XV, is older than Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell.

With the thrilling 2024 NASCAR Chicago Street Race scheduled for July 6 - 7 in downtown Chicago, many preparations are needed in the busy city before the start of the event. Grant Park 165 is the second annual NASCAR Cup Series hosted through the streets of Chicago where everyday life occurs. What does this mean for the lives of Chicagoans?

Multiple road closures and parking restrictions around Congress Circle and Ida B. Wells Drive from Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive are currently in place in preparation for the race. It is predicted that the closures and restrictions will be in place until July 18.

Some might think that lawmakers are finished with their work once the legislative session ends in May. However, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact the work of legislators kick into high gear when they are back in their districts.

When State Representative Nicole La Ha is not in the state capital fighting for her constituents, she is in the 82nd District meeting with residents, business owners, civic leaders and those who support our most vulnerable. She is focused on learning about their efforts and needs so she can best represent them and all her constituents when she returns to Springfield.

As a general rule, consumer fireworks are not legal in Illinois. The Pyrotechnic Use Act, passed in 1942, bans the sale, possession and use of all consumer fireworks. While legal to buy in most other states,

firecrackers, bottle rockets and roman candles are not legal in Illinois. 

Violations of this law can result in large fines or even jail time, especially in cases where the fireworks are bought in from another state and transported across state lines. Illinois is one of only three states to ban all or most consumer fireworks.

DOWNSTATE
Severe budget cut imposed on Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). Although Illinois, in the heart of the Corn Belt, is one of the granary locations of the world, the ability to grow crops in the high-rainfall climate of the eastern Midwest is dependent on local infrastructure. Almost all of Illinois’ cropland consists of relatively flat parcels of soil. These land patches have to enjoy enhanced drain pathways for rainwater if they are going to produce crops. In addition, correct drainage engineering prevents soil from washing away into local creeks and rivers.

Studies have shown when students are not engaged in educational activities during the summer break from school they often experience learning loss, effectively erasing gains made during the school year. 

To help students stay ahead of the curve several House Republican lawmakers are sponsoring summer reading programs for kids. The reading programs challenge elementary school-aged students to read on their own during the summer months, choosing their own books and self-reporting their results. 

From January through the end of May, legislators spend much of their time in Springfield representing their districts during the legislative session. Throughout the remainder of the year, your state representatives make it a point to get out into all corners of their districts listening and learning so they can best represent your interests. This may mean hosting townhalls and coffees, attending events and touring local businesses and organizations.

Earlier this month, Illinois State Representative Dan Swanson was named Illinois' Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Representative of the Year. He received the honors at Joint Opening Session of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Illinois state convention in Springfield.

 

Former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke was sentenced today to two years in prison and a $2 million fine after being convicted last December of 13 counts of extortion, bribery, and racketeering charges. Federal prosecutors had sought a 10-year sentence for Burke, who is 80 years old.

 

Under existing Illinois law, Burke may be legally allowed to pay his entire fine using his campaign war chest. Republicans have long sought to close this loophole and prohibit convicted politicians from using campaign funds to pay legal fees or corruption fines.

Burke must surrender on September 23 to begin serving his prison sentence.

State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Cahokia Heights) is supporting legislation aimed at providing support to senior citizens in Illinois. These bills are designed to address the financial challenges that many seniors face, particularly concerning property taxes and healthcare.

ELECTIONS
Judge Rebukes Democrats’ Attempt at Election Interference. Democrats threw quite a curveball in early May during the 2024 Spring Legislative Session, abruptly gutting a Senate child welfare bill and in less than 48 hours enacting legislation that changed Illinois election laws during the middle of an election cycle. The new bill changed the rules on how candidates for public office can get on the ballot for the upcoming November 2024 election.

Each year on June 23rd, International Women in Engineering Day is celebrated to recognize the efforts of women in engineering. This year serves as the eleventh official celebration of the observance and encompasses a worldwide audience of women engineers.

With the 2024 Spring session of the Illinois House now concluded, House Republican legislators are hosting a variety of exciting summer events across our state. State Representatives do so much more than just vote on legislation. Your House Republican lawmakers are planning outreach events in their communities focused on a wide array of community and state services.

The Bald Eagle plays an important role in American society, as it is the national animal and national bird of the United States. It is also featured on the Great Seal of the United States.

National American Eagle Day honors our national symbol and raises awareness for protecting bald eagles. It also helps promote educational outreach and encourages recovery of bald eagles’ natural environments. 

While the Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, the edict would not officially reach Texas until June 19, 1865 - two and half years later. Juneteenth is the annual commemoration of that momentous day when slaves in Texas were declared free by the US Army. Texas was the 

last bastions of slavery during the final days of the Civil War. 

Democrats threw quite a curveball in early May during the 2024 Spring Legislative Session, abruptly gutting a Senate child welfare bill and in less than 48 hours enacting legislation that changed Illinois election laws during the middle of an election cycle. The new bill changed the rules on how candidates for public office can get on the ballot for the upcoming November 2024 election.

A healthcare access bill for diabetic patients, co-sponsored by State Representative Brandun Schweizer, passed through the House and Senate unanimously this Spring and now heads to the Governor, awaiting his signature.

Senate Bill 3414 amends the Illinois Insurance Code and extends access to diabetes glucose monitors and related supplies to all patients, regardless of diabetes type and allows for any physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner to prescribe the monitor, where before monitors were only prescribed if deemed medically necessary.

The United States flag is celebrated each year on Flag Day, June 14, to commemorate the day the official flag act resolution was adopted in 1777.

The Second Continental Congress adopted this resolution on June 14, 1777, which stated that the official American Flag should have thirteen stripes, alternating between red and white, thirteen stars, to represent the states in the union, and a blue field to represent this new constellation.

Each year, to celebrate Father’s Day and encourage people to spend time in nature, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources designates its Free Fishing Days. The annual four-day-long celebration of fathers and fishing lets in-state residents cast their lines without a fishing license, salmon stamp, or inland trout stamp and runs from Friday, June 14 through Monday, the 17th.

Those who are eager to try their hand at catching fish can look forward to a number of events being held by forest preserves, parks, and fishing clubs across the state during the 2024 Illinois Free Fishing Days. Head to Hidden Lakes Trout Farm in Bolingbrook to take advantage of free pole rentals and gifts for Dad, enjoy breathtaking views and free entry at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge in Carterville, or compete in the biggest and smallest fish competition to win prizes at the Father’s Day Fishing Frenzy at Lakefront Park in Fox Lake.

Illinois State Representative Dan Ugaste led the formation of a House Republican working group dedicated to helping all Illinoisans prosper and thrive. 

The Reigniting Illinois’ Strong Economy (RISE) working group introduced a package of legislation in the 103rd General Assembly aimed at reforming policies that are driving job creators out of the state and threatening the prosperity of future generations. 

Ugaste talks about the efforts of the RISE working group and his ongoing commitment to the residents of Illinois on the latest episode of the All Voted Who Wish podcast.

Have All Voted Who Wish · Ugaste rises to the challenge

Seniors and those in need in Illinois scored a big win with the passage of Senate Bill 3476 last month. This legislation creates a sales tax exemption for home-delivered meals, such as Meals on Wheels providers, when payment is made by an intermediary as part of a Medicare or Medicaid program.

The bill helps providers such as Meals on Wheels offer nutritious meals to seniors and those in need at lower costs. Senate Bill 3476 passed both chambers with unanimous support.

Legislation co-sponsored by State Representative Kevin Schmidt passed both chambers unanimously and now heads to the Governor’s desk. The bill, HB 4471 amends the Energy Assistance Act and removes the sunset on the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund, which was previously set for January 1, 2025.

The Democratic supermajority broke their own House Rules during the final hours of session when they allowed lawmakers to vote three times on one piece of legislation to raise taxes. The bill passed on the third vote after failing twice before.

However, House Rules only allow for two votes. According to Rule 72, if legislation on concurrence fails to pass the second time, the bill cannot be called again for another vote. Unless, of course you are in the supermajority. By allowing a third vote, Democratic leaders were able to convince several of their own to change their votes. So, in an overnight session, the tax hike measure passed at 4:30 in the morning, on the third try.

BUDGET
Pritzker signs largest budget in state history; $53.1 billion spending plan includes tax hikes, politician pay raises and a billion dollars for non-citizens. On Wednesday, Governor JB Pritzker signed into law a partisan $53.1 billion spending plan, the largest budget in state history. The Fiscal Year 2025 budget is a whopping $2.6 billion more than last year’s enacted budget and includes pay raises for politicians and a staggering $1 billion for non-citizens. Moreover, Democrats voted for $1 billion in tax hikes to pay for their record-breaking spending.

National Doughnut, or Donut, Day is celebrated every year on the first Friday in June. This tradition started in 1938 in Chicago as a tribute to the Salvation Army’s ‘Doughnut Lassies’ that aided soldiers during World War I. 

In addition to honoring the women who provided doughnuts and coffee to U.S. soldiers fighting in France, National Doughnut Day began as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army in Chicago. These efforts would help the poor and those in need during the Great Depression of that era. 

On June 6, 1944, more than 150,000 Allied troops crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of German-occupied Normandy, France in the largest amphibious assault in world history, now known as “D-Day.”

Codenamed “Operation Overlord,” Allied forces coordinated for months to create a plan on how to break through the Nazi entrenchment known as the Atlantic Wall, a line of defenses that spanned across France and all the way up to the northernmost point of Norway. Allied forces kept the plans secret and went as far to create a fake invasion plan titled “Operation Bodyguard” in order to mislead Nazi forces on where they would land. The United States and her allies intended to land on five different positions of Normandy’s coast, labeled Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.

The economy and job growth continues to be a top priority for House Republican lawmakers as we fight to keep employers from leaving Illinois. In addition to easing burdensome government regulations and tax hikes, employers are also in need of a qualified and highly trained workforce. Investing in employee development and training is a key element in providing the type of workforce needed to keep high-paying jobs in the state and grow Illinois' economy. However, the investments must be made in the right assets to achieve the highest return for Illinoisans.

 

Legislation co-sponsored by Illinois State Representative Nicole La Ha ensuring all children with disabilities receive the support and resources they need to thrive academically now awaits the Governor's signature.

When enacted, Senate Bill 3606 will create a fair reimbursement rate for special education day schools. The bill addresses tuition payment adjustments for children placed in separate public special education day schools. It adjusts state reimbursement rates going to public schools for high cost, high need, special education students. Currently, only public schools sending high need special education individuals to private special education schools get any reimbursement. With the passage of SB 3606, all school districts will be eligible for state reimbursement.

State Representative Amy Elik's legislation to improve government transparency and make it easier for taxpayers to find information about proposed property tax increases now awaits the Governor's signature. 

Senate Bill 3567, introduced by Senator Erica Harriss and sponsored in the House by Elik, expands provisions in the Truth in Taxation Act. The legislation requires local governments proposing to raise their tax levy by more than five percent to post a notice announcing the increase in a prominent location on their website homepage. Additionally, the notice must be posted for a minimum of 30 consecutive days. 

BUDGET
Democrats pass largest budget in state history; vote for tax hikes, politician pay raises and a billion dollars for non-citizens. In the early morning hours Wednesday, Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly voted to implement a $53.1 billion spending plan, passing the largest budget in state history, without Republican support. The Fiscal Year 2025 budget is a whopping $2.6 billion more than last year’s enacted budget and includes pay raises for politicians and a staggering $1 billion for non-citizens. Moreover, Democrats voted for $1 billion in tax hikes to pay for their record-breaking spending. Over the last four years, the Democrat-controlled General Assembly has joined Governor Pritzker in a voracious appetite for increased government spending. Since the Fiscal Year 2020 budget, Democratic lawmakers have voted to grow state expenditures by more than $13 billion, from nearly $40 billion in 2020 to more than $53 billion this year and have forced hard-working Illinoisans to foot the bill. Here is what House Republican lawmakers are saying about the FY 2025 budget:

In December of last year, Illinois State Representative Nicole La Ha started her legislative service in the Illinois General Assembly. However her desire to serve her community began long before then. Her "heart to serve" emerged in childhood and has led her on a path to helping the most vulnerable in her community, first as a volunteer and then as an elected official. In 2020, La Ha was elected to the Homer Glen Village Board of Trustees. Three years later she was appointed to serve the 82nd District in the Illinois House of Representatives. As a lawmaker in the Illinois General Assembly, La Ha continues her strong advocacy for parental empowerment, putting people first when making fiscal decisions and improving inclusivity and accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

In the wee small hours of the morning, Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly voted to implement a $53.1 billion spending plan, passing the overreaching state budget without Republican support. The Fiscal Year 2025 budget is a whopping $2.6 billion more than last year’s enacted budget and includes pay raises for politicians and a staggering $1 billion for non-citizens. Moreover, Democrats voted for $1 billion in tax hikes to pay for their record-breaking spending.