As the clock counts down and the final moments of the year fade away, we find ourselves at the edge of something new. New Year’s Eve is a celebration, but also a chance to pause, reflect, and dream. It’s a night where we look back on the triumphs and challenges of the past year and anticipate the opportunities and adventures that lie ahead.

For some, the evening is filled with excitement; gathering with friends, family, or even strangers at parties, fireworks displays, or concerts. Whether you’re out and about or in the quiet warmth of your own home, the spirit of the New Year is the same: hope, renewal, and the belief in a fresh start. 

Rep. Patrick Sheehan with the donations from his winter coat drive.

We were blown away by the generosity of our communities this year during our holiday donation drives. Constituents throughout the state donated food, coats, toys, backpacks, diapers, and more to help our neighbors in need. 

From the bottom of our hearts -- thank you!

The first day of winter, falling on December 21st this year, marks a turning point on the calendar. Shorter days of sunlight and earlier sunsets have reached their peak. Families of all faith traditions are celebrating holidays. The start of a new year is on the horizon. 

While some may see it as just another cold December day, the winter carries a rich history of traditions, celebrations, and even scientific curiosity that still resonate across our great state. 

MASS TRANSIT/TAXES
Pritzker Approves $2.5 Billion Mass Transit Bailout. This week, Governor JB Pritzker signed into law a $2.5 billion bailout of Chicago’s mass transit system.

Passed well after midnight on the final night of the fall Veto Session, the Democrats’ Mass Transit Bailout includes $1.5 Billion in tax increases and $1 Billion in higher Tollway charges to fix a $230 million transit shortfall. 

Illinois House Republicans joined farmers and industry stakeholders at the Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting held December 6-9. The multi-day conference brought together agricultural leaders from across the state to discuss current challenges, explore new opportunities, and outline policies that will strengthen Illinois’ agricultural future.

Throughout the event, lawmakers met with Farm Bureau members, participated in policy discussions, and emphasized their shared commitment to advocating for Illinois’ farm families. Topics ranged from land use and environmental stewardship to regulatory reform and support for the next generation of farmers. 

The stain of corruption on Illinois’ government is sadly well known. In recent years, federal prosecutors have been cleaning up the mess caused by Illinois’ lax ethics laws with several high-profile corruption convictions against some of the most powerful politicians in Illinois history. The ComEd Four, the longest-serving House Speaker in Illinois, Michael Madigan, long-time Chicago Alderman Ed Burke, Madigan’s Chief of Staff Tim Mapes, and others are now behind bars. 

Despite these many corruption cases, Illinois Democrats who control the state legislature still refuse to pass the meaningful ethics reform necessary to stop the graft in Illinois politics and restore trust in government to the people of Illinois. 

Near the Capitol stands a building constructed to celebrate Illinois’ first 100 years of statehood. The Centennial Building (today called the Howlett Building) features an area for exhibiting battle flags of Illinois regiments from the Civil War and other conflicts. The flags have been removed to another facility to be better preserved, but the hall still includes displays marking the history of the Illinois National Guard.

Since its founding on this date in 1636, the National Guard has been a staple of the defense and public safety of this nation before there even was a nation. 

Bitter cold temperatures are expected in Illinois this weekend. Warming centers are available across the state for those struggling to keep warm.

Find a participating location near you HERE.

PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE
Gov. Pritzker signs bill legalizing physician-assisted suicide in Illinois. On Friday, Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation allowing assisted suicide to become law. The legislation, SB 1950, faced significant objections from coroners, medical experts, religious communities, and disability-rights advocates. Throughout debate, concerns were raised about the bill’s lack of guardrails, the exclusion of key stakeholders, and the potential risks it creates for vulnerable families.

In response to today’s bill signing, House Minority Leader Tony McCombie released the following statement:

Rep. Amy Elik (R-Alton) is hosting a Holiday Food Drive again this year. 

All across Illinois, House Republican legislators are hosting drives to collect essentials like food, winter clothing and more for individuals and families in our communities this holiday season. 

In this spirit of giving and supporting neighbors in need, please consider donating to a drive in your area: 

Leader Tony McCombie is hosting a Holiday Blood & Food Drive in Savanna on December 19.

Rep. Kevin Schmidt is hosting a Holiday Food Drive at his district office in Cahokia Heights December 8-10. 

A large crowd of local residents lined the streets and watched respectfully as Machinist’s Mate First Class Keith Tipsword was laid to rest at Moccasin Cemetery in Beecher City, Illinois, on November 15, 2022.

An honor guard of Navy pallbearers carried the fallen hero to his final resting place, and a Navy chaplain presented his sister with the folded flag from his casket at the conclusion of the service.

In a nation which has been at war since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, this was a scene that has become all too familiar. But this ceremony stood out for another reason. It had taken 81 years for MM1c Keith Tipsword to reach his final resting place, a journey which began on December 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. 

SAFE-T ACT
CTA arson attack suspect was on Illinois release status after 72 prior arrests. The suspect in the November 17 CTA Blue Line attack, in which a victim was doused with gasoline and set on fire, is a person who had previously been arrested on serious criminal charges and then released into what the court called “home confinement.” A pervasive pattern of home-confinement violations has been repeatedly observed in Chicago and Cook County. After being placed in “home confinement” suspect Lawrence Reed ignored the court advice, left his home, filled a container with gasoline, and climbed aboard a Blue Line electric train. A search of Reed’s criminal record showed that he had 72 prior arrests. The arson victim, Bethany MaGee, survived with critical injuries. 

From left to right: Rep. Patrick Windhorst, Rep. Ryan Spain, Leader Tony McCombie. 

From the city of Chicago to the farms of the central and southern region of the state, Illinois citizens expect their voices to matter and their votes to count. They also rightly expect that our elections are secure and transparent and that they can trust the results when the votes are tallied. 

State Representative Patrick Windhorst serves as the House Republican Floor Leader and as the House Minority Spokesman on the House’s Ethics & Elections Committee. Rep. Windhorst is a native of Metropolis, a community situated on the border of Kentucky and about a six-hour drive from the city of Chicago. Windhorst says Illinois government must do all it can to secure our elections. 

On December 3, 1818, Illinois was admitted as the 21st state of the United States. That’s why on December 3rd of every year we commemorate Illinois Statehood Day. To celebrate, let’s take a look back on the early history of Illinois and trace its journey to becoming a state. 

Deputy House Republican Leader Norine Hammond was among the Illinois House Republicans who received the Americans for Prosperity-Illinois (AFP-IL) 2025 Prairie State Policy Champions, for her role in advocating for reduced government spending, easing Illinois’ state tax burden, protecting homeschoolers and empowering educational choice in the Land of Lincoln. 

Chicago is famous for its sports teams, world-class museums, and vast array of shopping choices. The city remains a popular tourist destination. However, Chicago is also famous as a setting for numerous holiday films. While it may be called the Second City, Chicago is the king of holiday movies.