All too often the jobs of state employees require them to put themselves at risk to protect Illinois residents. It was the case with Pamela Knight, a Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) investigator who was brutally beaten last September while trying to take a 2 year-old child into protective custody. She died last week from injuries sustained in the attack. Her accused assailant is facing multiple charges and is awaiting trial.

In response to this senseless act of violence against a state employee, State Reps Brian Stewart, Tony McCombie and Tom Demmer introduced HB4147, legislation that would enhance the penalties for attacking a DCFS worker in the performance of their duties, making it an aggravated felony. Ultimately it would provide DCFS employees the same protections as law enforcement officers and firefighters who put themselves in harms way.

The job DCFS investigators perform can be dangerous and it is important that the state does all it can to protect them and penalize those who do them harm.

State Representative Brian Stewart filed House Bill 4147 to make attacking a DCFS workers in performance of their duties an aggravated battery and a Class 1 felony.

House Bill 4147, filed this week, would make battering a Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in the performance of his/her official duties or in response to their official duties an aggravated battery and a Class 1 felony. Aggravated battery subject perpetrators to more severe penalties when facing prosecution and sentencing.

“My deepest sympathies and get well-wishes go out to the victim of this horrible attack, her family and everyone in her DCFS family.  Everyday DCFS workers put themselves at risk to protect the most vulnerable children in our communities,” said Rep. Stewart. “This legislation will give DCFS workers the same protections as policemen, firemen, and peace officers who also put themselves in harm’s way.”  Read more.

Governor’s Budget Address
Governor Rauner delivers budget address to General Assembly. Speaking to a joint session of the Illinois House and Senate on Wednesday, Governor Bruce Rauner delivered his annual Budget Address, outlining his priorities and introducing his third balanced budget in as many years to be considered by lawmakers.

Saying “We must think anew and act anew,” the Governor presented a balanced budget that focuses on the future. It invests in Illinois’ future with record funding for education, transforms our pension system, and makes structural changes to improve our jobs climate.

A Republican State Representative has introduced a bill that would require inmates with financial resources to pay for their own defense if they’re charged with committing a crime while behind bars. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner quickly said he supports the bill.

The legislation is in response to a WGN Investigates report that found Drew Peterson’s court-appointed legal team charged Illinois taxpayers $264,000 to defend the former Bolingbrook cop. Peterson was convicted of plotting from prison to hire a hit man to kill Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow. Glasgow was the prosecutor who put Peterson in prison for killing his third wife Kathleen Savio.

“Taxpayers are on the hook too easily for inmate legal bills,” Rauner said in a statement to WGN. “In a time when financial resources are tight across state government, there are better uses for the more than $200,000 the state is paying to defend Drew Peterson.” Read more.

General Assembly Pay
House Republicans vote for bill to deny pay increase for selves in FY16. The measure, HB 576, amends State law to block implementation of the automatic pay increases slated to be paid in FY16 to Illinois elected officials. This action is necessary to prevent an annual automatic pay increase from being paid to members of the General Assembly, statewide elected officials, certain Cabinet-level executive branch agency directors and appointees, and county state’s attorneys. Automatic pay increases of this type have been mandated by the Compensation Review Act since 1984.

Pensions – Illinois Supreme Court SB 1 Ruling
Illinois Supreme Court strikes down pension reform law. On Friday, May 8, the Illinois Supreme Court unanimously reaffirmed a lower circuit court ruling on State pension system reforms contained in SB 1 (P.A. 98-599). In response to enactment of P.A. 98-599, five separate actions were filed in Cook County and Sangamon County courts to enjoin implementation of the pension reforms, claiming the reforms were unconstitutional due to a violation of the provision in the Illinois Constitution (Article XIII, Section 5) that asserts pensions are a contractual right and cannot be diminished or impaired. The five suits were subsequently consolidated into one action in Sangamon County Circuit Court.

Illinois Budget
Concerns continue as no agreement reached on growing spending crisis. With the FY15 budget more than $1.6 billion out of balance, more and more subsectors of the Illinois economy were affected this week. House Republicans reaffirmed their commitment to solving issues related to immediate funding issues faced by child care, corrections, and court reporter sectors of the economy.

“The unbalanced FY15 budget needs to be corrected immediately and brought into balance,” asserted House Republican Leader Jim Durkin on Tuesday, March 3. Pointing to the State’s failure under former Gov. Pat Quinn to meet its constitutional responsibility to enact a balanced budget, Durkin and his leadership team pledged to help “clean up the mess Governor Rauner inherited on January 12, 2015.”

House Republicans respond to Gov. Rauner's State-of-the-State Address.

Leader Jim Durkin (Burr Ridge)
"Governor Rauner was very bold...and it is what the people of Illinois want to hear: How we're going to get out of this debt spiral. Its about a long term plan to turn the state of Illinois around." Watch the video.

Rep. Norine Hammond (Macomb)
“For years, I have been pushing for reforms to Medicaid, unemployment insurance, and our Workers Compensation system. I am pleased to hear Governor Rauner highlight some of these problems that we can address to attract jobs back to Illinois..”

Chicago – NRI Scandal
Reports surface that federal investigators are requesting that the Legislative Audit Commission suspend its inquiry for 90 days. The U.S. Department of Justice’s request could delay efforts by the Commission to hear testimony from key former aides to Gov. Pat Quinn, including former chief of staff Jack Lavin and ex-deputy chief of staff Toni Irving. The Commission has subpoenaed seven witnesses to testify on the scandal-plagued Neighborhood Recovery Initiative (NRI) at a two-day hearing scheduled to start on Wednesday, July 16.

Rep. Brian Stewart

Multi-million dollar boondoggle jeopardizes police safety; wastes taxpayer funds

Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Freeport) has renewed public pressure on the Quinn Administration to quit wasting taxpayer dollars and jeopardizing the safety of frontline state law enforcement personnel by keeping idle 85 brand new cruisers waiting to be out into service for the Illinois State Police; while also acting to amend state law to reverse a snafu that prevents the existing funding mechanism used to purchase the cars to also prepare them for service.

The Illinois House of Representatives voted unanimously today to inaugurate Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) as the new House Minority Leader.  Durkin had his wife, Celeste, and daughter, Caroline, at his side on the House Floor when the vote was taken.

“It’s an honor to have been selected by my peers to serve as House Republican Leader.  It is an awesome responsibility. I am thankful they put their faith in me and that we have come together as a unified caucus,” said Durkin.  “I am proud my family could join me. The support I’ve received from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle has been overwhelming - working together we can get Illinois back on track.” Read more about House Minority Leader Jim Durkin.

The Illinois House of Representatives also welcomed newly sworn-in legislators, State Representatives John Anthony and Brian Stewart:   

Rep. Jim Sacia

by Rep. Jim Sacia

As my career as a State Representative comes to an end, you can imagine there is much reflection. I have loved this opportunity to serve you, the constituents of the 89th District, these past eleven years. Yes it’s bittersweet. There are disappointments, there are great joys.

I make no apologies for stands I’ve taken on issues. Each one was based on the conviction that I believed was the best decision for the majority of you. Some of you will read this and say I never represented you or your convictions. Rest assured I tried to understand your point of view. I take great pride in listening to all sides of an issue.

Yes, this article will open some old wounds. I will always believe that my decisions were based on carefully thought out facts.

Rep. Brian Stewart (Freeport)

Family, friends and supporters gathered at the Stephenson County Courthouse on Friday as Freeport native Brian Stewart was sworn into office as State Representative for the 89th District.

“I want thank my family, friends and especially State Representative Jim Sacia for supporting me in this endeavor,” said Rep. Stewart. “I am truly honored at this opportunity and am confident that my background and past experiences will serve me well as I represent the people of the 89th District in Springfield.”

Illinois legislators are scheduled to return to Springfield October 22nd for fall Veto Session. Rep. Stewart stated the pension crisis is the top issue driving the state’s budget woes and is committed towards working in a bipartisan manner to resolve the issue.