Total Reopening Nowhere in Sight
by State Representative Dan Brady, 105th District

We have now entered Phase 4 of Gov. Pritzker’s gradual reopening plan for our state, and the restored freedoms for our families and businesses are certainly needed now to get our communities well on the road to recovery.

Rep. Dan Brady shares his views on the state budget, pension reform, higher education and more.

During "random questions" we learn his nickname, his frustrations with golf, and his love of fried chicken.

Illinois is home to world class colleges and universities, yet more and more Illinois students choose to leave our state to continue their education. From 1991-2014, enrollment at Illinois public universities and community colleges has declined by 50,000 students. As the father of a college-age daughter, State Representative Dan Brady knows this ‘brain drain’ can’t continue. As Republican Spokesman on the House Appropriations-Higher Education Committee, Rep. Brady has been working on real solutions that will help us keep our best and brightest here to get their degree and, hopefully, to put their talents to work in our communities.

Rep. Brady has filed HB 4103 which would ensure Illinois high school student with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average or better will be guaranteed admission to a public university in our state. It will also establish a uniform admission process online, allowing Illinois students to apply to all Illinois public universities with one online submission.

We think helping students attain a quality higher education right here in Illinois is vital to our state. Kudos to Rep. Brady for continuing to find ways to make that happen.

House Republicans call on Democrat colleagues to continue budget collaboration

On Wednesday, House Republican legislators who have been participating in bipartisan budget working groups expressed their disappointment with Democrat Speaker Michael Madigan’s dismissal of their collaborative efforts. They called for a continuation of the efforts of rank-and-file members from both sides of the aisle to devise a framework for a compromise and balanced budget.

A group of Central Illinois legislators gathered inside Normal’s Uptown Station Friday to call on House Speaker Michael Madigan to bring the Illinois House back into session.

The chamber isn’t schedule to return to Springfield until April 4.

State Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) said he’s proposed legislation to fund higher education and MAP grants, but that’s fallen on deaf ears so far.

“We cannot get those bills called if we cannot be in Springfield to do the work of the people,” Brady said.

State Rep. Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City) said it’s “amazing” they’re not in Springfield right now.

“We should be in Springfield until this is done. Things do not have to be this way,” said Bennett. “We may not get a budget, perhaps, until January of next year.” WJBC has the story.

Sen. Pam Althoff and Rep. Dan Brady bring highly anticipated procurement reform measures to ILGA

After a year of working through and carefully evaluating Illinois’ onerous procurement process, a comprehensive reform package developed collaboratively by the Rauner administration, agency heads, legislative leaders and major stakeholders has emerged that has the potential to realize significant savings for Illinois taxpayers.   The legislative package, which will be filed concurrently in both the House and Senate by Rep. Dan Brady (R, Normal) and Sen. Pamela Althoff (R, McHenry) respectively, was unveiled during a press conference at the Illinois State Fairgrounds 4H building. Read more.

With college and university budgets stressed beyond their breaking point, State Representative Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) is filing legislation to deliver emergency relief. Brady will be Chief House sponsor of the proposal which will fund higher education, albeit with modest cuts, for the remainder of this fiscal year and fully-fund MAP grants for students at the FY 2015 level utilizing existing revenues.

“Our universities and community colleges are facing unprecedented financial pressure due to the delay in state funding, and the willingness by many to front costs for students’ MAP grants. They’re not approaching crisis level, they’ve passed it,” Representative Brady said. “This week we are proposing a plan that would give the governor the tools and the funding to provide help.”  Read more.

Tornado Outbreak – Rochelle Area
Tornado that hit Rochelle and Fairdale classified as EF-4 twister. The classification placed the deadly April 9 Fairdale tornado in the next-to-the-highest category of storm severity. As of Wednesday, April 15, two persons were confirmed dead. Massive property damage was being inventoried assessed. Governor Bruce Rauner has mobilized the State of Illinois’ emergency-response efforts and declared DeKalb and Ogle Counties to be disaster areas.

“We’ve seen three separate tax hike proposals in the last three days. It is clear that Illinois democrats are preparing to raise taxes again, and the Governor seems unwilling to accept the reality that Illinois has a spending problem, not a revenue problem." ~Rep. Mike Tryon



“Governor Quinn proved to the General Assembly and to the citizens of this State today that his promises mean nothing. With his announcement that he is pushing to make the temporary tax increase of 2011 permanent, he has shown us all that anything he says can’t be trusted. He is on record in 2011 as saying the income tax increase was temporary, but now he wants to take more and more out of the pockets of working Illinoisans and small businesses." ~Rep. Barb Wheeler 

State Representative Dan Brady is a Republican from Bloomington and represents the 105th District in central Illinois, which includes Normal, portions of East Bloomington, Carlock, Towanda, Lexington, Hudson, Gridley, Chenoa, Cooksville, Colfax, and Anchor.  The Eastern boundary of the district stretches over to Fairbury, Forrest and Strawn in Livingston County.

Rep. Brady received his BA from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, and his Associates Degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Prior to being elected State Representative, he was elected as McLean County Coroner in 1992 and re-elected in 1996. Read more about Rep. Brady.

• Recent legislation for which Rep. Brady is the primary sponsor
• Committees on which Rep. Brady serves
• News from Rep. Brady

House Republican Leader- Elect
Jim Durkin

Today, Leader-Elect Jim Durkin named State Representative David Leitch (R-Peoria) and State Representative Patti Bellock (R-Westmont) as his Deputy Leaders.   Leitch is the longest serving member in the Illinois House Republican Caucus and brings tremendous knowledge to the team.   Rep. Bellock has successfully led the charge for Medicaid reform over the past several years and is the first woman to serve as a Deputy Leader for the House Republican Caucus.

“One of the largest and most complicated segments of the state budget is Medicaid and no one knows the topic better than Representatives Bellock and Leitch.   Both are very compassionate when it comes to caring for our most vulnerable citizens, while making sure taxpayers are protected from waste and abuse.  Members of our caucus have to come to rely on their opinion on issues related to human services programs and the budget and both are highly respected by their peers.  I am thrilled to have both of them on my team.”

Durkin has named State Representatives:  Dan Brady (R-Bloomington), Chad Hays (R-Danville) Bill Mitchell (R-Forsyth), JoAnn Osmond (R-Gurnee), Dennis Reboletti (R-Addison), and Mike Tryon (R- Crystal Lake) as Assistant Leaders.  Mike Bost will serve as Conference Chair.   It will be his job to ensure caucus meetings are conducted in an orderly manner.

“Each of these members brings a different perspective and area of expertise to the team and all want the best for the residents of Illinois.  I have tremendous faith and trust in each of them and am ready to sit down with them to develop an agenda and work on issues important to families and employers in Illinois,” said Durkin.

While the team has been selected and will meet during the first week of veto session, Durkin’s new leadership team becomes effective on November 1, 2013.

Top left: Rep. Adam Brown,    Top right: Rep. Wayne Rosenthal
Lower left: Rep. Dan Brady

We didn't know about this until SJ-R columnist Bernard Schoenberg included it in his column today:  Three members of our caucus "sprang into action" to provide medical assistance to man who was seriously injured in downtown Decatur earlier this month.

State Representatives Dan Brady, Adam Brown and Wayne Rosenthal came to the aid of 26 year-old Alex Griffin after his arm was sliced-open by a broken mirror he was taking to the trash. The legislators used their belts as tourniquets and worked with others to stop the excessive bleeding. Later, they were told by doctors that the quick actions of those on the scene helped save the young man's life.

Thanks for sharing the story, Bernie Schoenberg.