Today, State Representative Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein), who in August of 2015 announced that he would not seek reelection in 2016, has submitted his formal resignation to step down from the Illinois House of Representatives effective December 29, 2016 at 12:00 p.m.

“It has been an honor of a lifetime to represent my hometown and the rest of the 51st District as a member of the General Assembly for the last fourteen years,” Sullivan said in his resignation letter. “I have been proud to serve the State of Illinois in the same hallowed chamber as my Great-Grandfather, former State Representative Thomas Bolger. Thank you for all the opportunities you have afforded me in the House as they have allowed me to be the best Representative possible.” Read more.

Top: Reps David Leitch, Don Moffitt & Michael Tryon
Bottom: Reps Dwight Kay, Ed Sullivan & Adam Brown

Remarks by House Republican Leader Jim Durkin to the Illinois House of Representatives on Republican lawmakers who will be leaving the General Assembly in January:

The Republican Caucus is sad to be losing the services of six well-respected members of this body who are retiring at the end of this General Assembly.

Between them, they have 92 years of experience serving their districts and the people of Illinois.

In an effort to improve public safety and reduce incidences of gun violence in Illinois, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has filed legislation that will help keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who have been deemed a public safety threat, have made threats of terrorism, or have been charged with an act of terrorism. The bill was unveiled at a press conference held at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago on Thursday.

State Representative Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein) passed legislation in the Illinois House this week to improve and clarify several aspects of the landmark legislation that gave Illinoisans the right to conceal and carry their firearms. As the marathon final week of the spring legislative session in Springfield nears its finale, it hasn’t just been budget legislation that has taken the forefront. Senate Bill 836, an omnibus bill consisting of several smaller pieces of legislation, passed the House with major bipartisan support and now awaits concurrence in the Senate before being put on Gov. Rauner’s desk.

“I was very proud to be involved when we crafted the original concealed carry legislation that finally ended the infringement of 2nd Amendment rights in Illinois,” said Sullivan. “That being said, when such major legislation is created, it is always important to review it and apply follow-up changes to improve it, which is precisely the purpose of this omnibus bill. Not only does the bill clarify several ambiguous and onerous aspects of the original law, but it also makes some important safety improvements.” Read more.

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin on Monday selected Ed Sullivan Jr. (R-Mundelein) to the Illinois House Republican Leadership Team.  Sullivan will take the spot left vacant by JoAnn Osmond who recently retired.

“Ed Sullivan has done a great job as one of our floor leaders and is always eager to help members of our caucus,” said Durkin.  “He has been willing to travel across the state to show support for other members and is often called upon for his advice.”

The leadership team is responsible for developing an agenda for the caucus; working through controversial issues and guiding other members.

“When pressure is high and tough lifting is required, I can count on Ed to be there,” said Durkin.

A group of House and Senate Republicans today introduced legislation that would put on the November ballot a statewide advisory referendum asking voters whether or not the five percent ‘temporary’ income tax increase should become permanent.

“A number of issues are expected to be placed on the ballot in November as a way to gauge public sentiment.  The proposal we are introducing today would ask the voters to decide whether or not the five percent ‘temporary’ income tax increase should be made permanent,” said State Rep. Dennis Reboletti (R-Addison).  “Extending the income tax increase hits residents and small employers directly in the pocketbook.  They deserve the opportunity to weigh in on the decision.” Read more.

Illinois Taxes
House Republicans launch petition drive against tax hike.  On the heels of what might prove to be the first in a long line of tax increase votes, Illinois House Republicans are launching an online petition drive against the effort to make the Illinois temporary tax increase of 2011 permanent.

“What Illinois needs right now are leaders committed to creating jobs, not running them out,” said House Republican Leader Jim Durkin.  “What we have instead is an assault on the taxpayers of Illinois in the form of numerous and continued attempts to raise taxes.  This has to stop.”

Rep. Ed Sullivan

In a stunning violation of House rules, Illinois House Democrats used a subject matter only meeting today to advance legislation aimed at steering $100 million in public funds towards luring the Obama Presidential Library to Chicago.

“The legacy of the Obama Presidential Library shouldn’t be kicked off in a cloud of controversy,” stated State Representative Ed Sullivan (R, Mundelein). “Not only was the meeting a misrepresentation, so was the false roll call taken.”

Sullivan was speaking specifically to the Illinois House Executive Committee vote today on House Bill 6010. The legislation was brought up in what appeared as a subject matter hearing only, meaning testimony was to be taken, but no votes were to be cast. At the meeting, only four of the committee’s eleven members were present.

Without a quorum present, and no Republicans to hold the rules accountable, the four present Democratic members claimed the committee roll call to be 9-0 (9 voting “yes” and 0 voting “no”) on the proposal, with even opposing Republicans not in attendance recorded as “yes” votes.

With the state’s temporary income tax hike on individuals and employers scheduled to roll back at the end of the year being countered by efforts among legislative Democrats to make the higher rates permanent or institute a Graduated Tax system to drive rates even higher, State Rep. Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein) is pressing for answers on the constitutionality of a proposed band-aid that would buy time for Democrats to raise taxes.

The issue is simple: The Illinois Constitution requires the Governor to submit an annual budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. Illinois law has defined a fiscal year as a twelve month period.  Common sense follows that any budget approved by the General Assembly encompassing only a partial year would be unconstitutional. Yet the Governor and Democrat legislative leaders have not ruled out the possibility they may approve a partial-year budget this spring, then return to Springfield after the November election to either make the higher rates permanent or push them even higher. Read more.

Representatives Ron Sandack (at podium), Patti Bellock,
Jeanne Ives, David McSweeney, Tom Morrison, Darlene
Senger and Ed Sullivan explain to the media why they
oppose a tax increase for Illinoisans. 

At a recent  press conference to discuss the latest call to renew a tax increase proposal, Rep. Ron Sandack told reporters that all 47 Republicans in the Illinois House oppose a graduated income tax.

A group of suburban Republican state lawmakers said Wednesday that no House GOP members will vote for a graduated income tax, a system that taxes people based on how much they earn.

At a Chicago news conference, state Rep. David McSweeney of Barrington Hills touted his resolution opposing the idea, which has garnered nearly enough support so far in the Illinois House to block a change. Mike Riopell has the story in the Daily Herald. 

House Republican members call for health insurance
numbers at November 7th press conference.

Via Crains Chicago Business,  November 8, 2013
   
Only hundreds of people enrolled in the Illinois health insurance exchange in October, state officials said today, offering the first glimpse into an online marketplace that has been vexed by glitches.

Insurance carriers have told state officials that hundreds of consumers signed up in October, confirmed Jennifer Koehler, director of the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace. But she and Cristal Thomas, Illinois deputy governor, cautioned that it was just a guess since federal officials haven't yet provided enrollment figures.

“We do not know,” Ms. Thomas said. “If we have to guess we would guess probably in the hundreds.”  Kristen Schorsch and Andrew L Wang tell the story in Crains Chicago Business.

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) today is pleased to announce the new House Republican Floor Team.

State Representatives Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) and Chad Hays (R-Danville) will join Dennis Reboletti (R-Addison) and Ed Sullivan Jr. (R-Mundelein) as the Floor Leaders for the Illinois House Republicans.

“Changing state laws, big or small, can have a positive or negative impact on Illinois residents.   It’s critical for each bill to be thoroughly vetted in both committee and on the House floor before any vote is taken.  I am confident in the ability of these four to take the lead when it comes to asking questions of the bill sponsors and making sure the concerns and opinions of our constituents are considered in the debate.  They will also be responsible for ensuring the majority party is following their own rules and protocols during the debate process,” said Durkin.

Also read: House Republican Leader–Elect Jim Durkin announces Leadership Team 

Budget/pensions
General Assembly prepares for special session.  The meetup, called by Governor Pat Quinn on Thursday, June 6, and scheduled for Wednesday, June 19, is being urged to deal with outstanding Illinois State budget and pension issues.  Illinois continues to labor under the burden of unpaid bills currently totaling $5.8 billion, although this is significantly lower than the $8.5 billion of past-due bills in State files in April.  Actions by House Republicans, when the FY13 budget was passed in spring 2012, were influential in ensuring that almost one-third of this past-due bill load would be paid down before the end of the fiscal year.

With the unfunded liabilities of the State’s managed systems continuing to grow at an estimated rate of $17 million/day, pension issues will be at the center of the special session; but the House and Senate are not constitutionally bound to any single subject and could deal with other questions as well.  In particular, if Gov. Pat Quinn issues any vetoes prior to the special session, the General Assembly could take action to override these vetoes in one or both houses.  Either or both chambers could also discuss and debate various issues, such as gaming expansion, that were not resolved when they adjourned in May.

Tap Dance to Block Pension Reform

Colleges and universities
House Republican college affordability plan released; would provide additional middle-class tax credits and deductions to students’ families.   HB 3640 (Cross) and HB 3641 (Brown) were introduced on Wednesday, June 12.  The Cross measure, lead-sponsored by House Republican leader Tom Cross (R-Kendall Co.) creates a new income tax credit of up to $1,000 per year for most families, if the family is the principal means of support for a full-time or part-time student in an accredited Illinois institution of post-secondary education (i.e. a college or a university).  A middle-class tax credit, this benefit would only be available for households declaring adjusted gross income of less than $150,000 per year.