Responding to numerous complaints from throughout the Fox Valley area, State Representative Kay Hatcher Wednesday advanced legislation to protect against fraud in Illinois’ food, medical and other public assistance programs, and to protect those who need assistance from being victimized by scam artists.

Representative Hatcher (R-Yorkville) won overwhelming House approval of HB 5682 which would put a stop to unauthorized persons soliciting business submitting applications and paperwork for benefits for others, in exchange for control over their benefit accounts and a continuing percentage of the benefit payments.

“This is a shake-down plain and simple, and those being victimized are seniors, those who aren’t fluent in English, and others who are vulnerable. They certainly may need assistance in filling out paperwork and dealing with state agencies, but in return they are being coerced into signing over complete control over their benefit accounts, and every few months, a percentage of their benefits. If they don’t continue to pay up, their benefits may be cancelled,” Representative Hatcher said.  “State agency officials and victims themselves have told my staff and I about their experiences, but under current law, these scam artists have not technically done anything illegal. The legislation we passed in the House today corrects that.” Read more.

“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 

Kay Hatcher is the 50th District Illinois State Representative, serving a 200 square mile area in northern Kendall and southern Kane County.  Prior to joining the legislature she was elected to the Oswego school board, the Kendall County board and served as president of the Kendall County Forest Preserve District.

Her professional background includes external affairs director for Illinois Bell and senior marketing director for Senior Services Associates.  Hatcher received corporate communications training at Boston College’s Carroll School of Management.    Hatcher served as state president of the Illinois Federation of Republican Women and on the Governing Board of the Illinois Lincoln Series, which trains prospective Republican women political leaders.  Read more about Rep. Hatcher.

Recent legislation sponsored by Rep. Hatcher
Rep. Hatcher's committees
News about Rep. Hatcher

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and members of the House Republican caucus today unveiled legislation asking voters to put an end to lame duck sessions of the Illinois General Assembly by moving up the date of inauguration. The proposal also requires the outgoing General Assembly to conclude their work by Election Day.

“You never know what shenanigans are going to be played in a lame duck session.  In 2011 under the veil of night, Democrats in the lame duck legislature voted to impose the largest income tax increase on families and employers in the history of our state.  Outgoing lawmakers, who are no longer accountable to the voters, should not be approving such controversial legislation,” said Durkin.