Chicago – NRI
“…we are trying to get the base out…” Newly-released emails confirm politics part of troubled Quinn program. On Tuesday, Oct. 7, former Quinn chief of staff Jack Lavin turned over personal emails subpoenaed by the Legislative Audit Commission that tie the 2010 election and Quinn’s campaign to the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative.

In a Sept. 5, 2010 email to Ben Nuckels, then Quinn’s campaign manager, Lavin outlined strategies to appeal to African-American voters. “If we are trying to get the base out and that’s the key to our victory, we better prioritize correctly,” Lavin wrote. “The African-American community tends to break late so we have some time. The Gov’s Neighborhood Recovery Initiative will also help on the jobs and anti-violence messages.”

State Representative Sandra Pihos was elected to the General Assembly in 2002 and is serving her sixth term in office. She has been a resident of Glen Ellyn for 41 years, has taught both elementary and middle school, and worked as a high school guidance counselor. She served on the Glenbard District 87 school board for 10 ½ years ending her tenure as president. In addition, she held the position of vice president of Pihos Enterprises, a restaurant management firm, from 1993-2000.

As a legislator, Sandy serves on a variety of committees, including Elementary and Secondary Education (Republican Spokesperson), Elementary and Secondary Appropriations, Consumer Protection, Accountability & Administrative Review, Small Business Empowerment & Workforce Development, Housing, and Tollway Oversight. Some of the committees she has been appointed to include the Legislative Audit Commission, the Special Education Funding Task Force, and the Workforce Development Board. Much of her legislation has focused on education, social security protection, and consumer protection, identity theft, affordable housing, health awareness, children’s health insurance and environmental issues.  Read more about Rep. Pihos.

News From Rep. Pihos
Current Legislation Sponsored by Rep. Pihos
Rep. Pihos' Committees
Rep. Pihos' District

Chicago – Neighborhood Recovery Initiative
Lawmakers Urge Freeze of Chicago Anti-Violence State Funds; Call for Additional Investigation of Programs.  In the wake of the Illinois Auditor General’s scathing audit of Governor Quinn’s $54.55 million Neighborhood Recovery Initiative (NRI), State Reps. David Reis (R-Ste. Marie), John Cavaletto (R-Salem) and Dwight Kay (R-Glen Carbon) are demanding all state funds allocated to questionable Chicago anti-violence programs be frozen.  The lawmakers are also calling upon the Auditor General to further investigate state moneys allocated to these programs.

State Representative Sandy Pihos (R-Glen Ellyn) joined State Representatives Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) and Dennis Rebolletti (R-Elmhurst), along with Senator Michael Connelly (R-Naperville) and DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin to unveil two taxpayer protection bills that would prevent taxing districts from raising taxes when home values are declining.

Sandack, Chief Sponsor of House Bills 4426 and 4429, said the legislation addresses an unforeseen issue with the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law. “When PTELL was created, it protected property owners from huge tax increases during the era when home values were increasing very quickly,” said Sandack. “I would imagine that the authors of the PTELL bill never imagined a scenario where that bill would actually hurt taxpayers. This legislation takes steps to freeze taxes when property values fall and helps people from getting taxed out of their homes during difficult economic times.” Read more.

Graduated Income Tax  
House GOP: Graduated Tax Threat to Illinois Jobs, Families.  On Monday, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and members of the Illinois House Republican caucus announced their unanimous opposition to the graduated income tax proposal introduced by legislative Democrats. The plan, currently filed as HJRCA 33, would replace the state’s current flat tax with a graduated income tax system, with rates to be determined by the General Assembly.

“There is a movement in Springfield by the majority party to move Illinois from a flat income tax to a graduated tax,” said Durkin. “The same party responsible for years of overspending, over taxing and a mountain of debt wants to move to a graduated tax for one reason and one reason only – to raise taxes and spend more money.”

A group of House Republican Lawmakers are taking action to fight Illinois’ growing heroin epidemic. House Republican Leader Jim Durkin  State Representatives Dennis Reboletti , Patti Bellock , John Cabello , and Sandy Pihos  were joined by DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and DuPage County Judicial and Public Safety Committee Chairman Grant Eckhoff on Thursday to announce a comprehensive package of legislation designed to address heroin abuse and related crimes.

“Heroin has claimed too many lives – leaving behind families devastated by their loss. It’s our hope that the package of bills introduced here today will prevent the loss of life and protect other families from having to experience such pain in the future. I would like to applaud the efforts of State Rep. Dennis Reboletti, DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin, the DuPage Heroin Coalition; DuPage County Judical and Public Safety Chairman Grant Eckhoff ; Reps. Sandy Pihos, Patti Bellock and John Cabello for their work in developing and supporting these bills,” said Durkin (R-Western Springs). Read the rest of the story.

Other links:
Heroin DuPage
Be a Hero-In-DuPage Facebook Site
Be a Hero-In-DuPage Twitter Site @HeroInDuPage

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.

Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin echoed the sentiment of his members when he told reporters following the Governor’s state-of-the-state address that the administration could no longer blame the Great Recession for the state's financial situation. The states surrounding Illinois fiscal conditions are improving while Illinois stands at 8.6% unemployment. The Governor’s claims that the state has turned the corner are not borne out by the facts.

State Rep. Sandy Pihos on House Floor

“With education dollars in short supply and high demand, it troubles me greatly to know that CPS received almost double the amount of grant funds that their report claimed was deserved.” ~ State Representative Sandy Pihos

In response to learning the Chicago Public School System (CPS) was overpaid by nearly $235 million in Block Grant funds for the 2011-2012 school year, Rep. Sandy Pihos has filed a package of accountability bills that will prohibit the mistake from happening in the future, and ensure that CPS does not receive preferential treatment when it comes to the receipt and reporting requirements for the funds.

“I was shocked to learn of this gigantic error in grant funding,” said Pihos, who sits on the Appropriations Committee for Elementary & Secondary Education. “With education dollars in short supply and high demand, it troubles me greatly to know that CPS received almost double the amount of grant funds that their report claimed was deserved.”   Read the rest of this important story.

Row 1:  Rep. Bob Pritchard celebrated summer reading success with members of his Summer Reading Club.  House Republican Leader Tom Cross checks out the chickens at Kendall County Fair.

Row 2:  Rep. Charlie Meier discussing the status of  Murray Center. Rep. Sandy Pihos joins Lombard village trustees for ribbon cutting for the Great Western Bike Path Bridge over Grace Street.

Row 1: DuPage County legislators, Reps. Ron Sandack, Sandy Pihos & Dennis Reboletti at bill signing for SB494, legislation improving efficencies of local government.  Rep. Mike Fortner with Dupage Sheriff Deputy following the Muon g-2 Super Magnet on its way to Fermilab.

Row 2: Rep. John Cabello toured UTC Aerospace Systems. Rep. Tom Morrison and Senator Matt Murphy hosted a joint teleconference with constituents on August 5th.

Row 3: Diabetes camp with Rep. Mike Tryon and participants at YMCA Camp Duncan in Ingleside. Boot camp hosted by Rep. Jeanne Ives.

As the cost of college tuition continues to rise at Illinois state universities, college students are being lured to out-of-state schools with lower tuition rates.

Illinois' state universities feel the need to increase their tuition and fees to supplement the loss of revenue caused by past state budget cuts that started with the Blagojevich administration. The result has been a drop in student enrollment at 8 of Illinois 12 public universities. The brain drain is real and will only get worse if we don't act now to help Illinois students and their families with the cost of quality education, right here in Illinois.

The House Republicans have a solution. This week, several members joined House Republican Leader Tom Cross in unveiling a legislative package designed to make college more affordable for Illinois families.

The College Affordability plan provides for a tax credit and a tax deduction that together will result in real savings for Illinois families and at the same time keep the best and the brightest right here in Illinois.