Celebrating Women's History Month

In the early morning hours of October 13, 1977, Rosalyn Sussman Yalow received a phone call with the news that she had won the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology. She was the first American-born woman to win a Science Nobel and only the second woman to win a Nobel Prize in Medicine. However her road to the Nobel Prize was not an easy one.  

Borrowing money always comes with associated costs, specifically interest payments.

When we’re late paying our credit cards, we pay interest. When we borrow to buy a car or a house, pay for school or consolidate debt, we pay interest. When it’s a state that borrows money it is the taxpayers who pay the interest. 

 

To protect hardworking taxpayers, Illinois' government should pay its debts as expeditiously as possible. It is the responsible thing to do. Last week the Democrat supermajority in the House of Representatives took a different approach. Instead of using existing eligible funds to pay off a federal loan, Democrats chose to saddle Illinois taxpayers with interest payments that will increase every day until the debt is paid. By passing SB 2803, Democrats have also risked benefit cuts to the unemployed, and ensured a tax increase is coming for every job in Illinois. All so they can fund new “pork projects” in their own districts. 

TAXES & DEBT
Illinois Democrats’ UI plan prioritizes pork projects over paying off debt; will lead to tax hikes on Illinois jobs. This week, Illinois Democrats passed a supplemental appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2022 that failed to pay off the $4.5 billion Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund debt owed to the federal government.

For Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois Democrats, making and breaking big promises is becoming a way of life. If that sounds like a typical throwaway political attack line, an examination of the last year of action (or inaction) by the governor and the Illinois General Assembly reveals the truth.

From drawing fair legislative maps to promises of honesty in financial dealings, protecting children in the care of DCFS, addressing rising crime, and providing relief for families struggling to afford necessities like food and fuel, Democrats have made some big promises. To this point in the 102nd General Assembly, it seems Democrats' promises were made to be broken. 

Last week a Chicago businessman gave away $200,000 in gasoline to Illinois residents. Cars lined up for miles at 10 gas stations in Chicago to receive $50 worth of free gas. They waited for hours for what amounted (for most) to a half-tank of the precious fuel. If the long lines and waits were any indication, families are desperate for financial relief.

Gas prices are at their highest level since 2008, fueled only in part by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The fact is gas prices have been going up steadily since President Biden was sworn into office.

In honor of Women’s History month we celebrate the much beloved Judy Baar Topinka.

Judy Barr Topinka's passion for representing the people of Illinois began in 1980 in the House of Representatives. She served 2 years in the House and then was elected to the State Senate where she remained for 10 years.

After 14 years as a member of the Illinois General Assembly, Judy Baar Topinka ran for statewide office. She was chosen in November of 1994 to serve as Illinois State Treasurer becoming the first woman in Illinois history to be elected to that office. 

CHILDREN
DCFS – Blame Shifting Must End, Children Deserve Protection. One of the vital roles of government is to protect its residents, especially vulnerable children in state care. For a variety of reasons, Illinois children end up in the system, because of abuse from their parents or guardians, death of parents or guardians, homelessness, neglect, and even outright abandonment. As a society, we give up part of our income to the government to establish a social safety net to protect these children and provide them with vital services.