Democrats Wait Until After Elections to End Government Shutdown
Over the weekend, there was movement within the U.S. Senate to end the stalemate and reopen the federal government. It came as no surprise to me that Washington Democrats waited until after last week’s elections to decide the shutdown had gone on long enough.
Upon hearing the news, I issued the following press statement:
“I am pleased to know that a handful of Democrats have finally come to their senses and are joining Republicans in approving a clean continuing resolution that reopens the federal government. What comes as no surprise, however, is that their change-of-heart came less than a week after an election, proving that their opposition was never about policy; it was about politics.
“I stand with our Republican delegation in Washington who are committed to putting an end to Biden-era policies that provide for illegal immigrant healthcare, and I look forward to the resolution making it’s way to the desk of President Donald Trump for his signature.”
Democrats Use Veto Session to Push Partisan Agenda
When lawmakers returned to Springfield for the fall Veto Session, only a handful of vetoes were up for potential consideration. However, the session agenda quickly shifted toward advancing new and previously introduced legislation, including several controversial measures that have far-reaching consequences for taxpayers and businesses across the state.
Among the most heated measures were a sweeping public transit bailout for the City of Chicago that was rushed through with little to no time to review final bill language, a short-sighted tax plan known as “decoupling” that effectively raises taxes on Illinois job creators, an $8 billion energy rate hike, and a polarizing proposal to pave the way for physician-assisted suicide.
Senate Republicans criticized the priorities as well as the process of Springfield Democrats. Using Veto Session to push through major policy changes in the middle of the night, with little public input or debate, is irresponsible and dangerous. These measures will have lasting and permanent consequences for families, businesses, and communities across Illinois.
The Senate is not scheduled to return to the Capitol until mid-January for the start of the 2026 spring session. Click here to view the 2026 Senate session calendar.
Chesney Co-Sponsors Bill to Expand Property Tax Relief for Senior Citizens
Illinois continues to face one of the highest overall tax burdens in the nation, with homeowners paying the highest effective property tax rate of any state. The heavy tax load has driven many residents, particularly seniors, to leave Illinois.
During the recent Veto Session, we took steps to ease that burden by passing Senate Bill 642, a measure designed to help seniors stay in their homes. I am a proud co-sponsor of this bill.
The proposal raises the maximum income limit for the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption over the next several years. Beginning in tax year 2026, the income limit would increase to $75,000, then to $77,000 in 2027, and to $79,000 in 2028 and beyond.
The aim of the legislation is to expand eligibility for the property tax freeze program to allow in-need seniors to qualify for relief and stay in their homes.
The measure passed the Senate unanimously and now heads to the Governor for his signature.
Physician-Assisted Suicide Legislation Advances to Governor’s Desk
In the early morning hours of October 31, lawmakers in the Illinois Senate voted on a controversial proposal that would legalize physician-assisted suicide in this state. I voted against the bill.
Senate Bill 1950, which was pasted as a “gut and replace” amendment into a bill originally having to do with food processing, would create the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act. The measure allows adult patients diagnosed with a terminal illness and given six months or less to live to request medication from a physician to voluntarily end their lives.
The proposal passed in the Senate with the bare minimum number of votes (30) and now advances to the Governor’s desk for consideration. Governor Pritzker has two months to take action on the measure, but it remains unclear whether he intends to sign it into law.
