Senator Andrew Chesney Responds to Attack Against President Donald Trump
On Saturday afternoon at a rally in Western Pennsylvania, President Donald Trump was injured after gunfire rang out while he was speaking. In response to the attack, State Senator Andrew Chesney issued the following statement: “There is no place within our political debate for violence against any public official. The assassination attempt on President Trump […]
Senator Chesney’s Week in Review
Supreme Court Declines to Take Up Gun Ban – For Now In an order released July 2, the United States Supreme Court declined to take up a legal challenge to the state’s so-called “assault weapon” ban but left the door open to hearing the case in the future. Petitioners had requested that the nation’s highest […]
Senator Chesney’s Week in Review
Chesney Hosts Two More Successful Community Connections Meetings in 45th District The Community Connections meetings I have been co-hosting with local officials in the 45th Senate District continue to be very successful, with packed rooms in Rockton on June 24 and Machesney Park on June 26. I appreciate that so many people took time out […]
The Really Bad Bills of 2024
Of the 500 or so bills that passed this year, several good ones are headed to the Governor for final action, and I will write about some of them in an upcoming column. This week, however, I want to highlight some really bad bills— those that make you scratch your head and wonder what in […]
Senator Chesney’s Week in Review
City of Freeport to Increase Sales Tax by 1% on July 1 As of July 1, 2024, those who purchase general merchandise within the city limits of Freeport will be charged an additional 1% of sales tax. When this change takes place, Freeport’s sales tax will be 9%, one of the highest in the entire […]
Senator Andrew Chesney Continues Community Connections Tour with Events in Rockton and Machesney Park
State Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) is continuing his series of Community Connections meetings in the 45th District with a June 24 event in Rockton, and a June 26 event in Machesney Park. The Rockton meeting will be co-hosted by Rockton Mayor John Peterson, South Beloit Mayor Tom Fitzgerald, and Roscoe Village President Carol Gustafson, and […]
Senator Andrew Chesney Launches Community Connections Tour with Event in Genoa
State Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) is kicking off a series of Community Connections meetings in the 45th District with a Tuesday, June 18 with event in Genoa. Genoa Mayor Jonathon Brust will co-host the event. “The spring legislative session concluded in May with the approval of a $53 billion budget and approximately $1 billion in […]
Senator Andrew Chesney Reacts to Ogle County Shooting
On Wednesday, three deputies from Ogle County Sheriff’s Department were shot while responding to an incident inside an Ogle County home. In response, State Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) issued the following statement: “I want to thank Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle and his department, police officers from several communities, and the crisis negotiators and […]
Senator Chesney’s Week in Review
Governor Signs Record Spending Budget with Billion-Dollar Tax Hike Governor J.B. Pritzker’s government spending plan, which relies on $1 billion in tax increases, officially became the largest budget in state history when he signed it into law on June 5. Despite bipartisan opposition, the controversial budget sets a new high-water mark for government spending, surpassing […]
The Democrats’ Grocery Tax Sham
Session has ended and legislators are back in their home districts until the Fall Veto Session. On the heels of passing a record-high $53 billion budget that includes nearly $1 billion in tax hikes, there is no doubt that Democrats will spend this time patting themselves on the back and bragging about the new entitlement […]