The Good Bills of 2024
My advocacy for the constituents of the 45th District is three-fold. It includes bills I file, bills I co-sponsor, support, and help get passed, and those I fight against. The column two weeks ago highlighted some of the more egregious bills I fought against this year. This week I would like to focus on some […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Life-Changing Power of Mentorship
Those of us who grew up in stable homes with solid role models are very fortunate. While most of us probably did not know or appreciate it at the time, we were taught from an early age the difference between right and wrong, the proper way to treat people, respect toward others, and the importance […]
Northwest Illinois Values on Full Display and Represented at the State Capitol
As your Senator of the 45th District, I am privileged to be the legislative voice of about 220,000 citizens in Northwest Illinois. I gauge opinions and priorities by reaching out to the public through mailed surveys, town hall meetings, telephone town hall events, conversations at coffee shops and other places where people gather, or by […]
Pritzker’s Prisoner Review Board is Plagued with Problems
It’s no secret that Governor JB Pritzker is the most liberal governor our state has ever seen. After all, he made Illinois the abortion capitol of the United States and brought us mandatory LGBTQ curricula in schools, free healthcare to migrants and illegal immigrants, and the SAFE-T Act. The Governor is also responsible for appointing […]
Chesney’s Agriculture Advisory Committee Ensures NW Illinois Farmers’ Priorities are Heard
Northwest Illinois is home to some of the most fertile soil in the state, nation, and world, and the farmers who work this land are vital to this state’s top economic driver- agriculture. Knowing this, when I was elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2018, one of the first things I did was form […]
As Evictions Begin at Chicago Migrant Shelters, Northwest Counties Take Proactive Steps of Protection
After postponing the evictions of migrants and illegal immigrants from Chicago shelters for months, Chicago leaders began an official eviction process on March 17. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and members of his Administration said thousands will be evicted from Chicago shelters over the next few months. When announcing the enforcement of evictions, Mayor Johnson said, […]
It’s Time to Eliminate Illinois’ Sales Tax on Groceries
As a public official, I have always fought to lower taxes for my constituents. From my time on the Freeport City Council to my tenure in the Illinois House of Representatives to my current role as the State Senator for the 45th District in Northwest Illinois, lightening the tax burden for Illinoisans has always been […]
Valentines for Seniors is More than Just a Card Drop
My office recently completed its first annual Valentines for Seniors program, and the response from the community exceeded all expectations. Between February 14 and15, my staff and I delivered over 2,300 valentines to 30 different nursing homes, and assisted living, rehabilitation, memory care centers in the seven-county region that makes up the 45th Senate District. […]