Illinoisans Made Their Voices Clear on Toll Hike, Pritzker Didn’t Listen

More than 900 people in the 45th Senate District recently responded to my survey on the proposed tollway rate increase. More than 95% said they opposed it.

That message was not unique to my district. Illinoisans across the state submitted public comments and spoke out against the proposal. Republicans, Democrats and independents were largely saying the same thing: We are already paying enough.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his allies did not listen.

The largest tollway rate increase in state history is now moving forward. Beginning January 1, 2027, passenger vehicle tolls will increase by 45 cents per toll, while commercial vehicle tolls will jump by 30%. The increase will also hit tollways used by families and businesses in Winnebago County.

What makes this even worse is that the increases won’t necessarily stop there. Beginning in 2029, toll rates will automatically adjust every two years based on inflation.

Illinoisans were once told these tollways would eventually go away. Instead, they have become a permanent source of revenue, and now the state is reaching even deeper into the pockets of the people who use them.

The people of Illinois made their position overwhelmingly clear, and Governor Pritzker and the Democrats ignored them anyway. Elected officials are supposed to listen to the people they represent, not look for another way to make them pay more.

I will continue speaking out against this toll hike and the continued disregard for Illinois taxpayers.

Supporting Highland Community College’s Growth

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Highland Community College President Dr. Jamal Scott at Higher Grounds Coffee Shop in Freeport to talk about what’s happening at Highland and where the college can go from here.

Dr. Scott and I discussed the many educational opportunities Highland already provides, along with some of the new programs being developed for students. We also talked about the importance of bringing four-year degree programs to Highland. Expanding these options would give local students more opportunities to continue their education close to home while preparing for their future careers.

Another important part of our conversation focused on expanding Highland’s presence in Galena and throughout Jo Daviess County. Highland Community College is an important resource for northwest Illinois, and I believe there are opportunities for the college to play an even larger role in supporting students, families and employers throughout the region.

Thank you to Dr. Scott for taking the time to meet with me and for the great conversation.

Making Everyday Travel Easier for Illinois Caregivers

For families caring for a loved one with a disability, even everyday travel can come with added challenges. A new program in Illinois is helping make that a little easier.

The Secretary of State has expanded in-person disability parking placard services through a new pilot program. The change follows a new law allowing legal guardians who transport children and individuals with disabilities who cannot drive themselves to obtain meter-exempt disability parking placards. Previously, these benefits were primarily available to drivers with disabilities.

I think this is a commonsense change that recognizes the important role caregivers play every day. The new walk-in option should also help cut down on application processing times and make it easier for eligible caregivers to get the placards they need.

These placards provide access to disability parking spaces, exemptions from parking meter fees, and certain time restrictions.

I’m glad to see a practical change that can make life a little easier for Illinois caregivers and the families who depend on them.

Help Keep Our Roads Safe This Winter

It may still feel like summer, but IDOT is already preparing for another Illinois winter!

The Illinois Department of Transportation is hiring more than 1,500 temporary workers through its Winter Seasonal “Snowbird” Program. Both full-time seasonal and on-call positions are available.

These workers play an important role in keeping our roads clear and helping people get where they need to go safely when winter weather hits. It’s a great opportunity for anyone looking to earn some extra income during the winter months while providing an important service to their community.

If you or someone you know is looking for seasonal work this winter, I encourage you to check it out!

For more information, please visit https://idot.illinois.gov/careers/seasonal-employment.html to learn more.

The post Senator Chesney’s Week in Review appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

The Illinois Department of Transportation is hiring more than 1,500 temporary workers through its Winter Seasonal “Snowbird” Program. Both full-time seasonal and on-call positions are available.

These workers play an important role in keeping our roads clear and helping people get where they need to go safely when winter weather hits. It’s a great opportunity for anyone looking to earn some extra income during the winter months while providing an important service to their community.

If you or someone you know is looking for seasonal work this winter, I encourage you to check it out!

For more information, please visit https://idot.illinois.gov/careers/seasonal-employment.html to learn more.

The post Help Keep Our Roads Safe This Winter appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

The Secretary of State has expanded in-person disability parking placard services through a new pilot program. The change follows a new law allowing legal guardians who transport children and individuals with disabilities who cannot drive themselves to obtain meter-exempt disability parking placards. Previously, these benefits were primarily available to drivers with disabilities.

I think this is a commonsense change that recognizes the important role caregivers play every day. The new walk-in option should also help cut down on application processing times and make it easier for eligible caregivers to get the placards they need.

These placards provide access to disability parking spaces, exemptions from parking meter fees, and certain time restrictions.

I’m glad to see a practical change that can make life a little easier for Illinois caregivers and the families who depend on them.

The post Making Everyday Travel Easier for Illinois Caregivers appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

Dr. Scott and I discussed the many educational opportunities Highland already provides, along with some of the new programs being developed for students. We also talked about the importance of bringing four-year degree programs to Highland. Expanding these options would give local students more opportunities to continue their education close to home while preparing for their future careers.

Another important part of our conversation focused on expanding Highland’s presence in Galena and throughout Jo Daviess County. Highland Community College is an important resource for northwest Illinois, and I believe there are opportunities for the college to play an even larger role in supporting students, families and employers throughout the region.

Thank you to Dr. Scott for taking the time to meet with me and for the great conversation.

The post Supporting Highland Community College’s Growth appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

That message was not unique to my district. Illinoisans across the state submitted public comments and spoke out against the proposal. Republicans, Democrats and independents were largely saying the same thing: We are already paying enough.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his allies did not listen.

The largest tollway rate increase in state history is now moving forward. Beginning January 1, 2027, passenger vehicle tolls will increase by 45 cents per toll, while commercial vehicle tolls will jump by 30%. The increase will also hit tollways used by families and businesses in Winnebago County.

What makes this even worse is that the increases won’t necessarily stop there. Beginning in 2029, toll rates will automatically adjust every two years based on inflation.

Illinoisans were once told these tollways would eventually go away. Instead, they have become a permanent source of revenue, and now the state is reaching even deeper into the pockets of the people who use them.

The people of Illinois made their position overwhelmingly clear, and Governor Pritzker and the Democrats ignored them anyway. Elected officials are supposed to listen to the people they represent, not look for another way to make them pay more.

I will continue speaking out against this toll hike and the continued disregard for Illinois taxpayers.

The post Illinoisans Made Their Voices Clear on Toll Hike, Pritzker Didn’t Listen appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

FREEPORT – State Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) is criticizing the decision by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the democrats who cleared the way for the largest tollway rate increase in state history, which will affect tollways in Winnebago County, despite overwhelming opposition.

“This decision is absolutely typical. Voices from Republicans, Democrats and independents alike did not want the largest toll hike in state history, but the Governor and his allies just had to find a way to take more money out of our pockets,” Senator Chesney said.

Thousands of people throughout communities, on social media and all over voiced their opinion and submitted public comment overwhelmingly opposing this hike. In Senator Chesney’s survey alone, out of more than 900 residents of the 45th Senate District who completed it, 95% said they were not in favor of implementing this ridiculous cash grab.

“These tollways were promised to eventually go away. They are not,” Senator Chesney said. “They’ve become a permanent revenue stream, and now they’re fueling even more of the economic mistakes Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his allies keep making. They have completely and utterly disregarded the people of Illinois and their voices. They are not doing what they are supposed to as elected officials: serve the people of Illinois.”

The tollway rate increase will begin January 1, 2027, increasing passenger vehicle tolls by 45 cents per toll and commercial vehicle tolls by 30%. Beginning in 2029, toll rates would automatically adjust every two years based on inflation.

The post Chesney Criticizes Pritzker, Democrats for Largest Toll Hike in State History appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

At the foundation of this country stands a simple, non-negotiable truth: American citizens come first. That is why I am proud of our federal court for once again striking down the radical Illinois Democrats’ attempt to put illegal aliens ahead of our own people by handing them in-state tuition.

In United States v. Illinois, the federal government correctly argued that Illinois law collided head-on with a clear federal statute. That statute forbids any state from offering residency-based higher education benefits to illegal aliens unless those same benefits are extended to every U.S. citizen, regardless of where they live. On July 24, U.S. District Judge David W. Dugan agreed. He ruled that the state’s in-state tuition provisions, along with key parts of the Illinois DREAM Act and the RISE Act, violate federal law when applied to people who are not lawfully present in the United States. The court permanently blocked Illinois from enforcing those provisions. It gave the state a 14-day window to seek a stay while it appeals.

This ruling is only the beginning. There should be total, bipartisan opposition to subsidizing higher education for people who broke the law to get here in the first place. These individuals should have been removed from the country long ago. Instead, Democrats decided taxpayers should foot part of the bill for their college degrees.

College is already punishingly expensive, and Illinois sits near the top of the national rankings for average in-state tuition. According to Education Data, Illinois has the third highest average in-state tuition in the nation. Our own kids and working families already pay more than students in the vast majority of other states.

Yet the Democrats wanted you to dig deeper into your pocket so an illegal alien could pay the discounted rate. That is not compassion. That is a deliberate decision to rank those who are not supposed to be here above the people who actually fund the system.

Democrats do not put families first. They will throw hardworking citizens under the bus the moment it serves their political ideology. This court victory is another clear win for the Trump administration’s national effort to restore order to immigration policy. But make no mistake: it is one hard-fought step forward against a machine that will keep inventing new ways to incentivize illegal entry and reward it with public benefits.

Illinoisans must open their eyes to the real costs of this approach. It is not abstract. It shows up as crime on our streets, as billions diverted into healthcare and social programs for people who should not be here, and as American lives lost when illegal, repeat offenders who were never supposed to remain free continue to prey on our communities. Every dollar steered toward benefits for illegal aliens is a dollar taken from the citizens who built this state and pay the taxes for it. Families are already stretched thin. They do not need Democrats adding insult to injury by treating lawbreaking as a path to special privileges.

I thank Judge David W. Dugan for a clear-eyed decision that upholds the law and protects Illinois taxpayers. Governor JB Pritzker and his allies spent years trying to siphon your hard-earned money into this scheme. If his administration moves to challenge or delay this ruling, raise your voice. Tell them plainly: we are done subsidizing illegal immigration. American citizens come first. No exceptions. No more handouts.

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Pritzker and the Democrats Are Chasing Jobs and Businesses Out of Illinois

Illinois is losing again. Failed policies under Governor Pritzker and the Democratic Supermajority continue to drive jobs and opportunity straight out of this state.

Tyson Foods just announced it is shutting down its Joslin plant. More than 2,000 Illinois workers are losing their jobs. That is devastating news for families and communities across the Quad Cities region.

This is not a one-off. In 2022 Tyson already closed its Chicago corporate offices and moved about 500 jobs to Arkansas. Now they’re walking away from thousands more.

And it’s not just manufacturing. The Chicago Bears are openly shifting their focus to Hammond, Indiana. Team President Kevin Warren said their “sole focus” is a new stadium and development across the border. Talks with Illinois have been minimal. Contact with Indiana has been constant. One of the most recognizable franchises in sports is looking to leave because Springfield made staying here look like a bad bet.

These are not isolated stories. They are the direct result of years of one-party Democratic control that has made Illinois one of the most expensive and anti-business states in America.

Families here already get crushed by some of the highest property taxes in the country while paying more for groceries, utilities, housing, and transportation. Employers face the same rising costs and the same hostile climate when they decide where to invest and hire.

We have the workers. We have the infrastructure. We have the location. We have every natural advantage. What we do not have is leadership willing to stop the bleeding.

Governor Pritzker and the Democratic Supermajority have had years to fix this. Instead they keep delivering more red tape and fewer reasons for anyone to stay. Families are struggling. Businesses are leaving. And more of both are heading for the exits every month.

IDNR Opens Applications for Free Upland Game and Controlled Pheasant Hunts

Hunters can now apply for two popular Illinois Department of Natural Resources programs that offer access to upland game this season.

The free upland game hunting permit lottery gives successful applicants no-cost opportunities to pursue wild bobwhite quail, ring-necked pheasants, and cottontail rabbits. Separately, the controlled pheasant hunting program is a paid option that provides hunts for pen-reared ring-necked pheasants released at participating state sites.

Applications for the free upland game permit lottery are being accepted from August 1 through August 31, 2026.

The Controlled Pheasant Hunting Program will hold three lottery drawings, followed by a first-come, first-served period that begins August 29 at 8 a.m. and runs until quotas are filled or until 9 a.m. the day before the scheduled hunt. The lottery schedule is as follows:

1. First lottery: Applications accepted August 10 at 1 p.m. (Illinois residents only).
2. Second lottery: Applications accepted August 10 at 3 p.m. through August 17 at 1 p.m. (Illinois residents who didn’t apply or were unsuccessful in Lottery 1, plus nonresidents).
3. Third lottery: Applications accepted August 17 at 3 p.m. through August 24 at 1 p.m. (residents and nonresidents seeking a second permit).

All applications must be submitted online through the IDNR Upland Game Hunting website.

New Law Expands Military License Plate Eligibility for Illinois Veterans

Illinois veterans have earned the right to proudly display the honors they received through their service to our country. A new law will now give them more opportunities to do so.

House Bill 4385 allows eligible veterans and military honorees to receive a second set of military specialty license plates. Previously, qualifying veterans were limited to one set, even if they owned multiple vehicles.

Illinois offers specialty plates recognizing numerous military honors and decorations, including Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross Medal, Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, United States Submarine Veterans, Global War, and the Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

These plates are a small but meaningful way to recognize the service and sacrifice of our veterans. I’m glad we were able to make this simple change and give our veterans another opportunity to be recognized for their service to our country.

State fair season is officially underway in Illinois!

The Illinois State Fair kicked off August 13 in Springfield and runs through August 23. From showcasing our state’s strong agricultural heritage to live music, rides, games, and plenty of great food, the fair has something for everyone to enjoy.

Later this month, the DuQuoin State Fair will continue the tradition in Southern Illinois from August 28 through September 7. The DuQuoin fair has been bringing Illinoisans together for more than a century and remains a great celebration of agriculture and our communities.

If you’re looking for something to do with family or friends before summer comes to an end, I encourage you to make a trip to one of our state fairs and enjoy everything they have to offer.

For more information about the Illinois State Fair and the DuQuoin State Fair, click here.

The post Senator Chesney’s Week in Review appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

Later this month, the DuQuoin State Fair will continue the tradition in Southern Illinois from August 28 through September 7. The DuQuoin fair has been bringing Illinoisans together for more than a century and remains a great celebration of agriculture and our communities.

If you’re looking for something to do with family or friends before summer comes to an end, I encourage you to make a trip to one of our state fairs and enjoy everything they have to offer.

For more information about the Illinois State Fair and the DuQuoin State Fair, click here.

The post State fair season is officially underway in Illinois! appeared first on Andrew Chesney.

House Bill 4385 allows eligible veterans and military honorees to receive a second set of military specialty license plates. Previously, qualifying veterans were limited to one set, even if they owned multiple vehicles.

Illinois offers specialty plates recognizing numerous military honors and decorations, including Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross Medal, Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, United States Submarine Veterans, Global War, and the Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

These plates are a small but meaningful way to recognize the service and sacrifice of our veterans. I’m glad we were able to make this simple change and give our veterans another opportunity to be recognized for their service to our country.

The post New Law Expands Military License Plate Eligibility for Illinois Veterans appeared first on Andrew Chesney.