Recognizing the Work of DaVita Kidney Care
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit DaVita Kidney Care in Freeport and meet with the dedicated team that provides critical care for patients throughout our region.
During my visit, I learned more about the dialysis process and the important role DaVita plays in helping individuals manage kidney disease. It was an informative discussion that gave me a greater appreciation for the challenges many patients face and the commitment required to provide high-quality care.
One of the most meaningful parts of the visit was meeting with patients receiving treatment and hearing firsthand about their experiences. Their stories served as a powerful reminder of the importance of accessible, compassionate healthcare and the impact it can have on individuals and families.
I want to thank the entire team at DaVita Kidney Care for welcoming me and for the outstanding work they do each day. I look forward to continuing to learn more about their efforts and seeing the positive impact they continue to make in our community.
Pritzker Signs $56 Billion Bloated Budget
Last Tuesday, Governor J.B. Pritzker finally signed Illinois’ massive nearly $56 billion state budget into law. This marks another Democrat abuse of power to give us bigger government, higher taxes, and out-of-touch priorities that hammer families across Illinois.
This because we have an absentee governor. While Pritzker was busy chasing national fame and photo-ops, he spent a laughable 22 days in Springfield during the most critical stretch of the spring session. That is a part-time governor treating our state like a quick pit stop. He is completely disengaged.
This bloated budget piles nearly $1 billion in new taxes and fees on hardworking taxpayers already crushed by rising costs for groceries, utilities, housing, and fuel. And that $150 million gas tax surplus you and I paid at the pump? It is not coming back to give drivers any relief. A big portion is instead being diverted to programs for illegal immigrants.
Illinois families deserve a governor who actually shows up and fights for us, not one who uses our state as a launching pad for bigger ambitions. Enough with the reckless spending sprees. I will keep standing for responsible budgets and policies that put Illinois taxpayers first, not last.
Be sure to check out my full column coming out tomorrow, where I go deeper into this budget disaster.
Orangeville’s Tessa Janecke Selected Third Overall in PWHL Draft
Following her historic Olympic gold medal performance with Team USA, Orangeville native Tessa Janecke has added another remarkable achievement to her already impressive career. Tessa was selected third overall in the Professional Women’s Hockey League Draft by the expansion Las Vegas franchise.
Tessa’s success is a testament to years of hard work and perseverance. From representing Team USA on the international stage to earning this incredible opportunity at the professional level, she continues to make our district proud and serves as an inspiration to young athletes across northwest Illinois.
To recognize her outstanding accomplishments, I was proud to sponsor a Senate resolution honoring Tessa for her Olympic gold medal and her contributions to the sport of hockey and our region. It is important that we celebrate individuals who represent our communities with excellence and serve as role models for the next generation.
Congratulations again to Tessa on this exciting new chapter. We will all be cheering her on as she begins her professional career in Las Vegas.
Pritzker’s Green Agenda Closes Three More Illinois Power Plants
Vistra Corp. just announced it is closing three major Illinois power plants in Baldwin, Kincaid, and Newton, delivering another painful blow to our state caused directly by Governor J.B. Pritzker’s disastrous green energy agenda.
Hundreds of hardworking Illinoisans will lose their jobs. Newton will lay off 83 workers in October 2027, Kincaid will cut 99 in January 2028, and Baldwin will lose 122 in February 2028. These are good-paying jobs in communities that can’t afford to lose them.
For years, myself and others have warned this day was coming. Pritzker’s 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) forced a reckless rush to shut down reliable coal and natural gas plants with no realistic backup plan in place. Now the consequences are hitting home: weaker grid reliability and skyrocketing costs for families and businesses across Illinois.
This is exactly what we predicted. Pritzker and his Democrat supermajority put radical ideology ahead of reality, and Illinois families are paying the price with higher electricity bills and less dependable power.
Illinois needs a balanced, all-of-the-above energy policy that protects jobs, keeps power affordable and reliable, and stops sacrificing our workers on the altar of green fantasies. I will continue advocating to reverse this madness before more plants close and more families suffer.
Mount Carroll I-PASS On Demand Event Wednesday
I am inviting residents to join Mount Carroll Mayor Carl Bates and I for an upcoming I-PASS On Demand Event on Wednesday, June 24, in Mount Carroll.
This event is a great opportunity for residents to return their old I-PASS transponders, receive a new I-PASS Sticker Tag, and get help managing their accounts. Staff will also be available to assist with transferring deposit balances and helping residents pay invoices without additional fees or fines.
The event will take place from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Davis Community Center, located at 631 South East Street in Mount Carroll.
The new I-PASS Sticker Tags are battery-free, environmentally friendly, and can be used on both Illinois Tollway and E-ZPass roadways after activation.
I encourage anyone with questions about their I-PASS account or who needs to replace an older transponder to stop by. Events like this are a simple but important way to connect residents with helpful state services closer to home.
