Reick Office a Drop-Off Point for Woodstock Rotary’s “Christmas Clearing House” Program
Since 1972, the Woodstock Noon Rotary Club has helped thousands of our neighbors have a Merry Christmas with its “Christmas Clearing House” program. As has been the case in the past, once again the Marine Corps Reserve’s “Toys for Tots” program has partnered with CCH to collect toys for needy children within the boundaries of District 200.
My legislative office at 1072 Lake Avenue in Woodstock is a drop-off point for anyone wishing to donate an unwrapped gift. We especially need gifts which would be appropriate for 10-16 year-olds. (Please, no gift cards, we buy them with the money we collect during the year.) We’ll be packing toys on December 13, so we need to get the donations in by then.
Last year CCH packed over 2,000 toys, and the need is just as great this year, so I’d ask you to please consider donating to this worthy cause. Click here to learn more about this wonderful example of holiday giving. Thank you in advance for your participation, and Merry Christmas.
Reick to Host Mobile Office Hours in Johnsburg on December 13
I hold regular mobile office hours throughout northern McHenry County so those who live in the 63rd Legislative House District have easy access to their elected representative in the General Assembly. I’ll be wrapping up my 2017 mobile office hours tour on Wednesday, December 13 with a stop at the Johnsburg Public Library from 10:00 until 12:00 noon.
The library is located at 3000 W. Johnsburg Road in Johnsburg. In addition to being available for short one-on-one conversations with constituents, a member of my staff and I will be available to help residents with their concerns and issues involving state agencies and programs. No appointment is needed, so if you live in or around Johnsburg, stop in and say hello! These events provide me with a great opportunity to learn about your concerns and priorities so I can be your voice in Springfield. For additional information, please call my office at (815) 880-5340 or visit www.repstevenreick.com.
Illinois Begins Bicentennial Countdown
The twelve-month period to observe Illinois’ 200th birthday as a state officially began over the weekend on December 3 when Illinois turned 199. The Illinois Bicentennial Commission is coordinating a program of events in locations throughout the state to celebrate the milestone. More events are expected to be added as Illinois approaches the actual birthday on December 3, 2018. On Monday I had the pleasure of attending the bicentennial flag raising ceremony in Woodstock outside of the McHenry County Courthouse. It was an honor to be on hand as the bicentennial flag was raised, marking the beginning of a year-long celebration of Illinois’ history.
This birthday commemorates passage by Congress of the law that admitted Illinois to the Union as the 21st state. Illinois was one of the states planned by President Thomas Jefferson as his proposal for the future of what had been the frontier “Northwest Territory.” By 1818 Jefferson had left office, but his friend and successor President James Monroe led the actual admission of Illinois into the national union of states.
Lawsuit Filed to Halt Implementation of House Bill 40
Last Thursday I joined several Illinois lawmakers, nearly a dozen pro-life organizations and the Diocese of Springfield in filing suit to stop a bill that would allow for taxpayer funding of elective abortions in Illinois. The complaint was filed in Sangamon County Circuit Court in Springfield and makes two claims against the controversial bill. We believe that because there was no revenue stream attached to the legislation, money does not exist in the budget to cover the estimated 20,000 to 30,000 abortions per year that would result from the implementation of the bill. With no appropriation to support the estimated $30 million cost, our argument is that the bill violates Illinois’ Constitutional balanced budget requirement. Secondly, we will argue that the January 1, 2018 effective date must be pushed to June 1, because the bill did not pass out of the Senate until the end of September, months after the May 31 cut-off date for bills to take effect on January 1.
Last Thursday I joined several Illinois lawmakers, nearly a dozen pro-life organizations and the Diocese of Springfield in filing suit to stop a bill that would allow for taxpayer funding of elective abortions in Illinois. The complaint was filed in Sangamon County Circuit Court in Springfield and makes two claims against the controversial bill. We believe that because there was no revenue stream attached to the legislation, money does not exist in the budget to cover the estimated 20,000 to 30,000 abortions per year that would result from the implementation of the bill. With no appropriation to support the estimated $30 million cost, our argument is that the bill violates Illinois’ Constitutional balanced budget requirement. Secondly, we will argue that the January 1, 2018 effective date must be pushed to June 1, because the bill did not pass out of the Senate until the end of September, months after the May 31 cut-off date for bills to take effect on January 1.