A Bad Budgeting Process Leads to Bad Outcomes for Taxpayers This being an election year, you’re seeing lots of paid advertising around state spending and accusations about the “dangerous politicians”…

Though National Food Bank Day, a day where we recognize the important work of Food Banks in every community to serve food insecure families, was on September 6th, every day…

Hot Topic of the Week:  When you hear a candidate of the majority party running for a seat in the Illinois House say: “I am committed to listening to all…

On May 1st, House Democrats filed House Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2412 (nominally titled “DCFS-CHILD WELFARE GOALS”).  Let’s set aside for now the cruel irony of using a…

First of all, I’d like to thank all of you who stopped by my tent earlier this month at the McHenry County Fair. Though the weather was a little over…

This year, CMAP received 122 total applications from 96 different applicants, the most applications received to date. We have selected 30 new technical assistance projects that support communities with ADA…

Typically, we focus on substantive issues and policies in these newsletters. Today’s “Hot Topic of the Week” is a little different – constituent service. From my first day in office…

In this week’s newsletter, it’s time to talk about the least exciting and most important topic that most people in State Government want to avoid – PENSIONS. Before your eyes…

Last week I focused on process – the mess that the Democrats created and then rigged to pass their tax increase. This week I’ll talk a little more about what…

…While the whole wide world was fast asleep, as we once again slouched our way toward a 4:30 AM adjournment on Wednesday, Frank Sinatra’s classic recording of this great Mann…