In my last Reick Report, I wrote to you about the abbreviated and unproductive Veto Session that we endured in November that you paid for. There were no vetoes to…

This week, we were back in Springfield for the Veto Session – traditionally a time when the legislature can take up the Governor’s vetoes. Unfortunately, it’s recently been used as…

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…