“I am deeply disturbed by the attempted act of violence at the Hindu Mandir in Aurora. Violence and intimidation have no place in our communities, and no one should ever have to fear for their safety while gathering in a place of worship. My wife, Bhavna, and I attend the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Bartlett, and we know how important these places of worship are to the people and families they serve.

“Our thoughts are with the Hindu community across Illinois and everyone shaken by this frightening incident. I am especially grateful to the law enforcement officers who acted swiftly and helped prevent what could have been a horrific tragedy. Their dedicated service deserves our sincere appreciation.”

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“Every legislator has the right to file legislation they believe aligns with the priorities in their districts, but as a lawmaker I have a responsibility to evaluate bills and support the positions of my constituents. I have read the full text of Senate Bill 3572, and believe the penalties offered in this bill are too extreme. They do not provide adequate protections, guardrails, and empathy for victims and women making one of the most difficult choices of their lives.”

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“At a time when Illinois families and small businesses can least afford it, I am disappointed that members of the majority party chose to move forward with a budget that raises taxes rather than relies on existing revenue. Families everywhere are tightening their belts. Shouldn’t state government do the same?

“I am extremely concerned about this budget’s reduction in service hours for professionals who provide essential care to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities (IDD). These caregivers play a vital role in supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. I believe that one of government’s most important responsibilities is to ensure that those who need the most help receive it, and that includes ensuring there are an adequate number of professionals who care for them.”

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“Illinoisans deserve full transparency when it comes to elections, and in the three days that have passed since the November 5 election, DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek has not released any additional information from mail-in ballots that have been processed. While many county clerks across the state are updating vote totals daily or every other day, we’ve heard nothing from our DuPage County Clerk. There are some very tight races in this area and the outcomes remain in flux as candidates await mail-in ballot data.

“Slow-rolling the release of updated vote totals is unacceptable. As the push for increased mail-in voting continues in this state, our county clerks have a responsibility to release updated vote totals in a timely manner.

“This is not an issue we should have to legislate, but if Kaczmarek and other county clerks are not going to provide regular updates I will consider filing legislation that requires a schedule for the release of mail-in ballot information. County Clerks have 14 days following an election to certify the results, but voters and candidates should not have to wait that long to learn about the progress of their races.”

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“It’s troubling that every member of the Chicago School Board chose to resign their position rather than face unrelenting pressure from Mayor Brandon Johnson to fire Pedro Martinez. These actions make it even more clear that the mayor is prioritizing the Chicago Teachers Union over the people he was elected to represent. Taxpayers should hold onto their wallets.

“The Mayor of Chicago has repeatedly asked the General Assembly to be THE financial solution for his proposed transformation plan. He has a right to ask, but the General Assembly has a right to say NO. I caution the Mayor and his allies to “count the votes” in Springfield before implementing any plans that require financial commitments from the General Assembly that are in excess of what is already in statute.”  

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“As lawmakers, we have a duty to create a budget that acknowledges the financial realities faced by the residents of our state. It is crucial that the people we represent receive a transparent and straightforward budget, free from gimmicks, that sets a clear and honest path forward. Every Illinoisan deserves an equal opportunity for prosperity, but regrettably, this budget misses the mark in providing the framework necessary for sustainable progress toward that objective.”

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“Maps should be drawn by independent commissions, not politicians. This proposal is another map drawn by politicians with neither adequate time nor opportunity for the public to be involved. This is not how democracy works.

“Furthermore, no other school board in the state requires a primary. It will only serve as a barrier to the concerned mother, passionate about the state of her child’s school, who will have to fund two races to serve, while empowering candidates backed by special interests.”

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“We live in a wonderful state with great potential, and we had an opportunity this year to collaborate on a Fiscal Year 2024 budget that reflects the priorities of the people and families that call Illinois home. Unfortunately, I could not support the budget because I felt it came up short in addressing issues my constituents have said are important to them. They just want safe streets, good schools, opportunities to be successful, and to know that our state’s most vulnerable citizens have the services they need.

“I saw glimpses of bipartisanship in this year’s budget process and that gives me hope for future budget discussions. The reinstatement of the Blue Collar Jobs Act was an important priority for Republicans, and I was pleased to see bipartisan support for bringing that important job-creating program back. But there is much more we could have done to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit and help our job creators build, grow and thrive in this state. Those conversations will continue.”

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“Today’s news that Kim Foxx will not seek re-election provides hope for residents of Cook County. Chicago is a wonderful city with endless possibilities for tourism, jobs, small and large business development, and more. Making sure Chicago is safe is critical to future success in all of these areas.

“With Kim Foxx’s decision not to seek re-election, we have an opportunity to reset the relationship between Cook County and the collars, and between the Cook County Prosecutor’s Office and the frontline men and women in blue who wear the badge. I hope our next Cook County State’s Attorney will hold violent offenders accountable, and will consider public safety as priority number one.

“Over the last seven years, people committed crimes in Cook County, were let back out on the street rather than prosecuted, and many committed new crimes. This type of turnstile justice simply doesn’t work. I look forward to meeting the candidates who would like to succeed Kim Foxx and hope the new State’s Attorney will be committed to holding criminals accountable and will prioritize public safety.”

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“Today the Surface Transportation Board made a terrible decision to approve the merger of Kansas City Southern Railroad and Canadian Pacific.  Most disheartening is the fact that this decision was made with little to no regard for the residents of the affected communities, the impact this will have on our local infrastructure, and to the disruption on a daily basis that our residents will have to face due to the length of trains and the frequency of trains coming through our communities.

“I am disappointed in the Biden Administration and in Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. They not only have the ability and the authority, but also the moral obligation due to what’s happening in Ohio, to put a hold on this decision and take a look at what needs to be done to address our legitimate concerns about public safety, commuter train delays, and overall quality of life issues tied this merger.

“This bipartisan coalition, our residents, our communities, and our federal delegation are quite frankly being railroaded by bureaucrats who are 1,000 miles away. Collectively, we take these safety and quality of life concerns very seriously, and we stand ready to work collaboratively with anyone at any level of government to ensure the people living in the suburbs do not have to suffer negative consequences that currently exist with this merger.”

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