The Illinois Freedom Caucus today held a press conference to discuss some of the majority party’s misguided legislative priorities as the legislative session moves closer to adjournment.
Some of the measures not considered before the Committee deadline include:
• House Resolution 51 – Mandates a forensic audit of state spending, hiring, procurement and contracting • House Bill 2178 – Repeals the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) directly contributing to higher energy prices • House Bill 1575 – Lowers the gas tax to 19 cents per gallon • House 2979 – Increases the standard income tax deduction to $150,000 • House Bill 2599 – Reduces the individual income tax rate from 4.95% to 3.75% and the corporate tax rate from 7% to 6% • HB3625 – Bans Tik Tok on State Devices • House Bill 2986 – Prevents the rate of growth of general fund spending from exceeding the rate of growth of the Illinois median household income. • House Bill 1640 – Creates the Efficient School District Commission to make recommendations on where reorganization and realignment of school districts into unit districts would be beneficial. • House Bill 2136 – Ends the legislative pension system for new members • House Bill 3825 – Allows for resident tuition at local non-Chicago school districts within ¼ Mile of district line • House Bill 1600 – Protects Firearm ownership for tenants • House Bill 2610 – Allows children at daycare facilities to be exempt from vaccine mandates on the basis of religious exemptions
“We recognize we are in the minority and the likelihood of our bills getting passed is slim to none, but the ideas we are presenting are substantive and should at least merit a discussion,” said State Representative Chris Miller (R-Oakland). “Illinois is in the bottom five in unemployment, and we lost more than 100,000 residents last year. We have former legislators facing federal indictments and a culture of corruption that is legendary. We need to focus on the real problems facing our state, which is what our legislative agenda seeks to do.”
