NW Illinois News

Oct 30 2023

We concluded the first week of legislative veto session in Springfield and lawmakers will head back to the Capitol to round out the legislative year on November 7th. Until then, I am excited to launch some holiday-geared programs like our upcoming coat drive. The start of November always feels like the start of the holiday season and this drive is our opportunity to give back. Check out the details below!

Legislative Veto Session Concludes

After the first week of veto session in the Illinois House concluded Wednesday afternoon, there are still a number of priorities that House Republicans are looking ahead to solve in the coming weeks. One of those, is addressing Senate Bill 76, which was vetoed by the Governor this summer. The bill would lift the 36-year ban on new nuclear energy construction permits.

"I stood with two of my colleagues at a press conference to preview Republican priorities ahead of session. One of the priorities I discussed was the veto of SB-76, the nuclear bill. While this bill didn’t come up for a veto override last week, I have hopes that that bill is able to be presented again and have another vote because it was passed by both the House and the Senate by a strong majority," said Leader McCombie.

Supporting Israel

"I stood on the House floor last week and spoke in support of Israel. In case you missed it, you can watch my floor speech here. I also filed House Resolution 446, which I asked all members of the chamber to support in order to strongly condemn the violence in the Middle East and stand with Israel as it defends itself against the heinous acts of terror carried out by Hamas terrorists," Leader McCombie stated.

House Democrats Approve Legislative Staff Unionization Bill

The Illinois House and Senate have legislative staff members that are supervised by the four legislative leaders, by the Clerk of the House, and by the executive directors of certain nonpartisan committees and bureaus who answer to the four legislative leaders. Up until now, these staff members have worked outside the confines of the laws and structures that govern organized labor.

"The Legislative Employee Labor Relations Act, if it is approved by the Senate and signed by Gov. Pritzker, would take steps to bring Illinois legislative staff under these laws and structures. These employees could sign union cards, choose representatives for collective bargaining, pay union dues, and potentially go out on strike," explained Leader McCombie.

Illinois as a Sanctuary State Has Created a Humanitarian Crisis

Due to the TRUST Act, which was enacted in 2017, Illinois has become a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants. Law enforcement agencies are prohibited from cooperating with federal immigration authorities to detain or deport these individuals. The crisis at the southern border can no longer be ignored. There are approximately 628,000 undocumented immigrants in Illinois, costing taxpayers nearly $3 billion annually.

"The current migrant influx into Chicago has reached a crisis point from humanitarian, safety, and cost aspects. Since the first group of migrants sent to Chicago on a bus from Texas arrived nearly 15 months ago, more than 18,500 people have made their way to Chicago. More than 2,900 undocumented immigrants are living on the floors of police stations and Chicago’s airports awaiting placement in shelters," Leader McCombie expressed.

In response to this crisis, Leader McCombie is backing legislation aimed at addressing the humanitarian and budgetary crisis in Chicago. House Bill 4187 repeals the Illinois TRUST Act, ending the state's status as a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants. It would allow local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

Gov. Pritzker Creates New State Agency

"Governor Pritzker’s proposal and executive order will create a new State agency to inspect and regulate child care service environments, preschools, and early intervention programs. Pritzker’s office has already set up the 'Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development.' This Office’s areas of responsibility will now be elevated into a new Early Childhood Program Agency," Leader McCombie explained.

Successful Medicare 101 Events Held

"I recently hosted two 'Medicare 101' events in collaboration with the Illinois Department on Aging’s Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) and my colleagues, State Representatives John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) and Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore). The events both had great turnouts and together assisted over one hundred senior citizens in the community in understanding the intricacies of Medicare," Leader McCombie announced.

November Coat Drive

"Do you have a gently used winter coat you are no longer using? Please consider donating a new or gently used winter coat – and any winter gear like hats, gloves, or scarves, to my winter coat drive! All sizes will be accepted from infant to adult. These items will be donated to the Regional Office of Education for distribution to area families. This drive is a step we are taking together to help those in need stay warm this winter!" Leader McCombie encouraged.

Don't Miss: Office Hours in Winnebago

"My office is continuing our effort to be accessible to residents across the district, and will be in Winnebago tomorrow! If you have questions or concerns about state or local issues, stop by!" Leader McCombie announced.

Free Museum Pass Available

"My office has a free museum pass available, which gives access to all Illinois museums, free of charge! This includes the Museum of Science and Industry, the Art Institute, the Shedd Aquarium...and more. We recently had a local family utilize the pass...and they had a great time! Contact my office to learn more about how you can use this great resource," said Leader McCombie.

Click this link to access more information: https://repmccombie.com/2023/10/30/weekly-news-from-leader-mccombie/