NEWS FROM SPRINGFIELD
Last week was an exercise in hurry up and wait as the Democrats spent much time talking among themselves.
Members of the Chicago Teachers Union showed up to lobby for hundreds of millions in new funding from Illinois taxpayers. The CTU wants a nine percent raises every year in their next contract which usually spans four years, and they want the rest of the state to pay for it.
Very few bills were passed in the House. A few of the more controversial bills included the following:
- SB 2872 – allows school district to contract with outside entities to provide “relaxation” programs for school children.
- HB5024 – Early Childhood Access Consortium, which grows government in overly formalizing early childhood degree programs in higher education.
- HB 4652 – Allows for a student teaching stipend of $10,000 for the student and $2,000 for the cooperating teacher and the teacher’s money is pensionable.
- HB 1375 – mandates financial literacy programs in high school. Another unfunded mandate that schools can decide if they want or not already.
Press Conference with Coach Kim Russell
Standing Up for Women and House Bill 5830 which defines the terms Female and Male
Today, I joined my colleagues, Independent Women’s Voice Ambassador Coach Kim Russell and the Wheeler Family to call on the Illinois Legislature to stand with women and prioritize HB 5830 during this legislative session.
HB 5830, The Classification By Biological Sex Act, was inspired by Independent Women’s Voices Women’s Bill of Rights model legislation.
HB 5830 will codify the common sense understanding of the words “male” and “female” when used in law. The bill was introduced by Representative David Friess on April 29, 2024 and has been co-sponsored by Representatives Blaine Wilhour, Adam M. Niemerg, Chris Miller, Brad Halbrook, Jed Davis and Dan Caulkins.
Illinois laws use the words ‘woman’, ‘man’, ‘male’ and ‘female’ at least 997 times. If enacted, HB 5830 would clearly define these terms preventing judges, unelected bureaucrats, and administrators in Illinois from unilaterally redefining the word ‘woman’ to mean anyone who “identifies as a woman.” In this way, the Women’s Bill of Rights inspired bill preserves the legislature’s authority to determine whether, and in what circumstances, female spaces and opportunities (like rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, athletic teams, locker rooms, and dormitories, for example) should remain single sex.
Democrats Pass Resolution Demanding Work Permits for Illegals
Deny a Recorded Vote on the Bill
The above graphic is from the Facebook page of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
The Coalition has visited the state capitol numerous times in the last few months and were no doubt pleased when HJR 69 was passed in the Illinois House last week. That resolution, which can be read in full at this LINK, urges President Joe Biden to authorize work permits for people residing in Illinois illegally.
It specifically notes that thousands of jobs are unfilled, and that Illinois needs these workers. The resolution was very quickly introduced and passed on a voice vote – which is not even an actual voice vote. Republicans filed a motion for reconsideration of the bill and a recorded vote on the measure and that motion was voted down. Interestingly, a few Democrats showed their lack of support for HJR 69 by voting against the motion to reconsider, meaning they wanted a recorded vote on the resolution. These members likely know that the unemployment rates in their communities are higher, and they are concerned that illegals with work permits will take jobs from citizens and/or force wages down.
The bottom line is that, by not allowing for debate and a recorded vote, the Democrats showed they aren’t really interested in hearing other views on this very important and controversial topic.
I had the pleasure to meet and speak with three very smart 4H students at the Capitol this week. After talking with Fisher, Catlin, and Marshall, I can see future leadership roles in agriculture. Keep up the great work!
IN OTHER NEWS
A Whopping 75% of Illinois Communities Shrank Last Year
“State Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, called Pritzker a “population denier.”
“I think that it’s obvious we have been bleeding jobs, population and opportunity. I am shocked J.B. Pritzker is a population denier,” Miller told The Center Square. “How does he explain the fact that Illinois lost a Congressional seat? Does he think the federal government is lying to him?”
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_60496454-13c6-11ef-92bf-1f518eb7257a.html
Illinois’ ongoing public policy failures, (high taxes, crime, a hostile business environment, failing public schools, corruption…just to name a few), have earned our state the distinct DISHONOR of losing the 3rd largest population in the country (according to the latest data published this week by the U.S. Census Bureau).
This Illinois Policy Institute article breaks down the data across all Illinois communities:
https://www.illinoispolicy.org/3-in-4-illinois-communities-lost-population-in-2023
CTU Demands Your Money
Only 2 (TWO!!) out of every 10 black students in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) district can read at grade level, yet busloads of arrogant, self-serving Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) members rolled into Springfield Wednesday, (in matching t-shirts and doughnuts in hand), demanding more taxpayer money.
There are 646 schools in the CPS district, and at least one member from each school traveled to Springfield last Wednesday. A taxpayer-paid day off for each one of them to lobby.
Throughout the day, the CTU bullies scoured the capitol looking for lawmakers to harass. They even handed out fliers with lawmakers’ names and faces:
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_803eab6e-12fb-11ef-8fe7-933fb40ecdf3.html
This Is by Design
The Left’s ultimate goal is full government control.
Their obsession with spending taxpayer money on things like illegal migrants, public education, Medicaid and ‘green’ energy fuels a machine that (they hope) will eventually crush the private sector (aka the ‘American Spirit’) and put themselves in the driver’s seat for all others to depend on.
Another DISHONORABLE designation for Illinois:
‘2nd Worst Private Sector Performance In The Nation’
Read and weep here:
Union Propaganda In The Classroom?
The Left REALLY wants to get into our public schools.
Illinois Supermajority Democrats are sending a bill to Governor Pritzker for his approval (HB4417). It is a measure seeking to allow public high schools in Illinois to observe an annual ‘Workplace Readiness Week’. Opponents believe this will give unions a one-way privilege to platform their agenda without any opposing viewpoints.
FOLLOW THE MONEY.
Pedal On, Illinois!
Whether you are looking for a challenging ride or a leisurely path, Illinois is home to some of the best biking trails in the country, and there is something here for everyone!
This article has a summary of trails throughout the state:
https://thebikemagazine.com/biking-trails-illinois
This website, ‘Ride Illinois’, has coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation to create bike route maps for cities and rural areas alike:
https://rideillinois.org/maps/state-and-city-bike-maps
Follow Me on Instagram!
https://www.instagram.com/state.repchrismiller
Here is a map of the new 101st House District. Use this link for a clearer picture and to enter your address to see if you live in the district: https://repcmiller.com/district/
As your state representative, my office is available to assist you with any issues you may have when interacting with a state agency.
Please call our office at 217.508.4108 to get help or schedule an appointment to see me. The office is located at 1113 Lincoln Ave, Charleston and is open Mon-Fri from 9am- 4 pm.