Springfield, IL…In reaction to Governor Pat Quinn’s budget address Wednesday, State Representative Tim Schmitz called the governor’s state budget plan for Fiscal Year 2011 irresponsible, stressing that it relies too heavily on borrowing and not enough on reform and job creation.

“The one positive thing the governor said was that he wants a tax credit for small businesses to help them hire new workers. I support that idea, but there’s far more we need to do to protect and create jobs. Employers here are over-regulated, over-taxed and over-litigated which is why we are ranked near the bottom of all states in creating jobs,” Schmitz said. “My House Republican colleagues and I have offered suggestion after suggestion to improve our job climate, reform our budget process, cut waste and fraud and rein-in spending. I’m disappointed that today the governor’s main focus continued to be on borrowing and raising taxes.”

Quinn in his budget address proposed $1.3 billion in cuts to education, $270 million in cuts to health care, $4 billion in borrowing and wants to push off nearly $6 billion in unpaid bills into FY12. He also said he will push for “an income tax surcharge” on families to offset some of his cuts.

“The governor singled-out schools and health care programs for cuts this year while leaving other programs and agencies untouched; just as he did last year with human service providers. Instead of working with us on responsible cuts, he is again using threats to build his case for a tax increase that working families just can’t afford,” Schmitz said. Continue reading »

Springfield…State Representative Tim Schmitz today said the Illinois Supreme Court’s ruling striking down reasonable caps on some medical malpractice awards is a big step backwards in efforts to ensure families statewide have access to quality healthcare.

“Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court puts us in danger of losing the progress we have made in recent years in attracting and keeping good doctors in Illinois,” Schmitz said.

The Democrat-controlled Illinois Supreme Court today struck down a state law passed in 2005 that imposed reasonable caps on non-economic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits in Illinois ($500,000 per physician, $$1,000,000 per hospital.). Prior to the law being passed, good doctors were leaving Illinois in record numbers primarily because they couldn’t afford to pay skyrocketing medical malpractice insurance premiums. Continue reading »

Kane County…State Representative Tim Schmitz today announced the introduction of legislation to close a gaping loophole in the campaign finance reforms recently signed into law. Schmitz (R-Batavia) is sponsoring House Bill 5008 that will extend reasonable caps on contributions from political parties and caucus leaders to the general election.

“Everyone knows that politics in Illinois are governed by the golden rule: he who has the gold makes the rules. That needs to change,” Schmitz said. “My House Republican colleagues and I have filed legislation to limit the influence of political power-brokers by capping what they can contribute to candidates in the general election.”

Schmitz explained that the campaign reform legislation signed into law last year (P.A. 96-832) imposed caps on campaign contributions in the general election, but exempted political parties and legislative caucus leaders. House Bill 5008 will close that loophole and ensure caps are imposed fairly and across the board in both the primary and general elections. Continue reading »

Springfield…State Representative Tim Schmitz today expressed disappointment that Governor Pat Quinn’s State of the State address to the General Assembly sounded more like a campaign speech than an honest assessment of the extent of our financial difficulties and his plans to solve them.

“There’s no question that Governor Quinn took office last year during the most difficult of times. Today, I was pleased to hear that he is not satisfied with the inadequate ethics reforms that were enacted last year and will help us push for new measures to increase ethical standards and improve openness in government. I was pleased to hear that he shares our goal of creating jobs and putting people back to work. However, given the fact that we now have more than $6 billion in unpaid bills owed to our schools, local service providers and others, I was hoping today for a detailed assessment of the state of our finances, and his plan to get those bills paid. What we got instead sounded very much like a campaign speech.”

Representative Schmitz said he’s also very disappointed that while the fiscal crisis worsens, House Speaker Michael Madigan has only scheduled the House to be in session two days the entire month of January. Continue reading »

By Clifford Ward Special to the Tribune
December 4, 2009
Original Article

Kane County prosecutors have a head start on several new laws that go into effect Jan. 1.

The state’s attorneys office helped generate four of the new measures.

The new provisions toughen up Illinois child pornography laws and provide additional safeguards to domestic violence victims.

The measures also protect identities of prosecutors and increase the penalties for threats of school violence.

State’s Attorney John Barsanti said his office’s work with local legislators arose from a simple idea: Legislators pass bills and governors sign them into law, but prosecutors are often the first to field-test new statutes. Continue reading »

Geneva…A pair of new laws effective this week will help save local taxpayer dollars, and help ensure dollars going to schools can be used to educate our children as intended, State Representative Tim Schmitz said Friday.

Representative Schmitz (R-Batavia) spearheaded passage of House bill 4038 which was signed into law this week by Governor Quinn. The new law, supported by District U-46, will save the district money on a program that provides high-school level instruction for a group of middle school students.

“Currently, the district every day buses a group of 7th and 8th graders enrolled in a high school level math class to the high school for that one class, then back again. That’s a waste of money. It makes much more sense economically and logistically to have one teacher travel to the middle school to teach the class than to have a whole group of students bused to the high school; and that’s what this new law will allow,” Schmitz said.

A second Schmitz-sponsored law taking effect this week will allow taxpayers to recoup, from offenders, the cost of investigating a phoned in bomb or other threat to a school. House Bill 4049 requires that upon sentencing, a person convicted of calling in a treat to a school will be required to pay all costs associated with emergency response to the school, the search and subsequent investigation.

“Every time a threat is phoned in – real or prank – the school is quickly evacuated and emergency response crews are called to search the building. Taxpayers should not be forced to foot the bill. Now, when the offender is located, he will pay,” Schmitz said.

Geneva…State Representative Tim Schmitz is urging Fox Valley residents to visit www.reinventillinois.com and leave their comments, suggestions and solutions on how to get Illinois’ finances back on track. Representative Schmitz (R-Batavia) and fellow House Republicans launched the website this week to help gather as much public input as possible before lawmakers return to Springfield on the 14th to again try to reach agreement on a responsible state budget.

“The budget decisions made in Springfield will affect all of our families. While back home I have been visiting with as many constituents as possible to make sure families and employers in our local communities have a voice in this budget process. This website will help me gather more local feedback and ideas to take with me back to Springfield next week,” Schmitz said.

The site is the latest effort by Representative Schmitz and the House Republicans to infuse the public’s opinions, ideas and concerns into state budget negotiations. Continue reading »

Geneva -State Representative Tim Schmitz is encouraging local elementary school students to “read on the wild side” this summer. Representative Schmitz has launched his summer Reading Safari Club, providing certificates of achievement and gift certificates to young readers who complete 10 books over their summer vacation.

“Reading can take you on amazing adventures. You can climb mountains and explore jungles, or even travel back in time or into the future just by opening a book!” Schmitz said.

Representative Sehmitz’s Summer Reading Safari is open to all children in grades one through five who live in the 49th House district. Those who read 10 books and submit the completed verification form to his office by August 22nd will receive a certificate of recognition and a gift certificate from a local bookstore. Continue reading »

Clock is Ticking on Budget/Capital Negotiations

The clock is ticking on negotiating an agreement on both a state budget for the new fiscal year, and a statewide jobs and capital improvement plan. As we head into the final weeks of our spring legislation I’m hopeful that we can come together to craft a budget that begins to put us back on firm financial ground and a capital plan that meets our infrastructure needs and puts people back to work.

On the issue of capital, bi-partisan negotiations are underway on a larger, more comprehensive jobs and infrastructure plan to compliment the “mini” capital plan the General Assembly passed earlier this spring. Though no formal agreement has been reached, numerous ideas for funding sorely-needed infrastructure improvements are being discussed.

Progress on the budget is a bit harder to pin down. So far, meetings have been conducted behind closed doors. We’re facing the most serious financial crisis in decades and the budget we pass will impact everyone. It is my sincere hope that in our final weeks the budget process will be opened up to all lawmakers and the general public will be able to review the proposals and voice their opinions. Continue reading »

Springfield…Legislation on its way to the governor’s desk will help address our area’s growing infrastructure needs while putting hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans back to work, State Representative Tim Schmitz said today. Schmitz (R-Batavia) said a $28 billion comprehensive statewide jobs and infrastructure plan cleared its final legislative hurdle Thursday, passing the House with strong bi-partisan support.

“This has been one of my top priorities for several years,” Schmitz said. “Our area has been growing by leaps and bounds, but it’s been ten years since we’ve passed a comprehensive, statewide plan to improve our roads and schools and upgrade our mass transit systems. This is long over-due.”

Highlights of the plan include:
• $53.1 million in road and intersection upgrades for our area through 2015, including construction of a full interchange at Illinois Route 47 and I-90;
• $900 million for PACE and METRA mass transit improvements;
• $1.6 billion for K-12 education;
• Nearly $1.4 billion for higher education; and
• More than $175 million for flood control and water drainage projects. Continue reading »