McHenry Times

From Prairie State Wire

Rauner signs bipartisan Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

"Can you hear me now?" will no longer be the question in the Prairie State. Gov. Bruce Rauner was loud and clear Thursday when announcing the Small Wireless Facilities Development Act, which he signed with Republican lawmakers at this side.

From Kane County Reporter

House panel backs Wheeler measure to expand sites required to post sex trafficking notices

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) will do whatever it takes to help stop sex trafficking in the state.

From Kankakee Times

Reick, Ives question $2 million outlay for competency-based education program

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Rep. Steven Reick (R-Woodstock) had questions and Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) had a strong opinion to share when Kankakee School District Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Felice Hybert proposed launching a $2 million pilot program for competency-based learning at the House Appropriations Elementary and Secondary Education Committee hearing Monday.

From Prairie State Wire

House Republicans blast Democrats' progressive tax plans

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Joined by three of his GOP peers, House Republican Leader Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) made one thing clear – Democrats are about to put the nail in Illinois' coffin.

From Prairie State Wire

Harold wins Republican nomination for Attorney General

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

It will not be the first time Erika Harold will hear “the winner is.”

From Prairie State Wire

Pritzker wins Democratic nod for governor

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

It’s official -- J.B. Pritzker is the Democratic candidate for governor despite coming under heavy fire from the press and public in recent months.

Reick honors friend and community leader James Keefe in House resolution

By Angela Underwood | Mar 19, 2018

State Rep. Steven Reick (R-Woodstock) honored the life and death of James Keefe in a recent resolution.

From Lake County Gazette

McConnaughay wants to ease process for Humans Services Department patients to get IDs

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Sen. Karen McConnaughay (R-St. Charles) wants to make it easier for patients released from Department of Human Services (DHS) custody to obtain a state identification card.

From Prairie State Wire

Trailing bill on $350 million education funding formula raises questions

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Some GOP representatives saw the allocation of $350 million dollar in evidence-based education funding much differently than others during last week's debate in the House.

From Lake County Gazette

Wheeler worried bump-stock bill, other gun legislation being rushed through

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) wanted to know why gun legislation was being rushed through the House Judiciary Criminal Committee last week.

From Prairie State Wire

Firearm magazine bill honoring slain officer clears House panel despite being called rushed

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

At a Feb. 27 House Judiciary Criminal Committee meeting, proposed legislation regarding firearm magazines, which was brought before them in honor of Chicago police commander killed earlier in the month, had some committee members calling the legislation rushed and disrespectful to the 53-year-old commander.

From DuPage Policy Journal

Breen, Wheeler and Andersson call proposed workers task force unnecessary

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Three Republican House representatives recently fought against creating a workers rights task force they say is not necessary.

From Rock Island Today

House backs bill requiring gun purchases be videotaped, new dealer licensing fee despite opposition by three GOP legislators

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Reps. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha), Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) and Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) all spoke out against SB1657, a bill presented by Rep. Kathleen Willis (D-Addison) on behalf of Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park) that mandates that gun dealers licenses will require $1,000 fee every five years, videotaping of firearm owner's identification (FOID) card purchases and background checks for employees who sell firearms.

After tweaks, House backs gun dealer licensing bill

By Angela Underwood | Mar 5, 2018

After a heated debate between GOP and Democratic lawmakers last week in the House regarding gun dealer licensing, the bill was pulled from a vote until the legislation's language was clarified.

Reick, Wheeler and Skillicorn question Mussman bill on gun ownership

By Angela Underwood | Mar 5, 2018

HB1465, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg), which would increase the age for the purchase or possession of assault weapons, assault weapon attachments and high-capacity magazines to 21, was not received well by Reps. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee), Steven Reick (R-Woodstock) or Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego) during House debate last week.

From Prairie State Wire

Bill to bar children younger than 12 from playing tackle football advances in House

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Reps. Steven Andersson (R-Geneva) and Margo McDermed (R-Mokena) saw matters differently at a March 1 House Mental Health Committee hearing over HB4341, a bill sponsored by Rep. Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills) that addresses the issue of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) by banning organized youth associations from allowing children younger than 12 to play tackle football.

From Prairie State Wire

Bill to ban bump stocks advances after emotional debate in House

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

In light of the recent mass shooting at a Florida high school, five GOP lawmakers fervently expressed their feelings on proposed gun legislation.

Skillicorn praises colleagues who 'hustled up the Hancock'

By Angela Underwood | Mar 1, 2018

Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) gave a shout-out Feb. 27 on the House floor to all Hustle Up the Hancock participants.

From Prairie State Wire

GOP House members say Democrat peers using Florida shooting for political gain

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Four GOP House members made it clear the Parkland School shooting in Florida should not be why gun bills pass in Springfield.

From Lake County Gazette

Harassment controversy goes beyond Madigan case, Wilcox says

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Craig Wilcox said the recent harassment controversy in which gubernatorial candidates and state representatives are asking House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) to resign due to his lack of timely response to an alleged sexual harassment complaint goes beyond just the speaker's case.