McHenry Times

The Illinois General Assembly commenced its regular session on January 16th, and lawmakers have been busy meeting with constituents, drafting legislation, and discussing important issues. One of the key topics that is expected to be addressed during the session is the ongoing immigration crisis and its associated costs.

Governor JB Pritzker has taken executive action to deal with the crisis, bypassing the legislature and spending taxpayer dollars. Senator Craig Wilcox has called for more transparency regarding the amount of money being spent on immigration services and the impact it has on programs designed to help Illinois citizens. He stated, "The Governor needs to be more transparent about how much is actually being spent on immigration services, and how much money is being taken away from programs designed to help Illinois citizens."

In addition to legislative matters, Senator Wilcox continues to collect valentines for seniors as part of the Valentines for Seniors program. He encourages people to drop off cards and other items at his Woodstock office, which will be distributed to local nursing homes, assisted living centers, and long-term care facilities in the 32nd District.

Lawmakers have also taken up the issue of the state's "assault weapons" ban rules. The bipartisan and bicameral Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) met to discuss new permanent rules proposed by the Illinois State Police (ISP). Concerns have been raised about the potential confusion caused by the rules, with critics stating that they are too vague and could leave gun owners struggling to understand which firearms, parts, and attachments are illegal or need to be registered.

While Republican members of JCAR failed to prohibit the new permanent rules from being put into place, they were successful in filing a motion to object to the rules. This motion requires the ISP to respond with additional clarification of the final rules before they can be adopted.

Senator Wilcox also joined his Senate Republican colleagues in demanding that Governor Pritzker reverse proposed cuts to service hours for Illinois adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) who live in group homes. The proposed cuts would affect approximately 10,000 vulnerable citizens who rely on state assistance. Senator Wilcox expressed concern over the Governor's priorities, stating, "It's obvious your priorities are not with the citizens of this state who are the most underserved."

In other news, the Illinois Tollway has announced that it will be replacing traditional I-PASS transponders with stickers. The stickers, which use radio frequency identification, provide a convenient and less expensive travel experience for customers. Existing transponders will continue to work until their expiration dates, and customers will not be required to switch to the new stickers until then.

Furthermore, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is seeking summer instructors for the 2024 Urban Fishing Program clinics. The program aims to teach people of all ages to fish and provide better local fishing opportunities. Fishing instructors are being recruited for free clinics hosted in communities throughout Illinois.

The deadline to apply for these positions is approaching quickly. To learn more about the qualifications and how to apply, visit the IDNR website.

As the regular legislative session resumes on February 6th, lawmakers will continue to address these important issues and work towards finding solutions that benefit the people of Illinois.