Dear Friend,
This Memorial Day is unlike any other we have ever lived through before. Although some of our traditional gatherings have been postponed or canceled, I was honored to join a patriotic group of citizens from Harrisburg, along with Senator Dale Fowler and State Rep. Dave Severin for a special Memorial Day celebration.
To the brave American heroes that died in the name of preserving freedom, we pause on Memorial Day to remember and say thank you.
Legislative Session Resumes for Four Day Sprint – Democrats pass unbalanced budget, rely on $6 billion in borrowing, raise their own pay.
In many ways, the COVID-19 crisis has stolen some of our most cherished freedoms away.
Some blame politicians, some blame the virus, some understand there is a combination of both that has caused us to lose out on some of our basic rights.
For weeks during the COVID-19 crisis, I demanded that Speaker Madigan or Governor Pritzker call the legislature back into Session. I joined Zoom press conferences, wrote letters to the Governor, issued Facebook posts, and hosted virtual town hall meetings to get a simple message out: The decision to reopen our economy should include a safe, reasonable, regional plan that results from input provided to the Governor by the General Assembly and live.
The call finally came late last week that lawmakers would return to Springfield for a three day Session at the Bank of Springfield Center from May 20-22.
Legislators and staff were asked to comply with getting tested for COVID-19 prior to coming to Session, and that they would be asked to wear a face-covering during House Session proceedings. I complied with both. I want to help keep other people safe, especially my fellow House members, our hardworking staff, and ultimately my own family and constituents as I knew I would return to the 118th District after Session ended.
The three day legislative Session actually turned into four days because of a delay by Democrats in getting their budget in position to pass.
When the Session began back in January 2020, I had several goals. Unfortunately, the issues of ethics reforms, Fair Maps (ending gerrymandered districts), and property tax relief bills were not brought up for votes during our time in Springfield.
When we return to Springfield again, we must keep pushing on these issues!
Windhorst Votes NO on Record Spending Budget that Relies on Record Borrowing and Gives Legislators a Pay Raise
SPRINGFIELD – State Representative Patrick Windhorst issued the following statement after the Illinois House of Representatives passed a record spending FY 2021 budget on Saturday night.
“The Fiscal Year 21 budget has almost $43 billion in spending, which is an increase of $2 billion over FY 20. This Democrats-only budget requires more than $6 billion in borrowing to even approach being balanced.
The FY 21 budget also provides Governor Pritzker with emergency rulemaking authority to spend approximately $7 billion, which includes the local and state Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency (CURE) program and outrageously provides a pay raise for legislators.
This comes at a time when many of us are questioning the governor’s ability to manage the COVID crisis and our state’s long-term economic recovery plan.
I voted NO.
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