McHenry County Blog

Wheeler Passes Life Saving Legislation

Springfield, IL… There is a new mammogram controversy, and State Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) wants to protect women from hard to detect breast cancer.

Women with dense breast tissue are four to six times more likely to develop breast cancer, yet mammograms have a hard time detecting cancer in this type of tissue.

In response, Rep. Wheeler passed Senate Bill 2314, which will require doctors to explain in layman’s terms the meaning and consequences of “dense breast tissue.”

“This is a growing concern for woman. Early detection is the most effective way to survive breast cancer, yet doctors do not have clear standards to explain what ‘dense breast tissue’ is,” said Wheeler. “We need to be giving women every tool to save their lives from this awful disease.”

There are many reasons why doctors are not currently explaining this common, yet risk-filled problem.

The most effective way to detect breast cancer in dense tissue is through an MRI or ultrasound, which can add significant cost to cancer screening.

These tests are typically reserved for woman with a high risk of breast cancer, which can cause a sense of fear among those who are recommended to have additional testing.

Regardless, Wheeler believes lifesaving information trumps the potential fear and cost.

“My bill simply requires doctors to explain to women the risks and consequences of dense tissue, leaving the option of further tests up to the patient,” said Wheeler.

“The more information women have about their potential risks, the better chances they have at lifesaving treatment.”

SB 2314 has passed both legislative bodies and is now on the governor’s desk awaiting his signature.

First term State Rep. Barbara Wheeler has sent out a legislative questionnaire.

It arrived in the mail Friday.

If you want to save postage, the Crystal lake legislator advises that it can be found on her web site, too.

Click here.

The questions lack specificity, except for two:

• Do you support a $30 boating fee to help pay for public safety patrol on the Chain O’ Lakes and Fox River?
• Do you support a sales tax increase on satellite television to be allocated towards education?

Since our boat is on Crystal Lake, I guess I am indifferent to a fee that sounds like a user fee for Fox River boaters. I presume the money would go to the McHenry and Lake County Sheriff’s Departments. That’s probably better than using general tax money.

As the toe satellite TV tax, this is a Comcast initiative to make satellite TV cost more. Comcast has to pay fees to municipalities for stringing wire. Satellite TV providers do not. Imposing a sales tax is Comcast’s attempt to make its competitor’s price higher.

No specific questions about the hot button issues of the day, e.g., gay marriage, pension reform, medical marijuana.

There is a “what issue do you care about most question.”

Listed are

• Taxes
• Educatino
• Pensions
• Social issues
• Government transparency
• Government corruption

Strangely, there is no differentiation between state taxes and local property taxes.

Wheeler asks what approach should be taken to job creation.  She wants respondents to choose between

• Reducing employer taxes
• Reducing business regulation
• Enacting tough workers compensation reform
• Implementing industry-specific tax credits

She has a space for “other.”

Wheeler wants to know the best was to communicate with her constituency, offering a chance to provide one’s email and phone number.

And, she asks if people have any other ideas or comments to share.

A press release from State Rep. Barbara Wheeler:

Illinois House Republicans Unveil Welfare Reform Proposals

Normal… House Republican Leader Tom Cross and House Republican lawmakers unveiled a package of legislation designed to reduce fraud and misuse of the state’s welfare system today. The lawmakers were in Normal Tuesday to announce their legislation with State Representative Dan Brady (R-Bloomington).

The welfare reform package focuses on reducing the fraudulent use of LINK cards (food stamps), the misuse of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (cash) benefits, and preventing criminals from receiving welfare benefits. The goal of the legislation is to save taxpayer dollars and preserve benefits for those most in need.

“The General Assembly needs to pass strong welfare reforms now to put a stop to the waste, fraud and abuse of the welfare system,” said Rep. Adam Brown (R-Champaign). “With 4.7 million Illinoisans on welfare, more than one-third of our citizens are receiving taxpayer-funded benefits. Welfare costs are skyrocketing while Illinois faces an ongoing fiscal crisis. We must work to reverse this trend.”

House Bill 133 ensures that a person using a LINK card is the authorized user. The proposal would require all LINK cards to display a photo of the cardholder to ensure that the person presenting it at the checkout counter is the same person who is entitled to use it. The names of all secondary users will also be placed on the card. Secondary users will be required to show a valid photo I.D. before they can use the card.

“This program is so important to those in need that we must make sure people who are not entitled to benefits are not fraudulently obtaining them. Putting photographs on the LINK cards is one way we ensure that the intended benefits go to the intended recipients,” said Dan Brady (R-Bloomington).

House Bill 2784 guarantees that cash assistance benefits are used for the basic needs that they are intended for. TANF benefits are intended to provide financial assistance to help pay for basic needs such as food, shelter, utilities, and other necessary expenses, however under current law a person is free to spend this cash without restrictions. The legislation would prevent TANF benefits from being used to purchase alcohol, lottery tickets, firearms, and other specified goods and services.

“The TANF program is designed to assist those families that simply need a little help,” said Rep. Pam Roth (R-Morris). “Unfortunately there are those that abuse this system and use the benefits to purchase non-essential items such as lottery tickets, alcohol, concert tickets, gambling games, and even movie rentals. House Bill 2784 will ensure that TANF benefits are being used for their intended purpose, for families that need a helping hand.”

House Bill 3174 and House Bill 2490 would prevent criminals from receiving aid. These bills would suspend public aid and benefits to inmates at State correctional facilities and recipients with outstanding warrants.

“The reason we are all here is to make sure that those who deserve these vital services, receive these vital services,” said Rep. Barb Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake). “We are in the middle of a financial crisis here in Illinois. We cannot ask our public servants, teachers, and taxpayers to carry the load of Illinois’ debt while criminals are receiving state benefits.”

“These are common sense proposals that need to be considered in Springfield during this spring session,” said House Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego). “We need to make sure that our system is not being abused so that the people, who need these services most, have access.”

A press release from State Rep. Barb Wheeler:

Wheeler Statement on Budget Address

Springfield, IL…Amidst a growing financial crisis and dyer fiscal outlook, Governor Quinn addressed a joint session of the Illinois General Assembly to outline his budget for Fiscal Year 2014.

State Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) released this statement in response to the governor’s address:

“Nineteen percent of Quinn’s budget is going towards pensions,” said Wheeler.

“We cannot continue down this path of unaffordable pensions while Democrats play political games with reform.

“Our unfunded pension liability is growing every day, we have nearly $10 billion in unpaid bills, and the tax increase is about to expire.

“We need to take serious action on pensions before Illinois tumbles over its own fiscal cliff.”

A press release from State Senator Pam Althoff:

Althoff reacts to State of the State address

SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-Crystal Lake) said Governor Quinn’s annual State of the State speech left her disappointed and wanting for a solid pension reform proposal.

“I’m disappointed in the direction the state has taken over the last decade, disappointed in the lack of leadership that should be coming from the Governor’s office, and I’m disappointed at how those two things combined have severely hurt our businesses and citizens,” Althoff said.

“The speech mentioned several examples of success and reforms that we have enacted, which is great, but yet our state continues to decline.

“Our credit rating is now the lowest in the nation, our pension liabilities grow by $17 million each day, and we have a budget deficit of $5 billion and a backlog of bills at $7.4 billion, despite the highest personal income tax increase in history a couple years ago. We need to focus on the fiscal challenges.”

Althoff said the State of the State address had much of the same rhetoric that it does each year, she felt the Governor failed to propose any real reform of his own, showing a lack of direction that the state desperately needs.

“We must have leadership. It’s what I want to see – leadership and focus. We desperately need it and without it, we aren’t going to get anywhere proposed reforms,” she said.

Equally frustrating to Althoff was the Governor’s support thrown behind increasing the state’s minimum wage to $10 an hour.

Althoff noted that this initiative will either drive businesses away from the state or cause them to close their doors.

She noted that employers will cut back and eliminate entry-level jobs that we need, meaning fewer opportunities for our young people, should minimum wage be increased.

“Apparently, they do not realize that increasing minimum wage will do more harm than good,” she said.

“Illinois currently has the fourth highest minimum wage level in the country.

“Raising it will not create more jobs as the proponents seem to hope.

“We are taking away every opportunity for young people to enter the workforce through our policies, those current and those proposed.

“By examining our business policies in Illinois, it would seem as if we are making every effort to drive away businesses in this state and hinder employment opportunities for all, young and old.”

Althoff called for an end to the unfriendly business policies that Illinois seems to continually enact, noting that other states are our competitors, and stressed her opposition to a higher minimum wage.

“It must stop. We do not operate in a vacuum. We must compete for investment with other states and other countries.

“That will be impossible if our minimum wage is out of line with the rest of the country and we don’t start promoting business-friendly policies.”

A press release from State Rep. Barb Wheeler:

Rep. Wheeler asks for public input

Fox Lake, IL… With the 98th General Assembly scheduled to come back to Springfield in just one week, State Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) is asking her constituents to let her know their opinions on issues expected to come up in the next year. Wheeler has written a survey using a free electronic service and is asking her constituents to follow the link and let her know how they feel.

“My office has been open for about two weeks now and I already have received people reaching out to me on issues that are important to them,” said Wheeler.

“My email inbox is full with people concerned about hydraulic fracturing and Medicaid funding. I am asking my constituents to let me know how they feel on these and many other issues.”

Residents of the 64th Legislative District can go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LJLZNLY to fill out the survey. Rep. Wheeler’s survey focuses on major issues expected to come up in the 98th General Assembly and issues that directly affect the people of Lake and McHenry Counties. The 64th Legislative District is composed of Eastern McHenry and Western Lake Counties, including municipalities such as Crystal Lake, McHenry, Spring Grove, Fox Lake, Antioch, and Lake Villa.

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The questions in Wheeler’s poll follow:

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Some of the above questions have more to them than the question suggests.

Expanding Medicaid, for example, could leave state taxpayers holding the bag when the Federal financing is substantially reduced.

The shifting of pension burden to local government has been suggested for teachers, not state employees.

The cost of living increase versus health care is aimed at state employees and university employees, as I understand it.

There is room for comments, however.

A press release from State Rep. Barb Wheeler:

Rep. Wheeler announces office hours, social media presence

Fox Lake, IL… Just sworn into office last week, State Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) is ready to announce her legislative office opening and how to contact her in the district, in Springfield, and through social media.

Rep. Wheeler’s office in the district is located at 37 E Grave Avenue in Fox Lake.  Her office hours will be Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Thursday, noon-8:00 pm, and Saturday 9:00 am – noon.  The office can be contacted by calling (847) 973-0064.

“Living in a service-based economy, not everyone has the ability to contact their legislators between the hours of nine to five,” said Wheeler.

“My office hours may not be typical, but the  flexibility will make it easier for my constituents to reach out to me for assistance regardless of their busy schedules.”

In addition to her office in Fox Lake, Wheeler will also be operating a full time office in Springfield.

Her office is located at 214-N Stratton Office Building in Springfield and can be contacted by calling (217) 782-1664 or FAX (217) 557-7016 between the hours of 8:30 a.m.-4:30p.m.

Wheeler is also looking to keep in contact with her constituents through a strong internet presence.  Rep. Wheeler can be reached via email: repwheeler64@gmail.com<mailto:repwheeler64@gmail.com>, website: wheeler.ilhousegop.org, Twitter: @bmwheeler, and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/StateRepresentativeBarbaraWheeler.

“In the information age, public servants need to be accessible physically, verbally, and electronically,” said Wheeler.

“I may be new to the social networking world, but I plan on keeping my constituency up to date on what I am doing in Springfield, major legislation being discussed, and local issues that affect us here at home.  It is my goal to always be accessible when I am needed.”

A press release from State Rep. Barbara Wheeler:

Barbara Wheeler sworn into office Presses for legislative courage

Springfield, IL… At a ceremony at the University of Illinois Springfield, State Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) took the oath of office to become State Rep. for the newly created 64th Legislative District. Wheeler says she is humbled at the opportunity to serve the interests of her neighbors and friends in Springfield.

“The responsibility of serving as State Representative is not something I take lightly,” said Wheeler. “I have been honored to serve the people of McHenry County as a County Board Member, now I take the challenge further to serve the interests of McHenry and Lake Counties in Springfield.”

Barbara has spent her entire adult life in public service, starting as volunteer for the United States Peace Corps.

She later served as a school teacher at Wauconda Middle School and was elected to the McHenry County Board in 2002.

As a Board Member, Barbara’s top priorities were conservation and fiscal responsibility.

She was awarded the Theta Award from the McHenry County Environmental Defenders for her conservation agenda.

Additionally, the County Board improved the bond rating to Aaa during her tenure.

Barbara stresses that in order to achieve these accomplishments in Illinois, the General Assembly needs to exert legislative courage.

“There are major issues facing the State of Illinois,” said Wheeler.

“We have

• an underfunded pension system,
• an unwanted income tax increase, and
• billions of dollars in unpaid bills

“Solutions to these problems are not easy.

“We need to be brave.

“We need to be courageous.

“We need to stand up for what is right for the people of Illinois and deal with today’s problems now.

“The people deserve this from their elected leaders.”

Wheeler says her top priorities in Springfield will be fixing the State’s finances while bringing jobs back to McHenry and Lake Counties.

She notes that dealing with the Illinois $96 billion in pension liability and allowing the 67% income tax increase to expire as solutions which the General Assembly needs the courage to solve.

“We have a unique problem in Illinois, where, despite extra revenue, pensions are still underfunded and bills are still unpaid,” said Wheeler.

“This is unacceptable. The solutions are not easy, but there are ways for Illinois to fix its pensions, pay its bills, and allow the tax increase to expire.

“We just need the courage to confront our current realities and get the job done.”

“Teeni Weenie Bikini” was the come-on for State Rep.-to-be Barb Wheeler Saturday in Wauconda.

There may have been some at Lindy’s Landing on Bangs Lake, but they were covered up.

Some people might wonder why people running unopposed for the Illinois General Assembly need to hold fund raisers.

In the case of all Republican legislators, their leaders expect contributions that can be used elsewhere in Illinois in the goal of winning control of the chamber in question.

Wheeler, for example, is expected to pony up $5,000 a year.

Her more senior McHenry County colleague Mike Tryon is assessed $10,000 per year.

And State Senator Pam Althoff, because of her unpaid leadership position as the one who chairs the Senate caucus, needs to come up with $20,000 per year.

There were plenty of Lake County politicians. Lake County Recorder of Deeds candidate Bob Bednar was there, for instance, as were State’s Attorney candidate Mike Nerheim and County Board candidate Tom Weber.

Regular readers will know that I go to parades to read political tea leaves.

Perhaps the biggest insight was that Democrat Jack Franks was in the middle of the Republican floats.

Whether deliberate or not, it surely sent a mixed message to those along the parade route.

Especially since the McHenry County Republican Party refused to field an opponent to the reliable vote for House Speaker Mike Madigan’s continued one-man rule of Illinois.

I wasn’t the only one to make note of the parade order.

Fox River Grove Republican Precinct Committeeman Andrew Gasser wrote an article touching on that, plus the co-option of Republican activists by Franks.

There were lots of candidates at the reception besides Provenzano.

I saw Joe Gottemoller, Mary McClelland, Sue Draffkorn, all of whom seek to represent part of the McHenry area on the County Board.

Former GOP State Rep. primary candidate in the 52nd District Danielle Rowe was also present.

 

And, miracles of miracles, there were two Romney for President signs.

The parade was off.

Municipal officials came first.

The McHenry Aldermen kept coming in numerical order.

The next Alderman rode in a red pick-up truck.

A convertible carrying the only Alderwoman was next.

Congressman Randy Hultgren, who won all of McHenry County, but Algonquin Township, in Michael Madigan’s redistricted map, led off the Republican contingent with Provenzano.

And, then my camera froze, so I missed the other Republicans.

But it started working again as State Rep. Jack Franks worked the crowd on the other side of the street.

If there were any indication that Franks was running on the Democratic Party ticket and would vote to re-elect House Speaker Mike Madigan once he wins his uncontested race, I didn’t see.

More Republicans were behind Franks.

A Sheriff’s Department vehicle came next.

Just one.

Not like the last Fiesta Days Parade I attended in 2010 when Sheriff Keith Nygren was being challenge by Democrat Mike Mahon. Take a look at the motorcycles, snowmobile, convertible, crime prevention trailer, perhaps being pulled by the vehicle above, but without Undersheriff Andrew Zinke’s name on its side.

But who was driving the vehicle?

Next was Mary Mahady, apparently running for McHenry Township Assessor.

Next spring township elections will be held throughout McHenry County, so this was the last time to increase one’s name identification in a Fiesta Days Parade.  Johnsburg has one in October, where there will probably be more township candidates.

Seemingly out of place at the parade was former McHenry County Board candidate Rachel Smith from the western side of Wonder Lake. She was watching the parade before a cancer fund raiser for her aunt, whose last name is Jones.