Weekly News from Leader McCombie

AFFORDABILITY

The survey is now live. While I have back legislative proposals to reduce the cost of living and provide relief for families, House Democrats have continued to put forth legislation to hike taxes. From a new bag tax to the Governor's proposed social media tax - I remain adamant that we cannot tax our way to prosperity.

House Republicans have long focused on reining in spending, providing real tax relief for hardworking families, and creating opportunities for growth. I am determined to fight for relief this spring as we return to the legislature.

I encourage you to take a minute to share your input through the survey here: » Illinois Affordability Survey.

AGENCY MISMANAGEMENT

Illinois Doesn't Have a Revenue Problem, It Has a Management Problem

Illinois families are used to hearing the same explanation whenever something goes wrong in state government: we just need more money.

Yet Illinois already has one of the highest overall tax burdens in the country, and state spending continues to grow year after year. This year's budget again expands spending and government programs.

So if government keeps getting bigger, why do basic services keep getting worse?

The answer is simple: Illinois doesn't just have a spending problem. It has a management problem.

Across multiple state agencies, a troubling pattern continues to emerge; delayed services, poor oversight, and failures that affect real people across our state.

At the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), healthcare professionals are waiting months for licenses that should be processed quickly and efficiently. In a state already facing shortages of medical providers, these delays prevent qualified professionals from working and push many to neighboring states where the process is faster.

Other agencies have faced serious breakdowns as well.

At the Department of Children and Family Services, the agency continues to struggle to protect vulnerable children while families have reported abuse, babies being removed from parents based on questionable information and death.

At the Department of Corrections, operational issues continue to create unsafe conditions for both staff and inmates.

And more than 900 lawsuits have been filed alleging abuse within Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice facilities, a troubling failure of oversight in a system responsible for protecting young people.

These examples involve different agencies, but they point to the same underlying issue: state government that isn't being effectively managed.

From unemployment fraud to licensing delays to child welfare failures, Illinois residents are seeing government fall short on some of its most basic responsibilities.

When government stops functioning properly, people lose trust in the institutions meant to serve them. And when that trust disappears, people begin looking elsewhere for opportunity and stability. In Illinois, that too often means families and workers leaving the state altogether.

This is especially frustrating because Illinois government is not shrinking, it's expanding. Each year brings new programs, new initiatives, and higher spending.

But good government isn't measured by how many programs are announced. It's measured by whether government can deliver results.

And that starts with a Governor who will take accountability and focus on fixing what's broken.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Why Won't Governor Pritzker Take Transit Safety Seriously?

The U.S. Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into how the Illinois Department of Transportation is handling safety on the CTA. Governor Pritzker may dismiss it as a "sham," but Chicago residents know the reality. Violent crime on public transit has surged, and meaningful intervention is long overdue.

Consider just a few of the recent incidents:

• Last November, a woman was set on fire on a CTA train.
• Weeks later, an elderly man was brutally attacked and knocked onto the tracks.
• In December of last year, a man was severely beaten on a CTA bus and spent Christmas Eve in a hospital bed.
• That same month, another individual set himself on fire on the Blue Line.
• Earlier this year, an international student from India was robbed on a CTA train and is now considering leaving the city because he no longer feels safe.
• In the same month, a man filmed himself fatally stabbing another passenger on a CTA train.
• Just last week, a bus driver was violently assaulted while in uniform.

Crime on the poorly managed CTA system is not a new problem. Yet when Democrats had the opportunity to address public safety in their mass transit bailout legislation, their solution was to deploy unarmed "transit ambassadors" instead of strengthening law enforcement presence.

Only after the threat of withheld federal funding did the CTA move to bring in additional patrol support from the Cook County Sheriff's Office. That should not be what it takes to finally prioritize rider safety.

This federal investigation is not a sham. It is a necessary step to restore accountability and protect commuters. While Governor Pritzker downplays the crisis, House Republicans are working to deliver real public safety solutions. They have introduced more than 40 proposals to fix the broken SAFE-T Act and ensure repeat violent offenders are held behind bars instead of cycling back onto the streets and transit system.

Chicago families deserve to feel safe on their way to work, school, and home. It is past time for state leaders to take that responsibility seriously.

UPCOMING EVENTS

There are more opportunities coming up for Traveling Office Hours in April, stay tuned for those details coming soon!

I recently launched my annual Spring Photo Contest! I encourage you to participate and snap the best photos of the 89th District! Check out the details below: