Rock Falls, IL…State Representative Jerry Mitchell (R-Rock Falls) was honored with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce Champion of Free Enterprise Award for his ongoing legislative record of supporting the business community.

“Now more than ever it is vital that we as legislators do everything possible to encourage economic growth through pro-business policies,” said Rep. Mitchell.  “A stable economic environment is critical to long-term financial success for the state of Illinois.  We must hold the line on taxes, rid our reliance on borrowing and ensure business owners have the proper tools in place to invest and grow, while ending over burdensome government red-tape that hampers the private sector.”

The Chamber’s ratings are based on legislators’ votes on the key business legislation of the 96^th and past General Assemblies. The votes in the Senate and House are selected based on their impact on the business community and, to a lesser extent, the gap between opposing views on the issue. The votes are weighted accordingly.

“The Illinois Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize legislators that have made special contributions in the defense of free enterprise, and the furtherance of economic opportunities for Illinoisans,” said Todd Maisch, the Chamber’s Vice President for Government Affairs.  “Legislators with Illinois Chamber ratings averaging 85% or better over the previous three General Assemblies have demonstrated their commitment to legislation that frees the entrepreneurial spirit and qualify for the award.”

Rock Falls, IL…On Monday, the United States Supreme Court issued a significant ruling paving the way for the repeal of Chicago’s nearly 30 year old gun ban which prevents law-abiding citizens from owning handguns for their personal protection.  State Representative Jerry Mitchell (R-Rock Falls) referred to the decision as a major step to providing all the residents of Chicago the same basic, guaranteed freedoms that the majority of United States citizens have been afforded for centuries.

In a 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court issued that the 2^nd Amendment restricts local and state government’s ability to significantly limit “the right to keep and bear arms.”  Two years ago the Supreme Court issued a similar opinion striking down Washington D.C.’s controversial handgun ban.  The most recent decision paves the way for appeals to be filed in order to overturn Chicago and other citywide handgun bans.

“The 2^nd Amendment is pretty clear in explaining that private citizens are afforded the right to protect themselves and their family with the ability to legally own a firearm,” said Rep. Mitchell.  “Chicago’s handgun ban has unfairly taken this right out of the hands of law-abiding citizens; leaving many vulnerable to criminals who have no regard for the law and illegally arm themselves.  If and when Chicago’s gun ban is overturned, ordinary residents will be afforded the rights our Constitution guarantees and once again be able to legally defend themselves on their own property from dangerous offenders.”

Springfield, IL…On Tuesday, the House Democrats passed budget legislation totaling $26.1 billion, while giving Governor Pat Quinn extraordinary leeway to borrow, cut and spend as he sees fit.  State Representative Jerry Mitchell (R-Rock Falls) called the spending measure, “woefully inadequate” while accusing the majority party of “failing to provide answers to the problems we have all seen coming for years.”

“What this comes down to is a failure to manage revenue properly for the past eight years,” said Rep. Mitchell.  “All we hear from the majority party, who control both chambers of government and every statewide office, is more borrowing, more dept, and a refusal to reduce and reform spending practices.  None of these proposals are solutions; they are simply gimmicks to get by until the November election.”

The budget that passed with only democrat votes would grant the governor around $26 billion for an operating budget allowing the state to capture additional federal dollars bringing the entire spending plan to $57 billion.  The spending agenda would allow the governor additional responsibility to borrow from special state funds for $1 billion, sell tobacco settlement proceeds to the tune of $1.2 billion, and borrow $4 billion to make the FY11 pension payments. Continue reading »

In order to get the Illinois economy back on track we must provide the most suitable jobs climate possible.  To achieve this goal State Representative Jerry Mitchell is asking you to sign his “Jobs Petition” encouraging friendly policies to ensure business can thrive here in Illinois.

Sign Rep. Jerry Mitchell’s Jobs Petition

Springfield, IL…In what has become an increasing burden for schools throughout Illinois, State Representative Jerry Mitchell (R-Rock Falls) co-sponsored legislation that passed the Illinois House today, which would allow school districts the option to discontinue or modify perspective unfunded state mandates.

“At a time when our state is facing unprecedented economic challenges and school districts are being forced to cut back, these are the types of programs and requirements that many schools simply can not afford,” said Rep. Mitchell. “This will give schools a new sense of economic flexibility by allowing them to prioritize their revenue in order to meet core education responsibilities.”

House Bill 4711 would give school districts the option to not comply with any future statutory or regulatory mandates if the requirements are insufficiently funded by the state.  Schools would have to prove they can not afford the cost of the perspective mandates and official local school board action would have to be taken to opt out of the mandates.

“Many of these mandates are well intentioned and ideally we would be able to provide funding for a number of these initiatives.  However, the fiscal reality just doesn’t make that possible at this time,” said Rep. Mitchell.  “This is certainly a step in the right direction, and I would hope that we could go even further by reducing some previous unfunded mandates that have become an increasing burden on our cash-strapped school districts.”

House Bill 4711 passed the Illinois House on Thursday, and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

Springfield, IL…In what State Representative Jerry Mitchell (R-Rock Falls) referred to as “a significant step toward reforming government spending,” the Illinois House passed legislation establishing the Sunshine Commission last Thursday.

“I think this is a great opportunity for members of both parties to work in a bi-partisan manner with the goal of eliminated wasteful, ineffective programs that have been a drain on our state budget,” said Rep. Mitchell.

House Bill 4836, co-sponsored by State Representative Mitchell, would create the Illinois Sunshine Commission with the goal of conducting a thorough review of the relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of state government programs.  The newly installed commission would consist of four legislators and four members of the public to make formal recommendations to the General Assembly.  Legislators would then be required to approve or reject the commission’s recommendations within sixty session days.

The Sunshine Commission would have three options when evaluating specific programs, including: the elimination of obsolete or ineffective programs; consolidation of duplicative programs; and suggestions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of a program.

“I believe this commission could be extremely effective in reducing spending on unnecessary and outdated programs which are currently siphoning taxpayer dollars from worthwhile services,” Rep. Mitchell said.  “With the balance of private sector business experience and legislative knowledge, I think we will see some very sensible, common-sense suggestions emerge from the Sunshine Commission.”

House Bill 4836 now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

Springfield, IL…State Representative Jerry Mitchell (R-Rock Falls) criticized Governor Quinn’s budget address on Wednesday as a misguided attempt to force legislators to make a choice between two unpopular decisions; a tax increase or additional borrowing.

“I believe what Governor Quinn is trying to do today is incite panic amongst parents, teachers and education groups by threatening to decimate school funding,” said Rep. Mitchell.  “It is very similar to what he did last year by using this same type of threat against human services in order increase support for his unpopular income tax hike.  To say these are the only two remedies for our budget problems is disingenuous.”

Among the key components of Governor Quinn’s budget plan are borrowing to the tune of $4.7 billion, rolling over $6.3 billion in unpaid bills to the following year and a 1% tax increase. The Governor also outlined $2 billion in cuts. Elementary and secondary education programs would bear the brunt of reductions resulting in a 17% cut, or $1.2 billion. Healthcare services for seniors and the disabled would also see around $270 million in cuts under Quinn’s spending plan. Additionally, the Governor proposes to reduce state aid to local governments by 3% and short the state pension payment by $267 million.

“It is obvious that the budget is in terrible condition and will require tough cuts, but to single out children’s education disproportionately as compared to other areas of the budget is wrong,” said Rep. Mitchell.  “There are a number of nonessential budget items that need to be examined before any cuts of such a drastic nature are considered.” Continue reading »

Springfield, IL…State Representative Jerry Mitchell (R-Rock Falls) was disappointed in a Wednesday vote by the House Vehicles and Safety Committee which put a halt to further debate on legislation requiring only a single license plate be attached to the rear of Illinois vehicles.

“I knew there would be some opposition to the proposal simply because the state police were not in favor of changing the current license plate requirements,” said Rep. Mitchell.  “However, I think the facts speak for themselves.  Nineteen other states don’t require front license plates, including our neighbors in Indiana who haven’t had front plates for over half a century.  In those states that only require a single plate; we didn’t see any significant differences in the crime rate.”

Representative Mitchell said he proposed the legislation as a cost saving maneuver during the difficult financial times.  “The state of Illinois would have seen savings of approximately $800,000 per year if this legislation were enacted,” said Mitchell.  “No matter which way you look at it $800,000 is a significant amount of money, and at this point in time every little bit helps.  I would certainly rather see changes like this put in place to save state dollars, than potential cuts which could significantly hamper our state police force.”

House Bill 4888 would require the Secretary of State to issue only a single license plate that would be attached to the rear of vehicles registered in Illinois.  The House Vehicles and Safety Committee defeated the measure with a vote of 4 to 2 against the legislation.

Springfield, IL…Thursday’s ruling by the Illinois Supreme Court to overturn a 2005 law which placed caps on non-economic medical malpractice damages will be costly to Illinois residents, according to State Representative Jerry Mitchell (R-Rock Falls).

“There will be a dual cost to the citizens of Illinois because of this ruling,” said Rep. Mitchell.  “Not only will we see higher insurance premiums and reduced access to affordable health care, we will also see the most skilled physicians leave our state.”

In 2005 the Illinois General Assembly enacted medical malpractice reforms which included caps on pain and suffering, as well as other non-economic damages.  The caps, which set a limit of $500,000 per case for individual doctors and $1 million for hospitals, were effective in driving down medical malpractice insurance premiums and bringing doctors back to Illinois.

Before the 2005 medical malpractice reforms were in place, frivolous lawsuits forced many insurance companies to stop doing business in Illinois, thus making it nearly impossible for doctors and hospitals to obtain reasonably affordable medical liability insurance.  This subsequently led Illinois doctors to pursue practices in neighboring states, resulting in very limited options for those in need of high risk, special medical procedures.  Only two years after the caps were enacted, over 5,000 new doctors were licensed for practice in Illinois, with three new insurance companies offering cheaper coverage.

“The caps that were put in place have proven to be effective at containing costs and retaining Illinois physicians,” said Mitchell.  “The decision today is certainly a step backwards for Illinois families who depend on affordable and quality health care.”

Rock Falls, IL…State Representative Jerry Mitchell (R-Rock Falls) is proposing a change in state law that would require Illinois drivers to only have one license plate on the rear of their vehicle, as opposed to the current law requiring front and back plates.  Currently, 19 states, including neighboring Indiana and Kentucky, only require a single license plate attached to the rear of a vehicle.

“At a time when our state is facing a serious financial shortfall, every little bit helps,” said Rep. Mitchell referring to the approximate $800,000 in savings per year.  “I understand there are going to be those who disagree with the change, but I think it’s an idea that at least deserves discussion.  At this point, I think everything should be on the table.”

House Bill 4888 would require the Secretary of State to issue only a single license plate that would be attached to the rear of vehicles registered in Illinois. Continue reading »