Words of Wisdom

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness."

--George Washington

Invitation From Congressman Joe Walsh

Please join me from 2:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 3rd for a Cup of Joe with Joe in Schaumburg. This event is open to anyone and everyone, so come out and let me know what's on your mind! More information on tomorrow's event as well as other March events can be found below.

While in Washington this week, Congressman Berman and I sent a letter, co-signed by 52 members of Congress, to Attorney General Eric Holder urging him to uphold U.S. law and bring Palestinian terrorists who have killed and wounded Americans overseas to justice in American courts.

I decided to write this letter after hearing from representatives of American families that suffered from terrorist attacks overseas. These families were promised closure and justice when the Office of Justice for Victims of Overseas Terrorism was established, but their suffering continues as they wait for the Department of Justice to take action. These are American families, and the DOJ needs to stop neglecting its responsibility. Click here to see the letter sent to Attorney General Holder.

This Tuesday marked the 61st anniversary of the passage of Presidential term limits. I have continued to be outspoken on implementing Congressional term limits and co-authored legislation late last year that would limit how long a member of Congress can serve. I have pledged to serve only three terms in Congress.

Keeping the same Members year after year only feeds political corruption as politicians continue to lose touch with the people they were elected to represent. This anniversary is a great opportunity to bring up the need for term limits, and it is time to apply term limits to Congress.

 Hope to see you in Schaumburg tomorrow!

U. S. Congressman Don Manzullo Voted Number One Conservative From Illinois

The American Conservative Union, America's oldest and largest grassroots conservative organization, today issued its 2011 Congressional vote ratings that show U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-IL) is the #1 conservative from Illinois and his opponent in the upcoming election , U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) is ranked #8 out of 11 Republican Members of Congress from Illinois in lifetime ratings.

"Once again, Congressman Manzullo's ACU rating shows a consistent commitment to conservative principles on a wide range of issues," said Larry Hart, ACU Director of Government Relations. "His lifetime rating of 95.5 is one of the highest in the Congress over that period of time."

The ratings for Republican Members of Congress from Illinois are as follows:

Don Manzullo	95.51	92
Peter Roskam	93.6	76
Joe Walsh	92	92
Randy Hultgren	88	88
John Shimkus	87.64	68
Aaron Schock	82.67	68
Bobby Schilling	76	76
Adam Kinzinger	72	72
Judy Biggert	68.46	44
Tim Johnson	68.27	64
Bob Dold	44	44

 

The ratings confirm what several other conservative and non-partisan organizations have stated this year in their own rankings – Manzullo is by a wide margin much more serious than his opponent about cutting wasteful Washington spending, balancing the budget, and paying down the national debt. The American Conservative Union's ratings – which show Manzullo with 95.51 to Kinzinger's 72 lifetime – dovetail with the 2011 ratings from the non-partisan National Journal (Manzullo – 73.7; Kinzinger – 58.2), Heritage Action for America (Manzullo – 84; Kinzinger – 63), and Americans for Prosperity (Manzullo – A+; Kinzinger – B).

"I am honored to again be rated the top conservative Member of Congress from Illinois. These ratings from the American Conservative Union show a wide disparity in conservative voting between myself and my opponent and again confirm that I am the only candidate in this race who is serious about cutting wasteful Washington spending, balancing the budget, and paying down our national debt," Manzullo said.

"We now have four major national organizations that looked at the votes from last year and determined I am the conservative in this race who is focused on getting our financial house in order and reducing the role of government in our lives. America is at a crossroads right now, and we need solid conservatives who will go back to Washington and take the tough votes necessary to cut spending and reduce our debt. I have a strong record of voting to cut spending and that record will continue as long as I am in Congress."  

The vote rankings also confirm why Manzullo has received all the endorsements from the major national and statewide conservative groups, including:

Illinois Tea Party

Family-PAC federal

Eagle Forum of Illinois

Illinois Federation for Right to Life PAC

Illinois Citizens for Life federal PAC

Illinois Conservatives (4,000 conservatives across Illinois under 35 years old)

RedState Editor and CNN political commentator Erick Erickson

The Madison Project

Conservative groups are lining up behind Manzullo because they know he is the only candidate in the race who is serious about cutting wasteful Washington spending, balancing the budget, and paying down the national debt. In fact, Manzullo voted last year 79 more times than Kinzinger to cut $209 billion more in spending than Kinzinger. In addition, Manzullo voted for the only budget alternative that would have cut $9.1 trillion in spending and balanced the budget within 10 years. Kinzinger voted against the bill.

McHenry County voters should note:  Manzullo will no longer represent McHenry County which was placed in the 14th and 6th Congressional Districts during the redistricting process. 

Opportunity For Homeowners To Have Well Water Tested

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) encourages homeowners to have their well water tested during National Ground Water Awareness Week, March 12-22.  The observance brings attention to the importance of ground water as a valuable resource and stresses the need for yearly water testing to prevent waterborne illness.  Water samples will be tested for coliform bacteria and nitrate for $23.  Sampling kits can be picked up at MCDH in Woodstock or at one of eight drop-off centers. 

Testing your well regularly is the only way to determine whether well water is safe to drink as many contaminants are colorless and odorless.  Water from a public or municipal water system is regularly tested for contaminants regulated by Federal and state standards. 

Bacteria and chemicals can get into well water and contaminate it in different ways. Some bacteria and chemicals occur naturally.  Contaminants such as nitrate can come from animal waste, wastewater, flooded sewers, polluted storm water runoff, fertilizers, agricultural runoff, or decaying plants.  High levels of nitrate in drinking water can cause illness in young children and pregnant women.  Coliform bacteria are microbes found in the digestive systems of warm-blooded animals, in soil, on plants, and in surface water.   

Samples can be dropped off for testing on Tuesday mornings between 9:00am and 12:00pm at the following centers –

• Algonquin Townships Office, 3702 Route 14, Crystal Lake, (847) 639-2329
• Dorr Township Office, 140 Newell Street, Woodstock  (815) 338-0125
• McHenry Township Office, 3703 Richmond Road, McHenry  (815) 385-5605
• Nunda Township Office, 3510 Bay Road, Crystal Lake (815) 459-4011
• City of Marengo, City Hall, 134 E. Prairie Street, Marengo  (815) 568-7112
• City of Harvard, Police Department, 201 W Front Street, Harvard (815) 943-4431
• Richmond Township Office, 7812 South Route 31, Richmond (815) 678-0077
• Grafton Township Office, 10109 Vine Street, Huntley (847) 669-3328

 For more information, contact MCDH’s Environmental Health Division at 815-334-4585 or visit www.mcdh.info. 

Open Government

When the Obama administration came to office in January 2009, it promised greater openness and transparency in government.

Within two months, President Obama's new attorney general Eric Holder issued a directive which set forth new "defensive standards" for FOIA litigation wherein the Department of Justice would "defend a denial of a FOIA request only if

(1) the agency reasonably foresees that disclosure would harm an interest protected by one of the statutory exemptions, or

(2) disclosure is prohibited by law."

After a careful review of the record and interviews with numerous attorneys involved with FOIA litigation, TRAC has found little evidence that these new standards are actually being followed. In fact, some individuals interviewed by TRAC expressed the opinion that Justice Department attorneys have become even more aggressive in defending anything that federal agencies choose to withhold.

The latest report from the FOIA Project can be viewed at this address:

http://wp.me/p11uxO-8u

Follow the FOIA Project on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/foiaproject

David Burnham and Susan B. Long, co-directors
Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse
Syracuse University
Suite 360, Newhouse II
Syracuse, NY  13244-2100

Four Score And Two Year Celebration

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County will be celebrating their 42^nd year of working to protect and preserve the environment in the county at their Annual Meeting and Theta Award Ceremony on Sunday, March 11^th.  The event will be held at the Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus, 2710 S. Country Club Road, Woodstock, beginning at 5:00 p.m. with social time, a raffle and silent auction prior to dinner at 5:30 pm. 

Following the dinner, the Defenders will present their annual Theta Award.  Theta is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, and has come to be a symbol of the threat of pollution to Earth and its atmosphere.  It is usually displayed on a flag of green stripes, representing unspoiled land and white stripes denoting pure air.  In 1970, the Defenders chose this symbol and title for their award honoring an individual or group who has shown an outstanding commitment to improving the environment of McHenry County.   

The program for the evening begins at 7:00 p.m. Tim Loftus of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and Nancy Tuchman of Loyola University will speak on the importance of watershed planning and its application for sustainability on the Loyola Ecology Campus.  

The public is invited to attend. Tickets may be purchased on the Defenders’ website at www.mcdef.org through March 1^st.  The cost of $40 for non-members includes a one-year family membership.  The program alone is free with advanced reservations.  Contact the Defenders’ office at 815-338-0393 or mcdef@owc.net to RSVP or for more information.

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the environment. The group provides community residents with educational programs and volunteer action on pollution prevention, sustainable land use and energy and natural resource conservation. Donations are encouraged and are tax-deductible as charitable contributions.  For more information, visit www.mcdef.org or call 815-338-0393.

OSHA Certified Accident Prevention Course At MCC

The Shah Center of McHenry County College is accepting registrations for the OSHA 10-hour in General Industry course, facilitated by OSHA certified Accident Prevention Corporation. This course takes place from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday, March 26 and 28 at the Shah Center, 4100 W. Shamrock Lane in McHenry.

This course is ideal for personnel with safety and health responsibilities, and for implementing employee safety and health awareness programs. Students will be introduced to OSHA policies, procedures and standards as well as general industry safety and health principles covered in OSHA Act Part 1910.  Upon successful course completion of this courses, participants will receive a certificate of attendance and an OSHA 10-hour card. 

Cost is $195, which includes materials. Participants can register using course ID: NTE S65 003. To register, call (815) 455-8588.  For more information, contact (815) 455-8593 or shahcenter@mchenry.edu.

Pay Increases For State Leaders Not Appreciated

With Governor Pat Quinn’s proposed 2012 budget calling for more than $250,000 in pay increases for state leaders, State Representative Kent Gaffney (R-Wauconda) says he is working on legislation to reverse the maneuver. 

Word of the pay raises comes on the heels of Quinn announcing deep cuts to state programs, facilities and jobs that total hundreds of millions of dollars.

“I vehemently oppose any proposal that would allow our State Legislature and other constitutional offices to receive a pay increase this year,” said Gaffney.  “While we are a long way from May and a final budget, pay raises for lawmakers must be taken off of the table immediately. To address this I am currently drafting legislation to ensure that Quinn’s proposed pay raises will not be implemented.”  

According to Gaffney, state leaders, including Illinois' constitutional officers, department directors, cabinet positions and members of executive commissions and boards are all scheduled to receive a pay raise under Quinn’s budget proposal. 

Words of Wisdom

"I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises. This results not only from the provision that no law shall be made respecting the establishment or free exercise of religion, but from that also which reserves to the States the powers not delegated to the United States. Certainly, no power to prescribe any religious exercise or to assume authority in any religious discipline has been delegated to the general government. It must then rest with the States."

 --Thomas Jefferson, letter to Samuel Miller, 1808

Government At Work

FRIDAY, MARCH 2

 8:15 a.m. – Public Health and Human Services Committee of McHenry County Board—

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

Several presentations are slated to be made t the committee including the Veteran’s Assistance commission 2011 Annual Report; Human Service Advocates, and Health Department, CATCH Program.

Other business includes reports to the committee as applicable.

10:00 a.m. – Senior Services Grant Commission, Strategic Planning Sub-Committee—

The Committee is to discuss the Strategic Plan for the Senior Services Grant Commission. 

Words of Wisdom

"Human government is more or less perfect as it approaches nearer or diverges farther from the imitation of this perfect plan of divine and moral government."

 --John Adams, draft of a Newspaper Communication, 1770

Jury Returns Guilty Of First Degree Murder in Burrito Express Case

A McHenry County Jury deliberated approximately 20 hours before rendering a finding of guilty of First Degree Murder and Attempted Armed Robbery for 35-year old Kenneth Smith.

Smith was on trial for the March 6, 2001 murder of Raul Briseno outside of the Burrito Express Restaurant, McHenry. A sentencing hearing will be held April 26 at 1:30 p.m.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Michael Combs, David Johnston and David Metnick. Investigation was conducted by the McHenry City Police Department with the assistance of the McHenry Investigative Assistance Team.

Government At Work

Thursday, March 1—

8:30 a.m.—Planning & Development Committee of McHenry County Board

Meeting in the County Board Office, County administrative Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

A couple appointments are to be considered including, for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Commission and the County Housing Commission

Roger Naylor, Coral Township and Sue Draffkorn, County Board are the two appointments for the CDBG Commission.

Preston Rea, of Alden Township is being considered for the Housing Commission.

A discussion is slated regarding Code Enforcement Procedures followed by reports to the committee as applicable.

3:00 p.m. Annual Meeting of the Public Building Commission—

Meeting in Room 210 of the County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

Project Manager Reports and related project matters are to be provided the Commission members, along with a treasurer’s report, bills to be paid and authorization to pay.

Under new business, consideration of a resolution to authorize reconveyance of real property to the County ; consideration of resolution to provide for confidentiality of future executive Sessions,  Election of Officers, and a reminder to the members to file Economic Interest  Statements by May 1.

It is expected that most of this meeting will be in executive session based on past experience in attempting to attend these Public Building Commission meetings. 

Happy Leap Day

Today is a strange day, as February 29th is a Leap Day--a day which only happens once every four years. Following is information we found about this day that occurs only every four years.

During a Leap Year a Leap Day is added, to keep our calendars in order. But where did Leap Year come from?

Over 2,000 years ago, Julius Caesar introduced Leap Years to the Romans, but they utilized the Julian calendar, which was flawed. With the Julian calendar any year evenly divisible by 4 was a Leap Year. This led to far too many, but this problem wasn’t corrected until the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar some 1,500 years later.

Gregorian Calendar

Our modern day Gregorian calendar has only 365 days, but it takes approximately 365.242199 days – or 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds-- to circle once around the Sun. So in order to keep our calendars in alignment with the Earth’s revolutions around the sun, Leap Years are needed.

For instance, if we didn’t add a day every four years, you would lose almost six hours off our calendar every year. Time and Date states that after only 100 years, our calendar would be off by nearly 24 days.

The Gregorian calendar was designed to keep the vernal equinox on or close to March 21st, this is so the date of Easter remains correct.

What if someone is born on a Leap Day?

Individuals born on February 29th are known as “Leapers”. They’ll celebrate their birthday on either February 28th or March 1st, with most celebrating on the 1st.

Statewide Contest Regarding Weather Alert Radios

 Local and state emergency management officials have launched a statewide contest aimed at increasing awareness and use of weather alert radios.  The Illinois Emergency Services Management Association (IESMA) and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) are sponsoring the “Weather Alert Radios Save Lives” contest, in which participants will complete an on-line quiz for a chance to win a weather alert radio.

The contest will be highlighted throughout March, which is Severe Weather Preparedness Month in Illinois.

“2011 was one of the worst years for tornado deaths in the U.S. in the past 60 years,” said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken.  “Fortunately, Illinois didn’t experience these terrible storms, but we never know when or where the next deadly storm could strike.  Weather alert radios are a key tool for alerting people to approaching danger, day or night, and every home should have one.” 

The contest is available on the Ready Illinois website (www.Ready.Illinois.gov), the IESMA website (www.iesma.org) and on many county and municipal emergency management agency websites.  A total of 100 weather alert radios will be awarded to participants who register after reading information about the radios and successfully completing a five-question quiz. The contest runs from Feb. 28 through March 31.  Winners will be announced in April.

“Through this contest, we hope to make people in Illinois more aware of the importance of weather alert radios as part of their personal preparedness kit,” said IESMA President Chuck Genesio.  “Much like a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector alerts people to those dangers, weather alert radios warn people of hazards outside the home so they have time to seek shelter or take other actions to stay safe.” 

IESMA purchased the weather alert radios in 2010 and 2011 as part of a program to increase emergency preparedness in local schools, hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities and government buildings throughout Illinois.  Nearly 7,300 weather alert radios were distributed for placement in these facilities through the program, which was funded with $172,420 in federal homeland security grant funds allocated by the Illinois Terrorism Task Force.  The 100 radios distributed as part of the "Weather Alert Radios Save Lives" contest will help Illinois residents better prepare for emergencies.

The National Weather Service (NWS) and state and local emergency management officials strongly encourage people to have a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio All Hazards with battery backup, a tone-alert feature and Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) technology, which allows the radio to be programmed to receive alerts for specified counties.  When an alert is issued for that area, the device will sound a warning alarm tone followed by the broadcast message.

Besides weather information, the NWS also broadcasts warnings and post-event information for all types of hazards, including natural, environmental and public safety hazards, such as earthquakes, chemical spills and AMBER alerts.

“Tornadoes do not just occur during the day,” said Chris Miller, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lincoln. “In Illinois, 30% of all tornadoes occur at night when it can be difficult to hear outdoor warning sirens from inside your home, especially if you are asleep. The best way to be warned about tornadoes at night is to have a weather alert radio in your home. It is like having your own personal storm siren.”

IEMA and the NWS developed a Severe Weather Preparedness Guide, which provides information about tornadoes, severe storms, lightning and flooding and recommended actions to take before, during and after each of these weather events.  The guide also includes definitions of important weather terms, including watches, warnings and advisories and a list of items needed for a family emergency supply kit.  The guide is available on the Ready Illinois website at www.Ready.Illinois.gov or by calling 217-785-9925. 

Macy's Flower Show Plus

Spend a day rewarding your senses at Macy’s 2012 Flower Show from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4, sponsored by McHenry County College’s Trips and Tours Office.

Produced annually at the flagship store on State Street, this show features more than two million flowers and exotic topiaries from around the world arranged by renowned horticulturists to create urban sanctuaries. Tour the flower show led by a master gardener from the University of Illinois Extension program. The day will also include time to browse on your own through this historic store.

Visitors will enjoy a delicious lunch at Pompeii in Little Italy, followed by a stop at City Escape Garden & Design. City Escape has been instrumental in helping shape the gardens of Chicago and provides great ideas for the home gardener, including container gardening, garden fountains and gardens for larger spaces. This tour will help you get ready for spring gardening.

Cost is $95 per person. To register by phone with a credit card, call (815) 455-8588 and use course ID: NST S04 004.

For more information, contact Claudia Terrones at (815) 455-8782. Spaces are limited; be sure to register before March 23.

Want To Vote March 20--But Not Registered To Vote--See Below

For those who are not registered to vote in the upcoming March 20 Election, there is still an opportunity for voter registration and voting. The “Official” cutoff date for registration was February 21, however, McHenry County Clerk, Katherine C. Schultz, says the State law allows a “Grace Period” for people to register and vote between February 22^nd and March 13.

The caveat for this is voting must take place in the County Clerk’s Office, which is located in the County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road Woodstock.

People who vote during this “grace period” are not eligible to vote at their precinct polling place on March 20.

Eligibility to vote in person includes U.S. citizenship, 18 years old by Election Day, and a resident of the precinct for at least 30 days prior to Election Day. Two forms of ID are necessary, both with their name and one with their current address.

More information about grace period registration is available by calling the County Clerk’s office, at 815-334-4242.

Words of Wisdom

"Excessive taxation ... will carry reason and reflection to every man's door, and particularly in the hour of election."

--Thomas Jefferson

Government At Work

Wednesday, February 29—

7:00 P.M. –Valley Hi Operating Board—

Meeting at Valley Hi Nursing Home, 2406 Hartland Road, Woodstock.

Valley Hi Nursing Home is a long-time McHenry County institution that cared for the elderly when they could no longer care for themselves. In many years past, it was what was known as the “poor farm”. This was where people went when they could no longer care for their homestead. It was a farm and those who could do some chores helped keep the farm going.

In more recent years it developed into a nursing home for the elderly. A new facility was built after a successful countywide referendum for that purpose in 2002. Operation of the facility has changed also since that time and instead of the County Board being responsible for the operation of the facility, an Operating Board has been put in place and a an administrator hired by the Board to oversee the operation of the facility.

Those serving on the Board are doing so because they choose to do so and the membership includes doctors as well as others interested in the welfare of the elderly in need of nursing home care.

The property remains under the ownership of McHenry County but the County Board no longer has to worry about the operation of the facility.

The Valley Hi Operating Board will be considering budget matters including the Governor’s Budget Address and the President’s Budget Address.

Emergency Generator is another matter for new business along with an Operating Board Vacancy Recruitment.

Old business includes medical director search, customer service program and strategic plan review. Various reports are scheduled from the administrator regarding census, staffing finances, quality assurance and resident senate meetings.

Topics for future discussion include tax levy utilization and drug testing. 

Words of Wisdom

"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between church and State."

 --Thomas Jefferson, letter to a Committee of the Danbury Baptist Association, 1802

Government At Work

Tuesday, February 28—

9:30 a.m. –McHenry County Board Finance and Audit Committee –

Meeting in the County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

The Committee will be provided a presentation on the McHenry County Conservation District FY 2013 tentative budget.

A number of resolutions are scheduled to be presented for the committee to consider. These include:

• Engineering Services Agreement for Construction Materials Testing Services
• Acceptance of an $8,200 grant from the American Cancer Society-Illinois
• Authorizing a line item transfer in the AmeriCorps Fiscal Year 2012 McHenry County Mental Health Board Budget
• Authorizing the acceptance of the DHS System of Care Expansion Grant
• Authorizing the reduction of Family Care Budget Line Items along with an emergency appropriation to the Fiscal Year 2012 McHenry County Mental Health Board Budget
• Authorizing monthly transactions for the Delinquent Tax Program
• Authorizing McHenry County as a Local Government Sponsor for the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program
• Authorizing a contract with Comcast Ethernet Dedicated Internet Services.

6:00 p.m. Lakewood Village Board Budget Workshop--

Meeting in Turnberry Country Club 9600 Turnberry Trail, Lakewood.

The Village Board is to review the proposed 2012-2013 Budgets and Anticipated Revenues for the General Fund Department as well as consider updates on other finance issues.

Immediately following Budget Workshop—

The Village Board will meet in the same location. The agenda includes: 

• Motion to approve a resolution authorizing the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement and Joining the Northern Illinois Governmental Electric Aggregation Consortium.
• Motion to approve health insurance plan from Humana and Dental Insurance plan from Assurant beginning March 1, 2012.
• Motion to approve and ordinance amending Chapter 19 of the Village Building Code to provide regulations for best management practices applicable to R-2 One Family Dwelling Residential District.

Representative Gaffney Meets With Local Business Leaders

State Representative Kent Gaffney (R-Lake Barrington) and Doug Whitley, President & CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, toured Mattson/Witt Precision Product, Inc. in Barrington on Monday.

Gaffney and Whitley met with local business leaders to discuss their Jobs Agenda for Illinois.

“Since taking office last summer, I’ve been working with the Illinois Chamber and other business leaders to improve our economy and help create private sector jobs,” Gaffney said. “I voted for a job creation initiative that will protect Illinois jobs and provide tax relief to our working families and businesses. We must continue our efforts to cut spending, pass real workers’ comp reform, and get Illinois working again.”

Whitley presented the Illinois Chamber’s 2012 Jobs Agenda, calling for reductions in overall state spending, additional reforms to the workers' compensation system, improved educational outcomes and investment in Illinois’ infrastructure.

“Representative Gaffney is working with us to making fiscal responsibility a reality and reduce the high cost of doing business in Illinois,” said Whitley, speaking at Mattson/Witt, a Barrington-based manufacturer of plastic component solutions for the water treatment industry. “If we want to set our state on a path toward a brighter future, the time for action is now.”

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce PAC is endorsing Kent Gaffney in the race for State Representative in the new 52nd House District.

“Kent Gaffney has been a friend of the Chamber for many years,” Whitley said. “He has worked with us to pass pro-jobs, pro-business legislation that will help get Illinois back on track. Kent is a budget expert who has fought against job-crushing tax increases and wasteful government spending. We need Kent’s fiscal expertise in Springfield.”

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce is the leading voice for employers of all sizes, from sole proprietors to entrepreneurs reshaping the Illinois business landscape. Chamber PAC members are a diverse group of Illinois’ business community. They believe in the need for active participation in the political process to assure that the voice of Illinois’ employers is heard.

Gaffney is one of three GOP candidates for the 52^nd State Representative District which encompasses parts of the Nunda and Algonquin Townships. New voter registration cards have been sent by McHenry County Clerk’s office that lists the various voting districts for each voter.