Bill stripping mass-transit boards of pensions heads to governor

May 16, 2013 - Northwest Herald

A bill stripping pension and insurance benefits from future appointees to Chicago-area mass-transit boards is on its way to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk. House Bill 140, filed by state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, takes pension and insurance benefits away from future members of the boards of the Regional Transportation Authority, Metra, Pace and the Chicago Transit Authority. It will not affect current appointees, but their pensions will stop accruing and their insurance will cease if they are reappointed after their terms expire... READ MORE

Lawmakers Seek EDGE Credit Limit

May 13, 2013 - Alton Daily News

he question of how much cities and states should do to attract and retain companies is always a good one, and some lawmakers are concerned Illinois is looking foolish too often. An Illinois House hearing examined the tool known as the EDGE (Economic Development for a Growing Economy) credit, as State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) has sponsored a bill to put limits on its use. “In 2011, it appears the (Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity) gave... READ MORE

Private manager may miss
state lottery profit goals
for 2nd year

May 11, 2013 - Chicago Tribune

The company hired to run the Illinois Lottery after years of flagging sales is on track to fall short of promised revenue goals for the second straight year — this time by about $180 million, according to a Tribune review of the firm's performance through April. "I am not pleased with the fact that the private manager is not going to meet its profit goals," Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones said. "I don't think the Lottery or Northstar is pleased at all." Last year, Northstar Lottery Group promised to bring in net revenue... READ MORE

Illinois considers extending
tax break to small businesses

May 10, 2013 - Chicago Tribune

Legislators are considering a bill that would expand the scope of the state's main economic development program to small businesses. House Bill 1336 calls for eliminating a requirement that companies make a capital investment in the state of at least $1 million or $5 million, depending on their size. The bill also caps the amount of tax credits awarded to companies at $100 million a year and creates a nine-member board to oversee the deals, with members appointed by the governor and approved by the... READ MORE

House panel strengthens child-abduction prosecution

May 1, 2013 - The State Journal-Register

Prosecutors can use a person’s past attempts of child abduction as evidence during trial under a proposal passed by a House Judiciary panel Wednesday. Past acts are typically not permitted as evidence in child-abduction cases even though repeated attempts are often precursor crimes to sexual assault of a child, said Mary Boland, sex crime specialist for the Cook County state’s attorney’s office. This evidence could be critical in showing a person’s tendency to repeat these acts, Boland said... READ MORE

Increase to tax break for seniors passes in Ill.

April 28, 2013 - Northwest Herald

Older homeowners will get a bigger tax break on their tax bills next year. The Illinois House and Senate overwhelming passed – with just two “no” votes in the House and none in the Senate – a bill that raises the senior citizen homestead exemption from $4,000 to $5,000. Gov. Pat Quinn signed the bill into law on Tuesday. The increase amounts to savings of about $100 for a senior citizen with a home valued at $200,000 in Crystal Lake. The change goes into effect immediately in Cook County, but for McHenry County and the rest of the state, the change affects... READ MORE

In Zero Sum Game, Rick Perry Courts Illinois Businesses

April 24, 2013 - In These Times

Texas Gov. Rick Perry rode into Chicago this week in an effort to lasso Illinois-based businesses and herd them to the Lone Star State. At a press conference on Monday, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel met the visit with derision. "I hope when he comes he remembers all three of his reasons," joked the mayor, referencing Perry's 2012 debate gaffe, in which the governor couldn't list the three government departments he was planning to axe. Indeed, the efforts by Perry, best known for his wildly unsuccessful 2012 presidential run, are... READ MORE

Our View: Taxpayers lose again

April 17, 2013 - Northwest Herald

It’s not surprising that House lawmakers defeated a bill aimed at preventing property-tax increases in years that property values are depressed. Approving it, after all, would mean doing something that benefits the taxpayers. And taxpayers are rarely a priority when Illinois lawmakers are making decisions... READ MORE

Franks helps seniors

April 17, 2013 - Northwest Herald

To the Editor: I am writing to express my appreciation of state Rep. Jack Franks’ efforts on behalf of McHenry County seniors. Last October, I sent a note to Franks on a copy of a bill I had paid to the State Police for failing to update the vehicle registration on my wife’s Toyota. I admitted that we had forgotten to renew it, but told Franks that I thought $125 was an excessive fine for a simple mistake. I suggested a maximum... READ MORE

Bills aimed at mass transit boards in House, Senate

April 16, 2013 - Northwest Herald

Bills aimed at reforming Chicago-area mass transit boards, and eliminating one outright, are working their way through the General Assembly. House Bill 140, which cleared last Friday on a 106-0 vote, seeks to strip health insurance and pension benefits from future appointees to the Regional Transportation Authority, Metra, Pace and the Chicago Transit Authority... READ MORE

Kadner: Springfield doesn’t like common-sense bills

April 15, 2013 - Southtown Star

Scott Reeder As the Transportation Security Administration agent rummaged through my suitcase, she picked up my tube of toothpaste, shook her head and said “no.” The tube went sailing into a wastebasket filled with bottles of suntan lotion, cans of shaving cream and other odds and ends that the TSA considers too dangerous to bring aboard a jetliner. The tube of Colgate was 7.8 ounces rather than the requisite maximum of 3.4 ounces... READ MORE

Schaumburg: The cost for more expensive electricity

April 13, 2013 - Northwest Herald

On March 21, the Illinois House passed a modest pension reform bill. No entity was happier than the state’s two electricity providers. While everybody was excited the House made a small step toward fixing its biggest problem – pensions – they forgot to notice the House also passed a measure on the same day that allows ComEd and Ameren to raise electricity rates over the next decade in exchange for installing a smart-grid... READ MORE

Ill. tax cap bill up for House vote

April 12, 2013 - Northwest Herald

House lawmakers soundly defeated a bill aimed at preventing property-tax increases in years that property values are depressed. The House voted Friday, 43-65, against House Bill 89, sponsored by state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo. The bill sought to forbid governments subject to the tax cap from collecting inflationary increases in years their overall assessed value decreased, except by voter referendum... READ MORE

House wants to cut perks for CTA board, others

April 12 , 2013 - Chicago Tribune

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House passed legislation Friday aimed at eliminating lucrative health care and pension benefits enjoyed by political appointees, including the part-time members of transit boards who oversee city and suburban bus and train service. It was part of a day in which lawmakers took a series of votes that gave them a chance to pad their re-election resumes, a welcome opportunity given that the state's rotten finances and lagging economy haven't... READ MORE

Kadner: Springfield doesn’t like common-sense bills

April 12, 2013 - Southtown Star

There ought to be a law against your property tax bill increasing when the value of your home decreases. And why isn’t it illegal for elected officials to hold more than one office at the same time? State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) has heard voters’ complaints and tried to pass legislation to address those issues. “I got 25 fewer votes on (the property tax bill) this year than I got last year when it passed the House and it was killed in the Senate,” Franks said. “I got my... READ MORE

Benefit cuts for RTA, Pace, Metra board members?

April 12, 2013 - Daily Herald

SPRINGFIELD — Members of the Chicago-area transit boards wouldn't get health care or pension benefits under a plan approved by the Illinois House Friday. Current members of the Regional Transit Authority, Pace, Metra and Chicago Transit Authority boards would get to keep benefits they've already earned. But future members wouldn't be eligible for benefits... READ MORE

Voters can’t try to eliminate DuPage forest board salaries

April 12, 2013 - Daily Herald

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House today rejected a plan to give voters the option to eliminate the salaries for members of the DuPage County Forest Preserve District board. In an unusually heated debate, state Rep. Deborah Conroy, an Elmhurst Democrat, argued that times are tough and lawmakers who just Thursday voted to cut the state's lieutenant governor's job shouldn't have a problem doing the same for the local board. "This is money that can be saved for... READ MORE

Quinn wants local control on concealed carry gun law

April 9 , 2013 - Chicago Tribune

Gov. Pat Quinn said today that cities and towns across Illinois should have the power to impose their own restrictions on any legislation lawmakers end up approving to allow citizens to carry guns in public. Quinn's comments come as lawmakers face a June 9 deadline to craft a concealed carry bill after a federal appeals court ruled in December that Illinois' longtime ban was unconstitutional. The Democratic governor has long been opposed to letting people carry handguns outside the home, but said the state must begrudgingly comply with the court's order. But Quinn... READ MORE

Jack Franks for Lt. Gov? State rep looking at statewide run -- undecided on gay marriage

April 8, 2013 - Chicago Sun-Times

State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) confirmed Tuesday that he is setting his sights on a run for higher office, possibly for Lieutenant Governor. "I'm certainly looking at statewide opportunities," Franks told the Chicago Sun-Times today. "I certainly am not interested in running for Lt. Governor with our current governor, I can tell you that." Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon announced in February that she would not run with Pat Quinn in 2014 because she had her eye on another statewide... READ MORE

County rep to stay on RTA for bill battle

April 6, 2013 - Northwest Herald

WOODSTOCK – A legislative effort to do away with the Regional Transportation Authority is putting McHenry County’s appointment of its representative on hold. McHenry County Board Chairwoman Tina Hill said Friday that she would allow representative Al Jourdan to stay on, despite the fact that his term expired Monday, while he and the county fight a state bill aimed at merging the RTA with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning... READ MORE

Illinois hits a sorry milestone

March 25, 2013 - Crain's Chicago Business

Sometime this month, Illinois probably exceeded $100 billion in pension debt, a sorry milestone in the state's long slog to fiscal hell. Illinois would be only the second state to reach the 12-digit mark. But California, the previous epic fail, has a much larger tax base and is on the mend. Pension statistics tend to make eyes glaze over, and the $100 billion moment is an unofficial, back-of-the-envelope calculation. But it's an undeniably big and potentially symbolic number as state legislators wrestle with the shortfall in money owed to current and future retired teachers, judges... READ MORE

Franks, Althoff to host Listening Tour stop

March 24, 2013 - Northwest Herald

WOODSTOCK – State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, will host another stop on his 2013 Listening Tour of the 63rd District on April 6 at Sullivan’s Foods in Harvard. The event will be held in conjunction with state Sen. Pam Althoff, R-McHenry. It will run from 10 to 11 a.m. at Sullivan’s Foods, 1299 S. Division St... READ MORE

Tax cap reform advances again

March 23, 2013 - Northwest Herald

An effort to limit local government’s power to tax when property values decline again is heading for a vote in the Illinois House. House Bill 89, filed by state Rep. Jack Franks, forbids governments under the tax cap from collecting an automatic increase if their overall assessed value declines, except by voter referendum. It passed the House Revenue and Finance Committee on a 10-0 vote Thursday... READ MORE

Two-thirds of races on April ballot unchallenged

March 23, 2013 - The State Journal-Register

As voters head to the polls across the state for the April 9 elections, they will find that for many offices, the result is a foregone conclusion. That’s because for many elective positions in Illinois — the state with the most local units of government in the nation — there is no competition on the ballot. There are no statewide figures, but a GateHouse Media review of eight counties at various locations in the state... READ MORE

Schools as polling places may become optional

March 19, 2013 - Chicago Tribune

State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, who has two school-aged children, said he doesn't like to see open schools used as polling places. "Schools are supposed to be a sanctuary of safety. I go to visit my schools to give talks. … Every time I go, I have to be signed in, buzzed in, (and) go through a secure entrance. Not when you're voting though. I think it's a risk we need not take," Franks said, who is working on legislation to minimize that risk. The issue of student and staff safety when schools are used as polling places has come... READ MORE

Illinois House approves more concealed-carry restrictions

March 19, 2013 - Chicago Sun-Times

SPRINGFIELD-In its fourth week voting on parts of a concealed-carry framework, the Illinois House Tuesday adopted more preliminary measures restricting who could carry a concealed firearm and where it could be done. The first piece of legislation, sponsored by Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago), passed by a 67-44 margin and would ban gun owners from "knowingly" bringing firearms into bars or restaurants that... READ MORE

Give Franks credit

March 19, 2013 - Northwest Herald

To the Editor: After reading your editorial, “Everything Else Can Wait,” and Kevin Craver’s article, “Illinois legislators’ hands are not idle,” in March 10’s edition, I was shocked by the revelations of time wasted on peripheral matters in our state House during a time of extraordinary fiscal chaos... READ MORE

Illinois lost millions on lottery privatization, lawmaker says

March 18, 2013 - Illinois Watchdog

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois lottery, one lawmaker says, has filled the state with losers. State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, says a $20 million fine for Illinois’ private lottery manager, Northstar Lottery Group, amounts to pennies when compared to what the state gave away. “We’re still not getting the kind of return that we could have if we would have just kept this in-house,” Franks said Monday... READ MORE

McCaleb: Endorsements often bring welcome criticism

March 17, 2013 - Northwest Herald

Ultimately, voters need to make their own informed decisions. In this election, we will be selecting local leaders who have the most immediate impact on our lives. Whether it’s for municipal government, school board or township government, these elected officials will decide how to spend our tax money. It’s a shame that the consolidated municipal election usually has the lightest voter turnout of all elections. But that’s been the case. If you disagree with one or more of our endorsements, please feel free to weigh... READ MORE

Erickson: Fraud, abuse hotline seems to be working

March 17, 2012 - Pantagraph

It’s been just over a year since Illinois launched a new way for citizens to report instances of fraud and abuse in state government. And, according to the folks who run the hotline dedicated to unearthing corruption in state government, the program has yielded 65 reports since it went online in January 2012. A spokesman for Illinois Auditor General William Holland’s office said the fraud hotline has received 36 tips over the phone, while the remaining reports came in via online forms or through other means such as the... READ MORE

Schools’ future as polling places in question

March 12, 2013 - Kane County Chronicle

GENEVA – Public and private schools might be removed as polling places for the 2014 election cycle, if an amendment to a bill in the Illinois House of Representatives is successful. The measure would amend the state election code and change the requirement that school districts have to make public buildings available as polling places on election days Cunningham said Kane County has 17 schools that are polling places, seven of which were open for a recent primary election. He said a police officer with a squad... READ MORE

Franks: Don't delay, act on pensions

March 12, 2013 - Northwest Herald

SPRINGFIELD – State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) blasted Gov. Pat Quinn’s continued inaction on calling a special session of the state legislature to hash out a solution to Illinois’ fiscal crisis that passes constitutional muster and ensures the long-term fiscal stability of the pension systems. Today, Franks rose on the House floor to highlight the costs of the Governor’s inadequate response to the crisis. “In the twelve days since I proposed convening a special session, we have accumulated $204 million more debt to finance a pension system that we all know is unsustainable,” Franks said... READ MORE

Pols: Remove Polling Places From Schools

March 8, 2013 - SW News Herald

Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, state Rep. Jack Franks (D-63rd) and state Sen. Tim Bivins (R-45th) joined the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and other law enforcement leaders on Tuesday in calling for legislation that would remove polling places from public and private schools. Planned legislation amends the state Election Code... READ MORE

Local lawmakers – again – pan Quinn budget address

March 7, 2013 - Northwest Herald

“The most difficult budget Illinois has ever faced,” according to Gov. Pat Quinn, is likely “dead on arrival in the House,” according to a local state representative. McHenry County’s representatives in the General Assembly, as in previous years, did not have a high opinion of the $35.6 billion budget proposal for 2014 that Quinn unveiled Wednesday afternoon... READ MORE

Our View: Support for alternate bonds bill

March 6, 2013 - Northwest Herald

When it comes to finances in Illinois, you can’t be too careful. We’re not, after all, a state known for its fiscal management. Having regulations in place to ensure taxpayer dollars are used well is smart. Which is why we applaud an effort by state Reps. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, and Jack Franks, D-Marengo, to tighten the local debt reform act as it relates to alternate... READ MORE

Topinka Wants to Remove Polling Places from Schools

March 6, 2013 - WSIL 3

JACKSON COUNTY -- The Illinois comptroller says schools are no place for voting, but county clerks across our region often rely on those buildings to house election precincts.Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka proposed a law this week banning schools from being used as polling places. She has the backing of several state legislators and police. Topinka says it's a common... READ MORE

Some In Illinois Want Polling Places Out Of Schools

March 6, 2013 - CBS2 Chicago

SPRINGFIELD, IL (IRN) - You can’t be too safe, say the people who want to take polling places out of Illinois schools. While there’s no Election Day incident similar to Sandy Hook or Columbine, “Schools are sanctuaries for our children, and they are supposed to be, by design, a safe place,” says Illinois State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo). Allowing the general public... READ MORE

IL lawmakers want voters out of school

March 5, 2013 - Illinois Watchdog

SPRINGFIELD — This might be the last election where voters in Illinois go to a school to cast a vote. A handful of Illinois lawmakers and Illinois police leaders want to stop using schools as polling places, saying it is just not safe anymore. “I just know in my heart of hearts, that if we continue to allow this, some day we are going to have a version of Sandy Hook,” said Illinois.... READ MORE

Lawmaker Wants To Stop Using Schools As Polling Places

March 5, 2013 - CBS2 Chicago

CHICAGO (CBS) – A state lawmaker wants Illinois to stop using schools as polling places on Election Day, but the idea doesn’t sit well with local election authorities. WBBM Newsradio’s Steve Miller reports hundreds of schools in Illinois are used as polling places, but state Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) has introduced legislation to put a stop... READ MORE

Rockford school might not be a polling place for long

March 5, 2013 - WREX 13 Rockford

SPRINGFIELD (WREX) - After a gunman opened fire and killed 26 people in a Connecticut elementary school administrators were given a harsh reminder that some aspects of safety are out of their control. Illinois lawmakers are trying to keep a little bit of that control by changing up Election Day. A bill currently being introduced in the General Assembly could change your local polling place if it's a K-12 school."On Election Day... READ MORE

District 225 reserves on the decline

March 5, 2013 - Chicago Tribune

Glenbrook High School District 225 is projecting a dip in its fund balance over the next five years that could slip below the amount the district likes to maintain. The current fund balance — or the reserve — is at about 65 percent of what the district's operating budget will be next year. But the reserve could plunge to about 18 percent of the operating budget by 2018, officials... READ MORE

With proposed bill, reps take on alternate revenue bond ‘abuse’

March 4, 2013 - Northwest Herald

A bipartisan bill introduced in Springfield by local legislators is taking aim at alternate revenue bond “abuses,” but some local leaders and bond experts fear it would add another level of bureaucratic red tape and stall what they see as a relatively everyday procedure. House Bill 983 was introduced last month by state Rep. David McSweeney, R-Lake Barrington, with support from Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo... READ MORE

Local reps pan pension hearing

March 2, 2013 - Daily Herald

McHenry County’s representatives in the Illinois House did not have high praise for Thursday’s attempt at moving pension reform forward. Republicans joined their GOP colleagues in not voting for House Speaker Michael Madigan’s soundly defeated proposals, calling the exercise political gamesmanship... READ MORE

Pension cuts fail badly in test votes in Illinois House

March 1, 2013 - Daily Herald

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois House Republicans Thursday refused to participate in test votes on severe public pension cuts and Democrats rejected the proposals harshly. Two proposals by House Speaker Michael Madigan to slash retired teachers' and state workers' yearly cost of living pension hikes were defeated by 2-66 and 5-62 votes. Another to raise the retirement age for teachers and state workers... READ MORE

Illinois House Votes Down Madigan Pension Changes

March 1, 2013 - Northwest Herald

A hearing Thursday on the Illinois House floor intended to gauge lawmakers' support for potential pension reforms turned into a tense squabble between Democrats and Republicans, a sign of the escalating frustration at the lack of compromise on the state's most pressing financial problem. House Speaker Michael Madigan called the hearing to get legislators to openly debate and vote on four divisive proposals that could affect some of the state's retirement... READ MORE

Proposal: Focus only on pensions

March 1, 2013 - Illinois Homepage

SPRINGFIELD -- After three years of work on pension reform with no result, one lawmaker is calling for a change in the process. Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) proposed a full-time committee of the whole devoted to finding a solution to the state's pension crisis. It would require the full house to put all other business aside and only debate pensions until there is... READ MORE

Illinois House to debate harsh pension reform measures

Feb 28, 2013 - Reuters

The Illinois House of Representatives on Thursday was scheduled to debate harsh pension reform measures aimed at restoring the financial health of the nation's worst-funded state pension systems. Powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan scheduled the debate on proposals that would demand bigger pension contributions from workers and raise the retirement age. He also proposed... READ MORE

Illinois Legislators Want Property Tax Freeze

February 27, 2013 - Chicago Magazine

Deal Estate Housing Bulletin Illinois Legislators Want Property Tax Freeze Posted February 27, 2013, at 9:35 a.m. By Dennis Rodkin Illinois lawmakers are dogpiling on a situation that seems paradoxical: property taxes going up when home values are down. As a result, they have introduced five different pieces of legislation calling for property tax freezes. Although not identical, the different measures—House Bills 89, 95, 1499, and 1521 and Senate Bill 1308—all have roughly the same goal: to prohibit school districts... READ MORE

DCEO is Illinois' piggy bank

February 22, 2013 - Chicago Tribune

Illinois may be broke, but it sure finds money when it wants to. Just ask United Neighborhood Organization, a charter schools operator that has pulled down $98 million in state grants (as discussed in the companion editorial). The windfall for UNO has been flowing through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, a state agency with a sketchy track record of monitoring where taxpayer money... READ MORE

The Legislature's 'nickel-and-dime crud'

February 18, 2013 - Crain's Chicago Business

When you're in a hole, the first rule is to stop digging. It's a lesson still lost on many Illinois lawmakers. Earlier this month, the General Assembly took a pork-barrel approach to a must-pass bill to fix some immediate, well-defined problems with the state's legal spending authority for the current year. While the net impact on the state budget wasn't huge, the process rankled many Republicans and even some Democrats... READ MORE

Illinois corporate tax credits swelled to $161 million 2011

February 17, 2013 - Chicago Tribune

When lawmakers raised taxes on Illinois residents and businesses, they also increased corporate income tax breaks for a select group of companies. In 2011, businesses were eligible to claim about $161 million in tax credits — double from the prior year — mostly because of the increase to 5 percent from 3 percent in the state's personal income tax rate... READ MORE

Officials share expectations of General Assembly

January 25, 2013 - Northwest Herald

WOODSTOCK – No furniture was broken, punches thrown or authorities called when McHenry County Board members and state Rep. Jack Franks were in the same room Thursday. The County Board committee in charge of its dealings with state and federal lawmakers met with many of its representatives in Springfield to share what it would like to see done by the General ... READ MORE

McHenry County lawmakers stand firm on firearms

December 28, 2012 - Northwest Herald

Horrified as they were by the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., it hasn’t changed the stance of state Reps. Mike Tryon and Jack Franks when it comes to gun rights. Just days after a federal appeals court found Illinois’ concealed-carry ban unconstitutional, the school shooting left 20 young children and six educators dead. While Gov. Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel have... READ MORE

Report on slimming gov’t needs time

December 11, 2012 - Northwest Herald

Among the bills the General Assembly will tackle in the lame-duck session next month will be extending the deadline for a report on how to pare down the state’s almost 7,000 units of government. The Local Government Consolidation Commission created and chaired by state Rep. Jack Franks was supposed to deliver its report by the end of the year. But a bill asks to push back the deadline to Sept. 30 because of a large amount of information and a late start blamed on leaders... READ MORE

Rank-and-file lawmakers submit pension bill

December 6, 2012 - Northwest Herald

A group of frustrated state lawmakers presented their own attempt at fixing the state’s underfunded pension crisis, setting the stage for a possible showdown during the lame-duck session in January. House Pension Committee Chairwoman Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, unveiled the proposal along with more than 20 colleagues on Wednesday, the last day of the... READ MORE

Area lawmakers look for busy session in Springfield

November 27, 2012 - Northwest Herald

McHenry County’s representatives in Springfield anticipate addressing issues such as expansion of gambling and driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants during the six-day fall veto session that starts today. But don’t expect an attempt to slay Squeezy the Pension Python by shifting teachers’ pensions to local property taxes until the lame-duck session in January. As for Gov. Pat Quinn’s pension shift plan, local legislators... READ MORE

Indiana ready to follow Illinois in privatizing lottery operation

November 25, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

Stealing a page from Illinois, Indiana will soon become the second state to use a private company to run its lottery. After last year becoming the first state lottery in the nation to use a private manager, Illinois saw record revenues that nonetheless fell short of profits promised by Northstar Lottery Group... READ MORE

Quinn faces key leadership test in coming weeks

November 25, 2012 - The State Journal-Register

Through his own insistence, the next few weeks will offer a critical test of leadership for Gov. Pat Quinn.
He has set an early January deadline for solving the state's pension crisis — a decades-old problem he says he was "put on this earth" to solve. He's facing lawmakers intent on expanded gambling in the state despite his veto... READ MORE

Quinn unleashes ‘Pension Python’

November 20, 2012 - Northwest Herald

Gov. Pat Quinn hopes Squeezy the Pension Python will educate Illinois residents about the need for reform of a badly underfunded pension system. Local lawmakers, however, say the cartoon character is just another distraction by a governor slithering around the problem. “I’d prefer that he’d discuss and offer constitutionally accurate pension reform on the website,” said state... READ MORE

Reaction to Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn's pension site varies

November 20, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO — Gov. Pat Quinn's new online campaign to get Illinoisans excited about pension reform quickly inspired mock Web pages and criticism from unions, lawmakers and the Twitterverse. But some social media experts , and a few fellow Democrats, called it an innovative... READ MORE

Quinn's pension marketing push is derided as 'juvenile'

November 18, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

After months of promising a major grass-roots effort to win public support for reforming the state's government worker pension system, Gov. Pat Quinn on Sunday unveiled a plan that featured an incomplete online strategy, children wearing red plastic megaphones and an animated "Squeezy the Pension Python" mascot... READ MORE

Route 20 intersection ideas debated in Union

November 14, 2012 - Northwest Herald

UNION – Advocates of a traffic signal at Harmony Road and Route 20 were told it would require more money and property than the traffic circle the state put on hold last summer after nearly 300 residents expressed outrage that they were not consulted about the intersection. More than 200 residents turned out for a public meeting Tuesday at Village Hall Banquets for a comparison between a traffic signal and a roundabout. State transportation officials expect to make... READ MORE

Illinois Compiled Statutes - County Executive Government

October 16, 2012 - Jana Blake Dickson, Assistant State's Attorney

The following link is to a letter from an Asst. State's Attorney to the McHenry County Administrator's office detailing the powers of the County Executive. READ MORE

Illinois Compiled Statutes - County Executive Government

October 16, 2012 - www.ilga.gov

This is a link to the Illinois Counties Code on the county executive form of government. It outlines the structure and powers of the county executive government, as determined by the State of Illinois. READ MORE

Rep. Jack Franks receives Friend of Agriculture award

October 11, 2012 - McHenry County Farm Bureau

http://mchenrycfb.org/news/rep-jack-franks-receives-friend-agriculture-award. READ MORE

Franks sounds a warning on executive referendum

September 11, 2012 - Northwest Herald

WOODSTOCK – If the McHenry County Board goes through with providing information on the upcoming county executive referendum, the state representative who has raised its ire for spearheading the effort feels it’s only fair he write it. State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, asked board members in a Thursday letter to be the author of any educational materials the board decides to release on the referendum. The letter, written to Chairman Ken Koehler and copied to all County Board members... READ MORE

Consolidation commission to ask for time

September 2, 2012 - Northwest Herald

A state commission to examine consolidating some of the state’s 7,000 units of government plans to ask for more time to develop its report. The Local Government Consolidation Commission likely will ask during the fall veto session that its Dec. 31 deadline be pushed back. The reasons, chairman Jack Franks said, are the long delay in appointments to the commission and the wealth of information it is taking in now that it is meeting... READ MORE

Franks pleased Caylee’s Law is in place

August 28, 2012 - Northwest Herald

State Rep. Jack Franks said he is happy that Gov. Pat Quinn signed his “Caylee’s Law,” but unhappy that such a law is needed in the first place. The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, makes it illegal for a parent, guardian or caretaker of a child younger than 13 to fail to notify law enforcement within 24 hours of a child’s disappearance, if the individuals know or should know the child is in danger. The reporting requirement is reduced to one hour for children age 2 or younger... READ MORE

Illinois State Representative Jack Franks on WLS

August 17, 2012 - WLS 890AM

LISTEN NOW

Judge certifies county executive referendum

August 15, 2012 - Northwest Herald

McHenry County's chief judge certified a binding referendum to ask voters to change county government to an executive form. Judge Michael Sullivan's ruling Wednesday officially puts the referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot. Under an executive form of government, voters still elect their county board representatives by district, but also elect an executive at large to run the county's day-to-day operations.... READ MORE

Governor, haul us back to work

July 25, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

Gov. Pat Quinn Needs to keep his word. The governor has to follow through on his promise to keep lawmakers in Springfield until pension reform is completed. Here we are, seven weeks after the end of the Legislature's spring session, and no special session has been called to solve the state's pension reform crisis... READ MORE

Refreshing commitment

July 20, 2012 - Northwest Herald

In your Jan. 12 editorial “Our View: Laws to Help Openness,” the Northwest Herald applauded two bills recently signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn. The first, House Bill 222, requires municipalities, townships and county governments to submit their employees’ salaries into the searchable statewide database called the Transparency and Accountability Portal. The second bill, House Bill 3934, requires the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to publish the terms of incentive agreements from Illinois’ main economic development program online... READ MORE

Franks: Declare McHenry County a drought disaster

July 17, 2012 - Northwest Herald

WOODSTOCK – State Rep. Jack Franks is calling on Gov. Pat Quinn to add McHenry County to the list of communities declared drought disasters. More than 1,000 communities in 26 states have been declared natural-disaster areas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including some southern Illinois communities. The disaster declaration makes low-interest loans available to farmers to cover crop losses and provides other assistance for those struggling in adverse growing conditions... READ MORE

Our view: Laws to help openness

July 12, 2012 - Northwest Herald

It’s a tried-and-true adage among investigative reporters that when you’re looking for corruption, the key is to follow the money. Two proposals signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn last week will make it easier for taxpayers to do exactly that – search online to see how much companies and individuals benefit from their relationships with government. Those who believe that the free flow of information is essential to good government – as we... READ MORE

Quinn signs transparency bills into law

July 10, 2012 - Northwest Herald

Two new laws will make it easier for Illinois taxpayers to review public-sector salaries and state tax breaks doled out to companies. Both bills, signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn, require agencies to put the information online. House Bill 222 requires county, municipal and township governments to submit employee salaries to be added to the state’s searchable Transparency and Accountability Portal. Under House Bill 3934, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity... READ MORE

Quinn signs bill spotlighting business tax breaks

July 7, 2012 - WJBC

CHICAGO – Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation requiring the publicizing of details of corporate tax breaks as soon as they’re completed. The legislation Quinn signed Friday is a watered-down version of a bill sponsored by Rep. Jack Franks, a Marengo Democrat and critic of tax breaks. Franks’ original bill included a requirement that a committee of experts would review any tax-break deals, but that provision was deleted to improve its chances. Franks on Friday called the legislation “a good start” to bringing... READ MORE

New Legislation Puts Spotlight On Corporate Tax Breaks

July 7, 2012 - CBS2 Chicago

CHICAGO (CBS) – Governor Pat Quinn put his signature on a bill that requires the public spotlight on the details of corporate tax breaks as soon as they are completed. The measure, which was watered down before reaching Quinn’s desk, was sponsored by Marengo Democratic Representative Jack Franks... READ MORE

Local public workers salaries could go online soon

July 6, 2012 - Daily Herald

SPRINGFIELD — The salaries of local government workers could soon be posted online through a state transparency website after Gov. Pat Quinn signed the requirement into law Friday. The law, sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Jack Franks of Marengo and state Sen. Susan Garrett of Lake Forest, would require counties, townships and municipalities to send information to the state about employees’ names, titles, salaries and other information. That information would then be posted on the same site used to share salaries of state workers... READ MORE

New law to shed more light on state tax credit program

July 6, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

Gov. Pat Quinn approved legislation Friday that will increase the transparency of the state's main economic development program.‬ "Gov. Quinn has long advocated for openness in government, and this law will further increase transparency in state operations," a Quinn spokeswoman said in a statement.‬ ‪The program, known as Economic Development for a Growing Economy... READ MORE

Bills to require more info on state leases expected to resurface

July 3, 2012 - The State Journal-Register

Legislation aimed at disclosing more information about the owners of state-leased buildings and the third-party contractors who manage them is expected to resurface by the legislature’s fall veto session. Two bills sponsored by state Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, sailed through the Senate during the legislative session that ended on June 1, but went nowhere in the House ... READ MORE

Broadcast museum opens with question about $6 million state jobs grant

June 12, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

Two years after a $6 million jobs grant from the state jump-started construction on its new building, the Museum of Broadcast Communications has a lot to show for it: 18,000 square feet of television and radio exhibits, recordings and memorabilia that will open to the public Wednesday. What is less apparent is how many jobs the project can take credit for... READ MORE

Betty White, Hugh Downs attend museum gala

June 12, 2012 - ABC 7 News

More than 400 people are attending a gala in Chicago to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Museum of Broadcast Communications. In addition to getting a sneak peek at the exhibits, the big draw is familiar faces, including Oak Park native Betty White. "I think it's important to know where television came from," said White. Also here is legendary ABC News man Hugh Downs. The 90-year-old Downs, who began his career in Chicago, attended the broadcast... READ MORE

Boone County legislators differ in opinions on lack of pension reform

June 12, 2012 - Belvidere Daily Republican

The 2012 state legislative session ended May 31 without coming to terms with pension reform. And that was a major disappointment for state Rep. Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford. “It is truly disappointing that we could not come to a middle ground on finding a solution to the state’s pension crisis,” he said in a statement. “We failed to address the biggest problem this state is facing and are walking down a path where pensions will soon be eating up all the natural revenue growth for the... READ MORE

Our view: Bring more transparency to tax breaks

June 9, 2012 - Northwest Herald

If a business ponders leaving Illinois, state leaders quickly pay attention. When a business says “Jump,” state officials often respond, “How high?” When the “jump” involves hefty tax incentives, the public really ought to be told “how high” they are – right away. Legislation headed to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk would require just... READ MORE

Franks to host ice cream socials

June 7, 2012 - Northwest Herald

WOODSTOCK – State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, will host four ice cream socials in June and early July. The events are held in conjunction with community events across the county. Audience members at the Wonder Lake Ski Show, McHenry and Woodstock band concerts, as well as moviegoers at Indian Oaks Park in Marengo, will be able to get a free cup of ice cream and talk about issues that concern them... READ MORE

Lawmakers Pass Bill Demanding Open Books On Corporate Tax Breaks

June 5, 2012 - CBS2 Chicago

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) — Before adjourning the spring session and leaving Springfield last week, Illinois lawmakers sent Gov. Quinn a bill that would require the state to reveal the details publicly on corporate tax breaks. As WBBM Newsradio’s Dave Marsett reports, the bill would require the details to be revealed as soon as they are complete... READ MORE

Legislature OKs ‘Caylee’s Law’

June 5, 2012 - Northwest Herald

SPRINGFIELD – A bill that criminalizes failing to report a missing child, stemming from the Casey Anthony case, is on its way to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk. “Caylee’s Law”, which passed the General Assembly on the last day of the spring session Thursday, makes it illegal for a parent, guardian or caretaker of a child younger than 13 to fail to notify law enforcement within 24 hours of a child’s disappearance... READ MORE

Quinn Says Sears Help is ‘More Than Adequate’ to Keep Headquarters in Illinois

June 1, 2012 - FOX NEWS

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois General Assembly on Thursday sent to Gov. Pat Quinn legislation resulting from the Casey Anthony murder trial. House lawmakers on Thursday unanimously passed a measure requiring parents or guardians of any missing child 13 years old or younger to notify police within 24 hours. Children 2 years old and younger must be reported missing within one hour of their disappearance. Anthony, the Florida mother who was found not guilty of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee... READ MORE

State Lawmakers Fail To Pass Pension Reform Before Deadline

June 1, 2012 - CBS2 Chicago

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) — Gov. Pat Quinn is promising not to give up the fight for pension reform, after lawmakers failed to get a bill passed before the deadline of midnight Thursday night. As CBS 2’s Susanna Song reports, the failure to reform the state’s public pension systems is a huge setback for Quinn, who has been pushing for pension reform... READ MORE

Thursday Deadline Looms Over State Legislators

May 29, 2012 - Northwest Herald

The end of the legislative session on Thursday, May 31 looms for Illinois legislators, but with several large issues still to tackle the General Assembly may have to stay assembled for some overtime. The three big ones for legislators this year are Medicaid, pension reform and a budget. Medicaid reform, at least, made some headway in both chambers over the weekend. The House and the Senate... READ MORE

Transparency bills on the way to governor

May 27, 2012 - Northwest Herald

Two bills aimed at improving Illinois residents’ right to know – both of which were fought by local government lobbyists – are on their way to Gov. Pat Quinn. The General Assembly last week passed a bill requiring adding municipal, county and township employee salaries to the searchable state database and a bill aimed at improving meeting agendas. House Bill 222, filed in January 2011 by state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, will put the... READ MORE

Budget showdown looming in Springfield

May 27, 2012 - Daily Herald

SPRINGFIELD — State lawmakers foreshadowed a showdown over the Illinois budget Saturday, starting to advance a schools spending plan that would cut schools more deeply than a Senate proposal. The House and Senate are supposed to agree to a plan by a Thursday deadline, in addition to trying to reform the state’s complex retirement systems. The House’s schools plan would cut how much state money suburban schools get by nearly 4 percent. Suburban schools typically... READ MORE

Business incentives transparency bill goes to Quinn

May 27, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

A bill that would add transparency to the state's main economic development program was approved Friday by the Illinois General Assembly. The program, known as Economic Development for a Growing Economy, or EDGE, offers tax breaks to companies that create or retain jobs and make investments in the state. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which administers the program, annually releases the names of companies receiving the... READ MORE

State legislators clamp down on student loan defaulters

May 27, 2012 - Chicago Sun-Times

SPRINGFIELD-The Illinois House voted Saturday to arm a state agency with new powers to garnishee wages for student loan defaulters despite worries the move will drive more Illinoisans into bankruptcy or foreclosure. By a 63-44 vote, the House sent Gov. Pat Quinn a measure sponsored by Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and sought by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission that would target debtors who are behind in student loan repayments... READ MORE

Lawmakers OK Medicaid cuts

May 25, 2012 - Northwest Herald

SPRINGFIELD – Hundreds of thousands of people would see their health care cut back or even eliminated under legislation approved Thursday by Illinois lawmakers in a desperate attempt to repair the state’s crumbling budget. The Medicaid cuts include ending a prescription drug program for senior citizens, halting two programs that provide health insurance for about 35,000 people, and restricting access to services from heart bypass operations to wheelchair repairs. McHenry County’s representatives were split. Democrat Jack Franks voted no and Republican Mike Tryon... READ MORE

Franks, Tryon praise outgoing U.S. attorney Fitzgerald

May 24, 2012 - Northwest Herald

CHICAGO – In a city and state known for tenacious corruption, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald became known for equal tenacity in going after politicians of every stripe. During more than a decade in Chicago, Fitzgerald put behind bars a former Republican governor and then his Democratic successor. He traveled to Washington to win convictions of a top aide to the vice president of the United States, and back home targeted an international media mogul and aides to one of the nation’s most powerful... READ MORE

Quinn to abolish controversial scholarship program

May 22, 2012 - WBEZ 91.5

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said Monday that he intends to sign a law abolishing a controversial scholarship program that allowed state legislators the ability to grant tuition waivers to students in their districts. “Today is a good day for deserving students in financial need, and a good day for the taxpayers of Illinois," the governor said in a statement. The program was a target for critics of government corruption after the Chicago Sun-Times and the Better Government Association... READ MORE

IL lawmakers vote to end scholarship program

May 21, 2012 - Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House voted Monday to abolish a century-old legislative scholarship program blighted by lawmaker abuse. The bill killing the General Assembly Legislative Scholarship Program, which allowed lawmakers to give full scholarships for state universities to students, as long as the students lived in the awarding lawmaker's district, now awaits Gov. Pat Quinn's signature. “There is no place for a political scholarship program in Illinois. As I have repeatedly advocated — scholarships, paid for by Illinois taxpayers — should be awarded only... READ MORE

House votes to end scholarship perk, Quinn expected to sign bill

May 21, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

The Illinois House today voted to end a century-old legislative scholarship program beset by decades of abuse by politicians who passed out the tuition waivers to relatives and children of cronies and campaign contributors. The 79-32 vote sends the scholarship ban to Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, who has said he’ll sign it into law. Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, voted for the ban. "We're not here to create fiefdoms,” Franks said... READ MORE

Property tax bills shock residents

May 13, 2012 - Northwest Herald

If you shrieked in horror when you opened up your property tax bill last week, you’re not alone. Far from it. Yet again, tax bills for many went up, despite the fact that home values have plummeted since the housing bubble burst. And yet again, the ironic main culprit is the law enacted 20 years ago to protect us from runaway property tax increases to pay for schools, county and municipal government and other services... READ MORE

Lawmakers scrambling to find funds to cover child care gap

May 5, 2012 - Northwest Herald

The idea of child care facilities going three months without state reimbursement because funding ran out is intolerable to McHenry County’s state legislators. But the $73 million question they and fellow lawmakers have to answer is, where does a broke state government come up with the shortfall? The Illinois Department of Human Services notified child care facilities in a letter earlier this week that there is not enough money to pay subsidies from the... READ MORE

State Contract Called into Question

May 9, 2012 - Illinois Homepage

One lawmaker is calling for a legislative investigation into the bidding process for the Illinois lottery. Northstar won the state bid back in 2010, but Representative Jack Franks says that decision was fixed. The Auditor General released a report confirming there was a conflict of interest in the contract process. Franks says the Governor's Office did nothing to stop it from happening. The Auditor General plans to dig deeper... READ MORE

Intelligence Report: State rep says lottery contract fixed; Quinn defends process

May 04, 2012 - ABC 7 News

May 4, 2012 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- In this Intelligence Report: A top Democratic state representative is calling for hearings on Governor Pat Quinn administration's role in awarding a contract to run the Illinois Lottery. After Chicago privatized parking meters and the Skyway, Illinois sold off the state lottery in 2010 to a private company. State Representative Jack Franks says that deal was fixed, and Franks is calling for a legislative investigation of how Governor... READ MORE

Private firm falling short of goal in first year of running lottery

May 04, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

Illinois' venture as the first state in the nation to hire a private company to run its lottery got off to an uneven start and could end its first year with the firm paying millions of dollars in penalties for underperformance. Northstar Lottery Group — which took charge of daily operations July 1, a few days after the Illinois auditor general blasted the selection process — promised to boost revenue by more than $100 million... READ MORE

Bill seeks to limit use of special prosecutors

April 29, 2012 - Northwest Herald

The land of special prosecutors” isn’t a very flattering slogan for McHenry County. County taxpayers have paid at least $525,000 so far related to the prosecution of State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi that resulted in his acquittal on all charges. A judge on Wednesday rejected an unrelated request to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Sheriff Keith Nygren’s use of a seven-point star for both official and political... READ MORE

Legislation would ban ‘tax zappers’

April 24, 2012 - Northwest Herald

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation barring the use of tax-cheating software has been introduced by state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo. The purpose of the bill is to crack down on a practice of falsifying cash register electronic records by skimming receipts, thereby lowering sales taxes owed. House Bill 6156 would make the sale or use of tax-cheating software a criminal offense. “The vast majority of Illinois businesses play by the rules and are put at a competitive disadvantage by this unlawful practice,” Franks said... READ MORE

Illinois mulling introduction of state park fees

April 22, 2012 - Daily Register

CLINTON — CLINTON (AP) — Melissa Blasen doesn't think twice about crossing into property owned and managed by the State of Illinois when she heads out for her usual two-mile loop walk. She's been coming to Weldon Springs State Park for years, to exercise or enjoy the outdoors with her two young grandchildren... READ MORE

Quinn plan: Pay more, retire later

April 21, 2012 - Northwest Herald

CHICAGO – Gov. Pat Quinn’s plan to shore up a massive pension shortfall is simple: pay more and retire later. For local lawmakers, the devil is in the details. Quinn announced a pension reform plan Friday that would raise the retirement age to 67 for public employees, shift pension obligations back to school districts, and cut cost-of-living increases for retirees. Illinois’ retirement systems are among the country’s most poorly funded and are roughly $85 billion short of what’s needed to pay pensions in the decades to come... READ MORE

Springfield scene includes Wisconsin governor, indicted pol

April 18, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers returned from spring break Tuesday to tackle the serious issues of an unresolved state budget and the rising costs of pensions and health care for the poor, but there were plenty of sideshows to distract them. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican facing a recall vote, criticized Illinois' state of affairs at a business forum only blocks from the Capitol as organized labor staged a rally telling... READ MORE

Indicted state Rep. Smith shows up for House session

April 17, 2012 - Chicago Sun-Times

SPRINGFIELD — Defying calls for his resignation, indicted state Rep. Derrick Smith finally showed up for work Tuesday in the Illinois House, where he strode onto the House floor, was greeted by several well-wishers and would say only “no comment” when asked about his legal troubles. His presence surprised House Speaker Michael Madigan’s staffers, who had predicted just an hour before the session opened Tuesday that the West Side Democrat would stay away from Springfield... READ MORE

Indicted Rep. Smith Visits Capitol For First Time Since Arrest

April 17, 2012 - CBS2 Chicago

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) – On a day when Pro Football Hall of Famer Richard Dent was honored in the Illinois House, it seems the only person reporters wanted to talk to was indicted Illinois State Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago). Smith attended the Illinois House session in Springfield Tuesday, for the first time since his March arrest alleging he offered to write a letter of recommendation in exchange for a $7,000 bribe... READ MORE

Rep. Derrick Smith back to work in Springfield after bribery charges

April 17, 2012 - ABC 7 News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WLS) -- Illinois Representative Derrick Smith joined his fellow lawmakers at the state capitol in Springfield Tuesday in his first public appearance since the Chicago politician was arrested on bribery charges. Smith, who represents the 10th District, was indicted last week for allegedly accepting $7,000. The indicted lawmaker faces mounting pressure to resign his position because of the bribery charges... READ MORE

Former Bear, Richard Dent, honored by Illinois House

April 16, 2012 - The Republic

CHICAGO — A Chicago Bears defensive end who was named the Most Valuable Player at the 1985 Super Bowl is being honored by the Illinois state House. State Rep. Jack Franks on Tuesday planned to present a resolution recognizing Richard Dent's impact on Chicago sports and community service through the Make a Dent Foundation. The resolution spearheaded by the Marengo Democrat designates August 6, 2012 "Richard Dent Day" in Illinois... READ MORE

Sangamon County efficiency panel to study townships

April 14, 2012 - The State Journal-Register

Would Sangamon County be better off with half as many townships? Does it make sense that some Sangamon County residents pay one of their two annual property tax payments to a township tax collector instead of the Sangamon County treasurer’s office? Should township road commissioners have higher training requirements?... READ MORE

Ill. House OKs spending limits

March 30, 2012 - Northwest Herald

SPRINGFIELD – Virtually every part of state government would be forced to cut spending under a budget outline approved Thursday by the Illinois House, where even supporters called it a “painful, painful” decision. The spending plan calls for cutting the Medicaid health program by $2.7 billion, or about 14 percent of the total. Officials acknowledge that they don’t know how they will reach that target, but it’s likely to involve eliminating services such as dental care or prescription drug coverage for adults... READ MORE

House bill takes aim at unused commissions

March 30, 2012 - PJstar

SPRINGFIELD — State government boards and commissions that no longer meet - or have never met - are a step closer to abolition after an Illinois House vote this week. House Bill 3816, which was sent to the Senate on a 106-8 vote, would dissolve any board or commission if it has not met once in the last two years. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, said the idea is to clean up government waste... READ MORE

Disgraced politician’s farewell underwhelms lawmakers from county

March 15, 2012 - Northwest Herald

Outside of his Chicago home, prison-bound Rod Blagojevich rattled off his accomplishments in front of a throng of news media and supporters. But some local lawmakers say the ousted governor’s legacy is not worthy of boasting. Blagojevich, who didn’t answer questions after his remarks, insisted that he always did what he thought was right for Illinois... READ MORE

Township lobbying staff receiving public pensions

March 14, 2012 - Daily Herald

Though it's funded almost entirely by townships out of their tax collections, the lobbying association of the state's townships is not subject to public scrutiny of its finances. Yet, the four-member staff of Township Officials of Illinois receives public pensions — a fact that riles some suburban state and township leaders, and even some on the organization's own board of directors... READ MORE

House votes to ban talking on phone while driving

March 8, 2012 - Daily Herald

SPRINGFIELD — That long suburban commute in your car could soon get a little quieter after Illinois House lawmakers voted Thursday to ban talking on the phone while driving without a hands-free device. Supporters praised the House plan as one that would cut down on distracted drivers, and by extension, dangerous traffic accidents... READ MORE

Illinois lawmakers closing in on a shark fin ban

March 8, 2012 - Chicago Sun-Times

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois lawmakers are closing in on a shark fin ban after the state House easily passed a bill prohibiting the sale and distribution of fins on Thursday. With virtually no floor debate, House Bill 4119 sailed through the chamber by a tally of 81-33. “I think (the vote) was decisive, I would consider that a mandate,” said Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D–Chicago), the bill’s chief sponsor. “I’m delighted.”... READ MORE

‘Caylee’s Law’ Would Criminalize Failing To Report A Missing Child

March 8, 2012 - CBS2 Chicago

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) — The Illinois House of Representatives has passed a bill that criminalizes failing to report a missing child, in the wake of the fallout from the Caylee Anthony tragedy. As WBBM Newsradio’s Brandis Friedman reports, Illinois State Rep. Jack Franks (D- Woodstock) says his bill, Caylee’s Law (HB 3804) aims to close holes in the criminal code... READ MORE

Illinois House approves two versions of 'Caylee's Law'

March 7, 2012 - The State Journal-Register

The Illinois House on Wednesday unanimously passed two versions of Caylee’s Law, which would criminalize the failure to report the death or disappearance of a child. House Bills 3801 and 3804 would require parents, guardians or caretakers to report these instances after a certain period of time. That period of time differs between the two bills... READ MORE

House passes ‘Caylee’s Law’

March 8, 2012 - Northwest Herald

A bill to criminalize failing to report a child missing unanimously passed the Illinois House on Wednesday. House Bill 3804, or “Caylee’s Law,” would make it illegal for a parent, guardian or caretaker of a child younger than 13 to fail to notify law enforcement within 24 hours of a child’s disappearance, if the individual knows or should know the child is in danger. The reporting requirement is one hour for children 2 years old or younger... READ MORE

Illinois House passes two missing-child bills in reaction to Caylee case

March 7, 2012 - STL Today

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. The Illinois House today passed two bills that would charge parents with felonies if they don't report when their children are missing or die. The bills both are in reaction to the Casey Anthony case that shocked the nation last year. Anthony is the Florida mother who allegedly waited a month to inform authorities that her young daughter, Caylee Anthony, was missing. Casey Anthony was ultimately acquitted of murder charges... READ MORE

Law inspired by Anthony case advances despite criticisms

March 7, 2012 - Pantagraph

SPRINGFIELD — Legislation inspired by a Florida jury’s acquittal in July of Casey Anthony advanced in the Illinois General Assembly on Wednesday, but not without some harsh words about the proposal. One measure, which was approved unanimously in the House on Wednesday, would make it a Class 4 felony if a parent fails to notify officials in a timely manner if their child is missing or dead. In the case of Anthony, she waited a month to notify... READ MORE

McCaleb: Taxing bodies must stop overspending

March 4, 2012 - Northwest Herald

Taxpayers shouldn’t be surprised by the response from local government and school officials to legislation from state Rep. Jack Franks that would prevent taxing bodies such as school districts and municipalities from increasing taxing levies in years when property values decline. The taxing bodies don’t like it. And they’re lobbying hard against it... READ MORE

Wyss: Taxpayers are unlikely to see relief

March 2, 2012 - Northwest Herald

Were you among those who cheered the news of state Rep. Jack Franks’ property tax bill success last week? Franks amended a Senate bill on an unrelated tax issue to include a provision forbidding governments under the tax cap from collecting more in property taxes in years when their total assessments decrease – except by voter referendum... READ MORE

Senate needs to pass zero-cap law

February 29, 2012 - Northwest Herald

If the taxing mechanisms in Illinois were consistent and fair, the property tax zero-cap bill the House passed last week would not be necessary. But government officials viewed basing the biggest chunk of public spending on the local property tax as a perfect idea. It could go wrong only if a taxing district’s property value declined while the rate of inflation flatlined and stayed that way... READ MORE

Quinn lays out closures, budget cuts

February 23, 2012 - Northwest Herald

The governor who extolled an Illinois “moving forward” to state lawmakers three weeks ago told the same audience Wednesday that the state is in deep financial trouble. Saying “our rendezvous with reality has arrived,” Gov. Pat Quinn delivered a sobering 30-minute annual budget address to a joint session of the General Assembly in which he laid out plans to close 14 major state facilities, including two prisons, and close or... READ MORE

In Illinois House, Committee Roles Bring Extra Pay Even for Light Workload

February 23, 2012 - The New York Times

Lawmakers in the Illinois House earned an extra $661,000 last year for serving as committee officers, even though some committees met fewer than five times and a handful met once, a Chicago News Cooperative analysis found... READ MORE

Kadner: Property tax freeze bill sails out of state House

February 21, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

A bill that would freeze property tax levies during years when property values decline overwhelmingly passed the Illinois House of Representatives on Tuesday. I first wrote about the proposal, from state Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo), to freeze property taxes last year. Although that effort failed, Franks vowed the fight wasn’t over. “It passed this year because I didn’t seek any publicity before the vote,” Franks said... READ MORE

Bill takes 2nd stab at reining in tax cap

February 22, 2012 - Northwest Herald

A bill aimed at limiting property tax increases as home values decline passed the Illinois House on a second, stealthier try Tuesday. Senate Bill 2073, which passed on a 74-39 vote, forbids governments under the tax cap from collecting more in property taxes in years that their total assessments decrease, except by voter referendum. The bill, which came to the House in April on an unrelated tax issue, was amended by state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo... READ MORE

State House OKs property tax cap for suburban homeowners

February 21, 2012 - Chicago Sun-Times

SPRINGFIELD — In a potential election-year gift to homeowners and businesses, the Illinois House Tuesday voted to block suburban governments from increasing property taxes when overall property values decline. By a 74-39 vote, the measure sponsored by Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) moves to the Senate, where it is expected to encounter stiff resistance from teachers unions, the Illinois Municipal League and other local government advocates... READ MORE

Bill takes 2nd stab at reining in tax cap

February 6, 2012 - Northwest Herald

Two McHenry County state legislators are co-sponsoring a county-specific bill aimed at limiting property tax increases when home values decline. House Bill 4608, filed by Democratic Rep. Jack Franks and Republican Rep. Kent Gaffney, seeks to forbid governments in counties of between 300,000 and 400,000 residents from collecting more in property taxes in years that their total assessed values decrease... READ MORE

Franks: Ask voters if they want to elect chairman

February 3, 2012 - Northwest Herald

State Rep. Jack Franks offered a compromise to McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler’s opposition to a bill making the chairmanship popularly elected: Put the idea to the voters. In a letter dated Monday, Franks, D-Marengo, offered to withdraw the bill if the County Board puts a binding referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot asking voters whether they want to elect the chairman. The position currently is elected by the County Board’s 24 members... READ MORE

Lawmaker: Quinn A ‘Coward’ For His Handling Of DCFS Investigation

January 28, 2012 - CBS2 Chicago

lawmaker is accusing Gov. Quinn of cowardice for the way his administration handled a scandal at the state’s child-welfare agency. State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, says Quinn knew in April that Erwin McEwen, then the head of the Department of Children and Family Services, was refusing to cooperate in a state inspector general’s investigation... READ MORE

State investigators say DCFS contract fraud could be worse than known

January 27, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

State ethics investigators say they may never know the full extent of an alleged contracting scheme that they say cost taxpayers at least $18 million and led to last year’s resignation of the head of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. The comments came during a legislative hearing Friday examining a probe that found numerous violations by George E. Smith, who held various state contracts across a number of agencies, including DCFS... READ MORE

State Rep. Franks blasts Quinn’s office on alleged misconduct by ex-DCFS chief

January 27, 2012 - Northwest Herald

An attorney for Gov. Pat Quinn faced blistering questioning by legislators Friday on why the governor didn’t quickly fire the head of the state’s child-welfare agency last year after a report of fraudulent billing under his watch. At a hearing in Chicago, Rep. Jack Franks called it “cowardice” on the part of Quinn’s office to ask for Erwin McEwen’s resignation from his post as chief of the Department of Children and Family Services rather than fire him. State inspectors had found that a friend of the former director collected millions of dollars for shoddy or non-existent work... READ MORE

Bill aimed at allowing voters to elect County Board chairman

January 10, 2012 - Northwest Herald

A new bill in the House seeks to reverse the McHenry County Board's decision to continue appointing the board chairman themselves. House Bill 3953, filed Friday by state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, would require counties with more than 300,000 residents to directly elect the county board chairman. McHenry County has 308,760 residents, according to the 2010 U.S. Census... READ MORE

State rep wants panel to review tax-break requests

December 22, 2011 - Crain's Chicago Business

A suburban legislator has introduced a bill to sharply cut Gov. Pat Quinn's power to hand out hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate tax breaks. Under a bill submitted this week by Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, Mr. Quinn no longer would be able to unilaterally approve payroll credits like those... READ MORE

State rep wants panel to review tax-break requests

December 22, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) filed a bill this week that would create a five-member committee to review the contracts between companies seeking tax credits and the state before they are finalized. As it stands, the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity reviews businesses' applications, negotiates and approves the deals... READ MORE

State rep wants panel to review tax-break requests

December 22, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) filed a bill this week that would create a five-member committee to review the contracts between companies seeking tax credits and the state before they are finalized. As it stands, the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity reviews businesses' applications, negotiates and approves the deals... READ MORE

Bill seeks to ban those who owe child support from ballot

December 22, 2011 - Northwest Herald

A bill inspired by U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh’s child support issues would forbid people owing more than $10,000 in back child support from running for office in Illinois. House Bill 3932, filed Tuesday by state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, would require statements of candidacy to include a statement that the person running for office is not delinquent by $10,000 or more... READ MORE

Sears Considers Leaving Illinois For Better Tax Deal

December 2, 2011 - NPR

Thousands of jobs are on the line in a competition between states over the corporate headquarters of Sears. Several states are offering tax incentive packages to try to lure the company away from Illinois, including one bid from Ohio that's worth up to $400 million... READ MORE

Quinn Says Sears Help is ‘More Than Adequate’ to Keep Headquarters in Illinois

December 2, 2011 - FOX NEWS

Chicago - Governor Quinn said there's no reason to get into a bidding war with the state of Ohio to try to keep Sears Holdings Corp. from leaving Illinois. He said a bill that offers tax breaks to Sears -- and to CME Group -- already passed the state Senate with bi-partisan support... READ MORE

Kadner: Property tax bill defeated but fight isn’t over

November 11, 2011 - Southtown Star

Jack Franks (D-63rd) said Friday he will reintroduce legislation in January to give homeowners relief. His bill to freeze property tax levies in communities where assessed values decline was resoundingly defeated 73 to 34 in the Illinois House last... READ MORE

Legislature can refresh PTELL’s effect

October 28, 2011 - Northwest Herald

The total amount they can collect in property taxes to 5 percent or the rate of inflation whichever is less excluding new growth but given current circumstances that s a facet we can pretty...
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Rep. Jack Franks Pushes Property Tax Protection Bill

October 28, 2011 - FOX NEWS 9 pm

It has been a busy week in Springfield as lawmakers tackle everything from gambling to property taxes. Democratic State Rep Jack Franks joined us from Springfield to talk about his proposal to protect homeowners from soaring property taxes...
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Lobbyists fight Franks tax relief bill

October 28, 2011 - Northwest Herald

Local government lobbyists paid by your tax dollars are fighting hard to kill a bill aimed at limiting property tax increases in a declining housing market Interest groups representing...
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Quinn: Law barred me from disclosing DCFS trouble

October 18, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

Gov. Pat Quinn said Tuesday that an ethics law barred him from letting the public know seven weeks ago that he was dumping the director of the state's child-welfare agency over allegations of fraud and mismanagement. He said the law forced him to remain silent about the real reason for getting rid of Director Erwin McEwen until state inspectors finished their probe... READ MORE

Delay of casino gambling bill concerns some lawmakers

October 16, 2011 - Northwest Herald

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Local legislators weigh in on fall veto session

October 10, 2011 - Northwest Herald

The General Assembly has a lot on its agenda when it convenes this month for the fall veto session.
From Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto of ComEd rate increases to pay for a “smart grid” to the controversial gambling expansion bill – to say nothing of the $86 billion pension elephant in the chambers – legislators have a lot to address during the six-day session, which starts Oct. 25... READ MORE

Franks to run again for 63rd district

September 15, 2011 - Northwest Herald

There’s a right way to streamline Illinois’ unwieldy government, and there’s a wrong way. The wrong way is the approach apparently embraced by some state leaders: death by a thousand cuts. A few examples of the piecemeal approach: The action: Gov. Pat Quinn signs the state budget, but he cuts $11.3 million to pay regional superintendents’ salaries. The apparent goal: Eliminate regional offices of education... READ MORE

Legislative ethics? They're only suggestions.

August 27, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

"Recently, Randy Erford, the Executive Director of the Legislative Ethics Commission, and I were invited by the National Conference of State Legislatures to speak in Springfield with a visiting delegation of South African legislative leaders on the subject of ethics and ethics reform in Illinois. The NCSL representative informed us that the delegation was especially interested in Illinois... READ MORE

Illinois State Representative Jack Franks joins Don and Roma

July 20, 2011 - WLS 890AM

Illinois Representative Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) joins Don and Roma - 7/20/2011 Download this show Listen Don and Roma talk with Don's favorite Illinois Democrat, State Rep. Jack Franks. Franks talks about businesses that are allowed to hold state taxes from our paychecks--up to 10 years. How does Illinois attract more business without sweetheart deals?

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COLUMN-Paying taxes your employer keeps-David Cay Johnston

July 19, 2011 - Reuters

Painful as it feels to have a lot of hard-earned income taken from your paycheck for taxes, a new Illinois law does something Americans may find surprising. It lets some employers pocket taxes for 10 years. You read that right -- in Illinois the state income taxes withheld from your paycheck may be kept by your employer under a law that took effect in May... READ MORE

Gambling In Illinois

July 13, 2011 - WGN Radio 720

CHI Crime Commission VP Arthur Bilek and IL state reps Lou Lang & Jack Franks debate the expansion of gambling in Chicago and Illinois... LISTEN HERE

Streamline government

July 13, 2011 - Northwest Herald

There’s a right way to streamline Illinois’ unwieldy government, and there’s a wrong way. The wrong way is the approach apparently embraced by some state leaders: death by a thousand cuts. A few examples of the piecemeal approach: The action: Gov. Pat Quinn signs the state budget, but he cuts $11.3 million to pay regional superintendents’ salaries. The apparent goal: Eliminate regional offices of education... READ MORE

Tax cap law needs tweak

July 5, 2011 - Northwest Herald

Many homeowners this spring learned the hard way that Illinois’ “tax cap” law is not really a cap at all. The “tax cap,” or Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, as it officially is known, simply limits the amount that local taxing bodies can increase their tax levies each year to 5 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. When the rule was implemented in the collar counties, including McHenry County, in 1991, it rescued property owners from steep tax increases as their land grew in value... READ MORE

Bill aims to limit property taxes

June 30, 2011 - Northwest Herald

Many Illinois homeowners were shocked, disgusted, or both, when their 2010 property taxes stayed the same or increased despite sharp declines in their assessments. A bill filed in Springfield seeks to help make the tax cap the friend of the Illinois property owner that it was when values were on the rise. House Bill 3793 would forbid any taxing body whose total assessed value decreases from the previous year, excluding new construction, from collecting an increase... READ MORE

Lawmakers approve $18B spending bill

June 22, 2011 - ABC 7 News

(SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) (WLS) -- Illinois lawmakers avoided a possible shutdown of state construction projects by approving an $18 billion spending bill during a special session. Senate President John Cullerton introduced the stripped-down public works bill without explaining how it was different. "I would ask everyone to vote "aye." Be happy to answer any questions," Sen. Cullerton said... WATCH VIDEO AND READ MORE

Jack Franks - Illinois State Representative - joins Don and Roma

June 20, 2011 - WLS 890AM

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Wiggle room in Motorola Mobility's state tax break

June 19, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

The fine print in a contract between Illinois and Motorola Mobility indicates that the smartphone company can maintain a smaller workforce than the one it employs today and still qualify for more than $110 million in financial incentives designed to keep the company's workers in the state... READ MORE

Wrong way to support businesses

June 17, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

As a small-business owner, I know the impact of the corporate tax increase the state imposed. The tax rate of 9.5 percent is the fourth highest in the nation. I voted against that tax hike, along with the 67 percent personal income tax increase, because Illinois needs to stop spending beyond its means and passing the burden along to the taxpayers... READ MORE

Illinois Still Fighting for a Balanced Budget

June 7, 2011 - FOX NEWS Business Network

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State Rep. Jack Franks on the need for Illinois to cut spending.

Illinois Treasurer Calls to End State Borrowing

May 25, 2011 - FOX NEWS Business Network

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State Rep. Jack Franks says the state needs to stop borrowing money from the federal government.

Jack Franks - Illinois State Representative - joins Don and Roma

May 25, 2011 - WLS 890AM

Don and Roma talk with Illinois Representative Jack Franks. They talk about the budget battle in Springfield. Why won't Governor Quinn listen to spending cuts? What seems to be the problem in Springfield regarding balancing a budget? Why do we give so much money to private corporations to stay in Illinois? What has Rep. Franks done to try and cut spending... READ MORE

Illinois spending heavily to retain companies

May 17, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

Illinois in 2011 is on pace to provide much more money in financial incentive programs to businesses to retain and add jobs, with the total through early May exceeding $230 million pledged to 27 companies. That is nearly the amount pledged all of last year by Illinois to keep corporations from leaving the state or to attract businesses to relocate or expand here, the Tribune has learned... READ MORE

Legislators hoping Quinn to be more involved in budget

May 8, 2011- Galva News

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Pat Quinn notched a rare legislative victory last week, when his last-minute veto threat apparently played a role in the defeat of a proposal to allow people to carry concealed handguns in Illinois. Otherwise, however, observers say Quinn hasn’t been closely involved with General Assembly deliberations this spring – even on proposals Quinn himself initiated... READ MORE

State recoups $89K of $1 million after Blagojevich ‘mistake’

April 27, 2011 - Chicago Sun-Times

SPRINGFIELD — State efforts to recoup $1 million that impeached ex-Gov. Blagojevich said he errantly gave to Loop Lab School yielded Illinois taxpayers a paltry $89,000, Illinois Auditor General William Holland disclosed Thursday... READ MORE

House balks at budget

March 31, 2011 - Northwest Herald

SPRINGFIELD – Leaders of the Illinois House threw cold water on Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget Wednesday by pushing forward with a plan to cut his proposed spending and ignore his call to borrow billions of dollars. Local legislators see this as a step in the right direction, but say a sustainable budget still is a long way off... READ MORE

Illinois House Leaders Ignoring Quinn's Budget Plan

March 30, 2011 - FOX Chicago News

Springfield, Ill. - Illinois House leaders are pushing forward with a budget plan that would ignore many of the governor's spending proposals. The top Democrat and top Republican in the House said Wednesday they have settled on the amount of money available for major categories of state government. Now, House committees will decide which services get a piece of that money and which don't... READ MORE

Franks alleges fiscal abuse on Metra board

March 11, 2011 - Northwest Herald

State Rep. Jack Franks is taking aim at the expenses of the Metra Board’s chairwoman and treasurer in his effort to eliminate and consolidate all four Chicago mass transit boards. At a Thursday news conference in Springfield, Franks accused Chairwoman Carole Doris and Treasurer Jack Schaffer of fiscal improprieties at the expense of taxpayers. Schaffer is McHenry County’s representative on the 11-member board, which Franks said should resign... READ MORE

Franks wants Metra board cleared

March 11, 2011 - Daily Herald

SPRINGFIELD — Rep. Jack Franks said Wednesday that all of Metra’s board members should step down, saying they’ve been able to avoid paying certain taxes because of how their jobs are classified. At Springfield news conference, Franks said the board members shouldn’t be considered typical “employees” and therefore shouldn’t get out of paying taxes on their health benefits... READ MORE

Legislator: Metra board wasting money, should resign

March 11, 2011 - Chicago Sun-Times

SPRINGFIELD — The head of a House government oversight panel Thursday identified a pattern of “deliberate, deceitful” financial abuses by Metra board members and called for them to resign. State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo), chairman of the House State Government Administration Committee, zeroed in on Metra Chairman Carole Doris’ out-of-state travel and the free health care and dual government pensions that the board’s treasurer, former state Sen. Jack Schaffer, collects... READ MORE

Transit board seats give elected officials a second public paycheck

March 6, 2011 - Daily Herald

Nearly two dozen current and former suburban officials already collecting pay or pensions are among those costing taxpayers more than $1 million a year in salaries or health-care benefits for serving on transit boards. A Daily Herald analysis of payroll records from the Regional Transportation Authority, Metra, Pace and Illinois State Toll Highway Authority shows nearly half of the combined members of those appointed boards already draw a salary or pension from holding public office, in many cases from serving as a suburban mayor or village president... READ MORE

Franks is fiscal hawk

February 28, 2011 - Daily Herald

I read the Northwest Herald’s Jan. 22 assessment of the “Granny Tax” recently imposed by our tax hungry state legislature and agree that our state needs to explore other options to address our deficit. So much has gone wrong in Springfield, but our McHenry County legislators have been on the right side of the issues the entire time. Most importantly, State Rep. Jack Franks voted against the income tax, corporate tax and nursing home bed tax hikes... READ MORE

Franks seeks elimination of tollway board pay

January 24, 2011 - Daily Herald

After taking aim at the benefits provided to the appointed boards of public transit agencies, state Rep. Jack Franks is going after the tollway board’s perks now. The Woodstock Democrat introduced legislation that would eliminate salaries, insurance benefits and pensions for the nine-member board of directors appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn... READ MORE

Illinois in a State of Emergency?

January 18, 2010 - FOX Chicago News

State Rep. Jack Franks discusses why he did not vote in favor of a tax increase. VIEW MORE

Tax Increase Bad Law: Jack Franks

January 13, 2010 - FOX Chicago News

Governor Quinn is expected to sign the big tax hike into law as early as Thursday. State Representative Jack Franks of Woodstock joined us from Springfield. He was one of only a handful of Democrats who voted against the increase. VIEW MORE

Goodbye, jobs

January 11, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

At least 1/11/11 will be easy to remember. On that day, with the state of Illinois mired at 48th place nationwide in job creation, Democratic leaders dragged through the lame-duck House a tax plan sure to make many employers do their hiring somewhere else. We'll leave to the Tax Foundation and other data outfits the task of calibrating precisely how much more uncompetitive Illinois becomes if the Senate passes and Gov. Pat Quinn signs this fiasco into law... READ MORE

Franks Bashes Tax Hike

January 11, 2011 - The News - Gazette

SPRINGFIELD – With the help of "yes" votes from at least 10 lawmakers serving their last hours in the Legislature, the Illinois House approved a 66 percent income tax increase Tuesday night. The 60-57 vote came around 8 p.m., with less than 16 hours remaining in the 96th General Assembly. Among area lawmakers, only state Democratic Rep. Naomi Jakobsson of Urbana voted for the tax increase. She had said for months that she would do so... READ MORE

Income Tax Hike

January 9, 2011 - Wand TV

State Rep Jack Franks says lawmakers need to look to the governor’s office for support on the 75 percent income tax increase.

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Jack Franks on Tax Vote

January 9, 2011 - Illinois Statehouse News

State Rep Jack Franks says lawmakers need to look to the governor’s office for support on the 75 percent income tax increase.

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Is Income Tax Hike Dead?

January 9, 2011 - CBS Chicago

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Illinois House leaves town without voting on income-tax hike

January 7, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

SPRINGFIELD --- House lawmakers left town today without voting on a major income-tax increase as doubts emerged about whether there's enough support to pass it. “The votes aren’t here in the House yet,” said Rep. Frank Mautino, D-Spring Valley, a House budget expert. “There’s not 60 votes.” House Speaker Michael Madigan has not commented on the proposal yet, but was expected to meet with Gov. Pat Quinn behind closed doors today to fine-tune the plan. The governor also has been asking individual lawmakers into his office to lobby them for support... READ MORE

Legislature approves watchdog over transit agencies

January 6, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

Eight months after longtime Metra boss Phil Pagano committed suicide in the face of possible criminal charges, the General Assembly voted to give the state's top ethics official new watchdog power over Chicago's mass transit agencies. Under a bill approved Thursday, the state's executive inspector general would have wide authority to help guard against corruption, waste and fraud at the Regional Transportation Authority, the CTA, Metra and Pace... READ MORE

Illinois takes steps to stop doctors who sexually abuse patients

November 29, 2010 - Chicago Tribune

Rudy Bermudez was so upset when his fellow members on the Medical Board of California restored the license of a doctor convicted of sexually abusing a patient that when Bermudez was later elected to the state Assembly he penned legislation to revoke the license automatically of every doctor with a sex-crime conviction. As Illinois policymakers begin crafting better ways to stop sexual misconduct by physicians in this state, Bermudez says... READ MORE

Lawmakers target transit agencies

November 27, 2010 - Chicago Tribune

Two state lawmakers are taking aim at top officials at Metra and other transit agencies, seeking to replace all their board members and eliminate their pay and benefits. Separate measures submitted by Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, and Sen. Terry Link, D-Vernon Hills, call for sweeping out all the mass-transit directors as a result of the corruption scandal involving Metra's longtime boss, the late Phil Pagano... READ MORE

Why aren't they gone?

November 22, 2010 - Chicago Tribune

Every time we write about how the Metra rail system was fleeced in broad daylight by an executive director run amok, we hear from angry readers who want to know why Metra's board of directors hasn't been fired. It's a fair question. Here's one answer: The Metra board has almost as many bosses as it has members. The 11 directors are appointed by politicians in eight jurisdictions, a power-sharing compromise that's more about turf protection than joint governance... READ MORE

Franks bill would axe transit salaries

November 19, 2010 - Northwest Herald

Salaries and benefits for members of boards overseeing mass transit and the Illinois Tollway would be abolished under a legislative push by state Rep. Jack Franks. Franks, D-Marengo, has filed bills in the fall veto session aimed at eliminating salaries, health care and pension benefits for members of the operating boards of the Regional Transportation Authority, Metra, Pace, the Chicago Transit Authority and the Illinois Toll Highway Authority... READ MORE

We don't need a lieutenant governor

November 13, 2010 - Daily Herald

It's been almost 22 months since Rod Blagojevich lost his impeachment trial and Pat Quinn replaced him as governor. During that time, the state of Illinois has operated without a lieutenant governor. Has anybody noticed any difference? Has anybody worried about it? Has anyone issued dire warnings that the absence of a lieutenant governor threatens the stability of state government?... READ MORE

Franks wants more transparency at local government level

November 12, 2010 - Northwest Herald

Legislation introduced this week would make local government salary information available at any time to anyone with a computer and Internet access. State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, wants to expand the Illinois Transparency and Accountability Portal, which lists information at the state level including employee pay, agency expenditures, and agency contracts. “We need to become much more transparent in the state of Illinois, and that has been a problem we have had for as long as I can remember,” Franks said... READ MORE

State House District 63: Franks

October 18, 2010 - Daily Herald

If Democrat Jack Franks is known for anything in the legislature and in truth, he is known for a lot it is for his frank willingness to challenge the powers that be whenever he sees something in government he doesn’t like. And the things he doesn’t like backroom deals, bloated pensions, opaque government bureaucracies, tax increases, a cumbersome, misleading budget process and more are things that desperately need to be challenged... READ MORE

State Rep. D-63: Franks

October 7, 2010 - Northwest Herald

Democrats in Springfield largely are responsible for the fiscal mess in which the state of Illinois finds itself. Democrats have controlled the House, Senate and the governor’s office for each of the past eight years. They’ve had the opportunity to fix this state’s many problems, but instead have made them worse. So recommending an incumbent Democrat for state office this year would seem to be recommending more of the same... READ MORE

Change the House

October 1, 2010 - Chicago Tribune

The Tribune offers more endorsements in contested races for the Illinois House. 41st District (west suburbs) — Voters won't go wrong choosing between Republican attorney Chris Nybo, a member of the Elmhurst City Council, and Democrat Brian Stephenson, an attorney from La Grange Park. They agree on many issues, including resistance to an income tax increase. It's great to hear Stephenson talk about abolishing Cook County townships... READ MORE

Recall amendment to state Constitution on Nov. 2 ballot

October 1, 2010 - Northwest Herald

Voters will be asked Nov. 2 whether they want to amend the Illinois Constitution to allow the public to recall future governors. If approved, the amendment would set up a system by which voters could remove the governor from office. Given the fact that two consecutive Illinois governors have been convicted on corruption charges, and that five previous governors have been indicted, supporters say the mechanism is needed to keep the state’s chief executive honest... READ MORE

Ill. voters to decide on recall option for guvs

October 1, 2010 - BND.com

CHICAGO -- Illinois voters may soon get the power to remove a sitting governor from office, thanks in part to ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Advocates of voter recall had been trying for years to amend the Illinois Constitution so that people could get rid of unpopular officials. Their efforts went nowhere until Blagojevich was arrested and then impeached by lawmakers. Suddenly, legislators were eager to put a recall amendment on the ballot, so long as it didn't affect them... READ MORE

Voters To Decide On Recall Option For Governors

October 1, 2010 - CBS2 Chicago

Illinois voters may soon get the power to remove a sitting governor from office, thanks in part to ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Advocates of voter recall had been trying for years to amend the Illinois Constitution so that people could get rid of unpopular officials. Their efforts went nowhere until Blagojevich was arrested and then impeached by lawmakers... READ MORE

Probe needed in lottery bid

September 24, 2010 - Northwest Herald

The circumstances surrounding the awarding of management of the state lottery to a private firm are, at best, shady. That’s why we join local legislators in asking the state Attorney General’s Office to look into the process. Last week, Gov. Pat Quinn handed Northstar Lottery Group a contract to manage the state’s lottery for the next 10 years. Two companies, Northstar and Camelot Group, were finalists for the contract. Three Northstar subsidiaries already have contracts with the state to run specific lottery operations... READ MORE

Lawmakers question
lottery deal

September 22, 2010 - Northwest Herald

CRYSTAL LAKE – Concerns about the process that awarded management of the Illinois Lottery to a private firm could prompt an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office. State Rep. Jack Franks, who has been critical of the privatization, sent a letter to Attorney General Lisa Madigan requesting that her office take a closer look at the Illinois Lottery Evaluation Committee and how the contract was awarded... READ MORE

Legislator seeks attorney general probe of lottery deal

September 19, 2010 - THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

SPRINGFIELD -- A legislator who has been critical of the state’s hiring of a private manager to run the Illinois Lottery wants Attorney General Lisa Madigan to investigate how the choice was made. Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, said Friday the way Northstar Lottery Group was selected was too secretive. “For good reason, there is great fear in the state of Illinois that, without transparency, clout-heavy bidders will unfairly win contracts based on their relationships rather than their value to the taxpayers,” Franks wrote in his letter to the attorney general... READ MORE

Lottery workers protected after private managers take over

September 19, 2010 - THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

Current employees of the Illinois Lottery will have job protections even after a private manager takes over lottery operations next year. The legislation that authorized the state to look for a private manager specified that current workers could not lose their jobs as a result of the takeover. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents about 150 lottery employees, insisted on the protections... READ MORE

Illinois’ Jobless Picture Improving

September 16, 2010 - Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD – One in ten people in Illinois is still out of work, but the latest numbers show the jobless rate in the state is improving. Unemployment numbers released Thursday show the jobless rate in August slipped to 10.1 percent, down from 10.3 percent in July. In August of 2009, Illinois’ unemployment rate sat at 10.6 percent. Illinois’ unemployment figures are still higher than the national average. Across the country, the jobless rate ticked to 9.6 percent in August... READ MORE

Illinois picks Northstar to run state lottery

September 15, 2010 - The Times

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois is banking its luck on a few businesses to help boost its fortunes with the state lottery. Gov. Pat Quinn Wednesday selected the Northstar Lottery Group to enter into a contract with the state to privately manage the lottery In an unprecedented agreement for Illinois. In winning the contract, the Northstar consortium beat out the other finalist, the Camelot Group, which manages the national lottery in the United Kingdom... READ MORE

Quinn's Secret Lottery Deal Must Be Stopped

September 14, 2010 - The Huffington Post

The stars are aligning for another bad deal for Illinois taxpayers, one that will dwarf the mistakes of Chicago's parking meter fiasco. At any moment, Governor Pat Quinn is set to receive a recommendation from his administration's secret Illinois Lottery evaluation committee on who will manage the day-to-day operations of the Illinois Lottery. Governor Quinn is scheduled to make his official decision by Wednesday... READ MORE

FOX Chicago Sunday: State Rep. Jack Franks

August 23, 2010 - WLS Radio's Don and Roma show

When state lawmakers impeached former governor Rod Blagojevich over a year ago, the public had only heard a few of the federal wiretaps. Now that a federal jury deadlocked on most of the charges in the Blagojevich corruption trial, was his impeachment a rush to judgment? State Rep. Jack Franks is here on FOX Chicago Sunday to talk about the impeachment case he led against Rod Blagojevich... READ MORE

State Rep Jack Franks joins Don Wade and Roma

August 23, 2010 - WLS Radio's Don and Roma show

On August 23rd, State Rep Jack Franks joined Don Wade and Roma to discuss the Blagojevich retrial. Is it worth it to use taxpayers' money to pay for Blagojevich's retrial? How long will he have to do for him to be satisfied? Does horse trading happen all the time? How corrupt is Illinois? Are term limits the solution... READ MORE

Jurors were close to convicting Blagojevich

August 18, 2010 - Northwest Herald

CHICAGO (AP) — They were close. After three weeks of respectful but increasingly tense deliberations, 11 jurors were ready to convict Rod Blagojevich of what prosecutors called a "political corruption crime spree" that would have sent yet another former Illinois governor to prison. Not close enough... READ MORE

The Blagojevich verdict:
Stay tuned

August 18, 2010 - Daily Herald

It must be said at the outset that one important statement underlies all reflections on the Rod Blagojevich trial. The former Illinois governor is a felon. It is true that the single charge that Blagojevich's jury could reach agreement on was one of the least significant of the 24 he faced, but it is not insignificant... READ MORE

Prosecutors plan to retry Illinois' Blagojevich

August 18, 2010 - USA Today

After the former Illinois governor was found guilty Tuesday of just one of 24 felony corruption counts — lying to the FBI — federal prosecutor Reid Schar said it is "absolutely our intent" to retry the 23 charges on which the judge declared a mistrial. "We could be here tomorrow," Schar said. U.S. District Judge James Zagel set an Aug. 26 hearing to decide timing of the retrial... READ MORE

Officials agree verdict a sad day for Illinois

August 17, 2010 - Aledo Times Record

Gov. Pat Quinn famously defended Blagojevich during the 2006 election season, calling him honest. “You can be misled, and that can happen in life to anyone,” Quinn said at a Statehouse news conference. “I think it’s very disappointing to hear in the testimony of the trial the things that the former governor said – I was unaware of and I certainly was shocked by – and I think that’s why I led the effort for recall in 2007 and into 2008.” Voters this fall will be able to adopt a constitutional amendment allowing for the recall of Illinois governors...READ MORE

Social service agencies plead for state gov’t help

August 6, 2010 - Northwest Herald

McHENRY – Area human services providers told state legislators Thursday that they need to know how much money to expect from the state so the agencies can better plan on how to provide their services. The Human Services Advocates of McHenry County is a collection of human services agency board members who meet to discuss issues and how to educate the public and elected officials of the agencies’ needs... READ MORE

Illinois Should Better Manage the Lottery, Not Waste the Bucks

August 2, 2010 - The Huffington Post

Our state recently put the wheels in motion to hire a private management firm to run the Illinois lottery for the next decade. No other state has ever tried to privatize any portion of their lottery. There is a simple explanation for this; taxpayers lose out under a privatization plan. The rationale behind privatization is to make Illinois' lottery operate like a cutting-edge business... READ MORE

What does the future hold for school funding, unions?

August 2, 2010 - Northwest Herald

The state of Illinois owes school districts about $1.3 billion. The number of schools on the state financial watch list jumped to 29 in fiscal year 2010 from 22 in fiscal year 2009. Meanwhile, Alden-Hebron District 19 spent $10,669 to educate a student in 2008-09; down the road in Harvard District 50, officials spent $7,172 a student. The funding system isn’t working. Everyone can at least agree on that... READ MORE

Rep. Franks Talks About Employer Credit Check Bill

July 30, 2010 - FOX Chicago News

A proposed law in Illinois could give those with bad credit a much needed second chance. State Rep. Jack Franks discussed what's in his bill and what it means to anybody looking for a job.

Bill Would Ban Employer Credit Checks

July 30, 2010 - FOX Chicago News

Chicago - There may be new hope for those with bad credit who are looking for a job. Many people can't get employed -- not because they don't have decent credentials -- but because they don't have decent credit. Now, a proposed law in Illinois could give them a much needed second chance.

Franks on the FOX Business Network

July 29, 2010 - FOX NEWS 9 pm

Jack will be FOX Chicago's 9 pm News tonight to talk about his Employee Credit Privacy Act.

Franks on the FOX Business Network

July 26, 2010 - FOX NEWS Business Network

Click here to watch video

Watch for State Rep. Jack Franks on the FOX Business Network Monday, July 26, around 9:40 am (central time). Rep. Franks talks with Stuart Varney about the economic state of Illinois and the possible privatization of the Illinois lottery.

Franks does what's right for residents

July 11, 2010 - Daily Herald

Your June 5 editorial highlighted the fact that the only McHenry County legislator to support a sales tax holiday in Illinois was state Rep. Jack Franks. All the other area legislators voted against cutting taxes to stimulate the economy and give consumers a much-needed break. Rep. Franks has been working to get this law passed for years. The sales tax holiday will allow everyone to pay reduced taxes on clothing and school items from Friday, Aug. 6, to Sunday, Aug. 15... READ MORE

Credibility sunk by big raises for Quinn's staff

July 9, 2010 - Pantagraph

Gov. Pat Quinn talks a good game about the need for “shared sacrifice” to address the state’s woeful budget situation. But the raises Quinn gave to 35 of his staffers in the past 15 months calls into question what kind of “sacrifice” is being shared. The average increase was 11.4 percent — coming at a time when people in the private sector are taking pay cuts or being laid off, teachers are losing their jobs, bills are not being paid and on it goes... READ MORE

More Quinn logic that escapes us

July 9, 2010 - Daily Herald

We give Gov. Pat Quinn a hard time quite often, and we recognize that. Thing is, he makes it so easy. Here's another editorial idea he served up to us, big and delicious: At the same time he's been traveling Illinois bemoaning the state's huge debt, he's been giving raises that average 11.4 percent to 35 members of his staff, according to an Associated Press analysis reported Tuesday... READ MORE

Quinn's Lack of Leadership Continues to Hurt the People of Illinois

July 8, 2010 - The Huffington Post - by Jack Franks

July 1, Governor Pat Quinn proudly proclaimed that he made tough budget choices to move our state forward. Fresh from issuing $509 million in cuts made with his newly enhanced executive power, another $891 million held in reserve and an executive order aimed at cutting state employee expenses, Quinn acted as if he had stood the hard line on spending. But, like most vague declarations, the devil is in the details. Quinn failed to tell the public that his more than $1 billion in cuts was mostly smoke and mirrors. In reality, Quinn cut very little from the budget, which still carries a $13 billion deficit... READ MORE

Quinn’s staff gets big raises

July 7, 2010 - USA Today & Northwest Herald

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Pat Quinn handed out raises – some of more than 20 percent – to members of his staff while proclaiming a message of “shared sacrifice” and planning spending cuts of $1.4 billion because the state is awash in debt. The Democrat gave 43 salary increases averaging 11.4 percent to 35 staffers in the past 15 months, according to an Associated Press analysis of records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act... READ MORE

What's up (or down) with state spending

July 5, 2010 - Chicago Tribune

Gov. Pat Quinn crafted this year's state budget with nearly unfettered power to spend taxpayer money and cut programs as he saw fit. The unprecedented authority led Quinn and his aides to spend weeks deciding what to slice and what to spare, knowing that each move will be examined carefully under the magnifying glass of the governor campaign... READ MORE

Gov. Quinn: Veto the Budget, Bring General Assembly Back to Springfield

June 10, 2010 - The Huffington Post - by Jack Franks

I called on Governor Pat Quinn this week to veto the budget plan provided by the General Assembly and bring the legislature back to Springfield immediately to fulfill our constitutional obligation to pass a responsible, balanced budget. Just a few weeks ago, the General Assembly provided the Governor with a budget that is unbalanced and unconstitutional... READ MORE

Recall will be on Nov. Ballot

June 7, 2010 - Northwest Herald

SPRINGFIELD – After November, voters might be able to oust the governor. The power of recall will be the first state constitutional amendment on the Illinois ballot since 1998. If approved, the recall provision would be similar to the process used in California, said state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo. He began pushing for the amendment in 2008 after abuse-of-power allegations against then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich... READ MORE

In Blagojevich Corruption Trial, a Political Window

June 2, 2010 - The New York Times

CHICAGO — As jury selection in the corruption trial of Rod R. Blagojevich begins on Thursday, people here are less curious about what they may learn about the impeached former Illinois governor than they are about who else will be tainted in the proceedings .The trial may finally open a window into Mr. Blagojevich’s interactions with other politicians and political strategists, business and union leaders and others... READ MORE

House OKs Borrowing to Cover State Pensions

May 26, 2010 - The State Journal-Register

Pension borrowing — a major (and controversial) component of a state budget plan — finally won approval in the Illinois House on Tuesday after a series of rejections. The House voted 71-44 to borrow up to $4 billion to cover next year’s payments to the five state-funded pension systems. The bill needed a super-majority of 71 votes to pass, and two Republicans — Bill Black of Danville and Robert Biggins of Elmhurst — provided the needed margin... READ MORE

Illinois Lawmakers Adopt Plan to Borrow To Pay For Pensions

May 26, 2010 - FOX Chicago News

Springfield, Ill. - The Illinois House has approved key pieces of a Democratic budget plan that attempts to address the state's massive budget deficit. One measure would borrow $3.7 billion to make the state's annual contribution to government pension systems. Another would give Gov. Pat Quinn broad power to decide where to cut spending. Quinn would also be allowed to borrow from special government funds... READ MORE

Jack Franks: Remove Member Initiatives in Budget

May 25, 2010 - FOX Chicago News

Lawmakers in Springfield have a $13 billion budget hole to fill, and there's been a lot of debate over what to do. Representative Jack Franks says he has suggested ways to cut spending, but he says Governor Quinn never considered them. He joined us by phone. READ MORE

Illinois Senate Passes Budget Plan After Midnight

MAY 7, 2010 - FOX Chicago News

Chicago - There may be new powers for the governor as the Illinois Senate worked past midnight Thursday to approve a $57 billion spending plan without a major tax increase. House Democrats will meet with Governor Quinn Friday before considering the budget. READ MORE

Gov. Quinn:No Borrowing Without $2 in Cuts for Each $1 Borrowed

APRIL 29th, 2010

I want you to imagine for a minute that your family is facing a monumental fiscal crisis. Bill collectors are hounding you, you're facing foreclosure on your home and your children's tuition is due. Just before the moment of reckoning, in the mail you receive an offer to loan you all the money you need to pay your bills, keep your house and pay your children's tuition. With few other options, you cautiously accept the offer. One year later... READ MORE

Want to solve the budget crisis? Say no to spending

APRIL 22th, 2010 - Chicago Tribune

I sit in the Illinois House week after week, listening to debate, moving bills, and I think: We are out of control. We have a $13 billion budget deficit, the worst in memory. We run the government by shooting from the hip: borrowing money and not paying our bills. We are in trouble. And we won't get out of trouble unless Gov. Pat Quinn and Illinois legislators have the courage to put a stop to the unchecked spending that got us where we are today. We have a disaster. It is man-made.
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FOX Chicago Sunday: Jack Franks

MARCH 29th, 2010 - FOX Chicago News

The Illinois legislature moved swiftly last week to pass sweeping reforms to the State's pension system. It's a move expected to save as much as a hundred billion dollars years down the road, but little upfront.

State representative Jack Franks joins us from Springfield for this week’s Fox Chicago Sunday.

Franks: Evaluate Every Line Item

MARCH 18th, 2010 - FOX Chicago News

Some state lawmakers are not happy with the governor's budget that includes cuts to education and human services. They also say that the governor should take a closer look at wasteful spending before raising taxes.

State Representative Jack Franks joined us from Springfield.