‘I’ll be a strong voice’ for district
Growing up in upper Rock Island County in a middle-class working family and as a second-generation union member, I understand what middle-class families go through to make ends meet. There is nothing more important than being able to provide for our families.
For the first time in Illinois’ history, the next generation may be worse off than the previous one because of the failures of Springfield. We need to be able to believe in the American dream again – jobs that can support a family, quality public education, and a real safety net for our seniors, people with disabilities, and children.
Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. We must provide them the necessary tools to not only survive but the opportunity to expand and grow to help revitalize our economy.
The expansion of U.S. Route 30 to four lanes from Clinton to Interstate 88 will provide crucial infrastructure for attracting new businesses while creating opportunities for existing ones in the Whiteside County area.
In addition, high-speed rail from the Quad Cities to Chicago will create jobs and boost commerce in our area.
I believe success is being fiscally responsible and knowing the importance of job creation, infrastructure, and education.
A project where infrastructure and job creation meet is Thomson prison. I applaud its sale to the federal government for $165 million.
The proposal my opponent authored to give it away is an unfortunate example of the short-sighted fiscal irresponsibility that Illinois can no longer afford.
We need to ensure that the prison opens in a timely fashion, creating 1,100 jobs and injecting $200 million into the local economy. The $100 million-plus that my opponent felt Illinois could afford to leave on the table will help pay the state’s debts to local districts, health-care providers, and vendors the state has done business with.
Seniors are the cornerstones of our communities, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at the politicians in Springfield. Between increased health care costs and cuts to programs that help seniors stay in their own homes, our seniors have had to handle more than their fair share of economic hardship.
As our next state representative, I’ll fight every single day against increased health care costs. I’ll work to restore the Illinois Cares Rx program. And I’ll work to preserve programs that enable seniors to maintain their independence as well as facilities like Hope Creek that provide such an important safety net for our community.
Education must be a top priority. I’ll fight to make our kids’ schools the best they can be. I’ll be a strong voice for educators and parents who want to be able to make decisions locally in order to meet educational challenges. And I’ll work to ensure that Illinois families get the best return possible on every dollar in taxpayer funds going to education. I’ll stand up to any politician in Springfield trying to make further cuts to our kids’ schools.
I hope to earn your support, your prayers, and your vote for Illinois state House on Tuesday, Nov. 6.
