Chicago Sun-Times: “Dillard, facing his first legislative primary since 1994, has drawn flak from within his party since filming a campaign commercial touting Obama’s work on an ethics bill they co-authored. The ad aired when Obama was in a pitched battle with Hillary Clinton to win the 2008 Iowa Caucus and put Dillard on the defensive in his razor-thin gubernatorial primary loss two years later.”
Read more: Chicago Sun-Times

Jobs

What should Illinois do – via tax policy, spending or other policy means – to promote job creation? Do you support tax relief and other forms of state or local incentives for major employers such as Motorola and Navistar? If so, how would you cover the revenue loss to the state budget?

Creating jobs must be our first priority, but the Illinois government has created an environment over the past decade that is hostile to business. First, we must repeal the staggering number of new and increased fees on businesses, such as the recent income tax increases. Second, we must roll back new laws and regulations that make it costly to do business here. We must continue workers’ compensation reform that only began with HB1698. Notwithstanding the criticism and pressure from those within my own caucus, I was proud to be the only House Republican to support this measure that is saving businesses over $600 million on their rates. We must continue the effort toward comprehensive reform: establishing “primary” cause as the standard for determining compensability, requiring objective findings of disability based on AMA guidelines, and more appropriately taking into account employee intoxication in awarding benefits.

Businesses in Illinois, like residents, need tax relief. The best way to increase revenue is to increase the amount of taxpayers, not taxes. While I strongly support making Illinois a low-tax state, the special tax breaks for Sears and CME revealed there is no such thing as “business tax structure” in Illinois. Instead of a coherent policy applicable to all businesses, we have thousands of exemptions, breaks, discounts, and credits for numerous businesses and industries. Our state needs a cogent, coherent and consistent policy in this area, and we should make it a priority to establish ourselves as an overall “low tax” state for ALL businesses.

Offer three ideas of your own and, if they would cost the state money,explain how you would pay for them.

Ideas mean nothing if not turned into action. In one year as a legislator, I have strived to get things done and I have also been willing to “take the heat” to make tough decisions. The first bill I authored (HB3294) was a proposal to expand the availability of life-saving allergy medicine for students who suffer from allergies. This bill was in response to a tragic allergy-related death in a Chicago school, it became one of the top priorities for Attorney General Madigan, and as a result of this effort I was honored by the Illinois School Nurses Association.

Second, I worked with Treasurer Rutherford to pass SB107, which will allow the State to place a portion of its investment portfolio into venture capital funds that will boost start-up technology companies and create jobs without increasing taxes. This bill had stalled in prior sessions, but we employed a new legislative strategy to finally pass it.

Third, it’s time for reasonable term limits. Serving in the legislature was never meant to be a “lifetime career” but too many legislators have made it that. By the time a new full term ends, Kirk Dillard will have served a quarter century in the Senate should he win. That’s just wrong, and why the first bill I filed this year is a meaningful, but reasonable term limits proposal: 12 years for Representatives and Senators. This is enough time for people to advocate for their districts before allowing new energy, ideas and people to emerge.

Wisconsin and Indiana have curtailed the collective bargaining rights of public employees. Do you support such changes and if so, how would you design them?

I come from a family with a long and proud history of union membership and involvement, and so I do not support curtailing the existing collective bargaining rights of any employee – public or private. However, given how Governor Quinn negotiated sweetheart deals for state labor unions shortly before his re-election, I strongly support more legislative involvement and oversight for our state’s labor relations. The negotiated union pay increases and guaranteed job retention provisions are simply unconscionable given what has been happening in the private sector with wage freezes and reductions in force. Just like a business or a household, Illinois needs to tighten its belt, and this includes what we pay our employees and whether we can afford to employ them. I also support increased restrictions on the ability of public employees to go on strike. We imposed such restrictions in connection with teachers in last year’s monumental education reform bill (SB 7), and we should consider extending these measures to all public employees who maintain the ability to go on strike.

Retirement

Illinois’ pension system has unfunded obligations of $86 billion or more. Unfunded retiree health obligations total many additional billions. How would you resolve these shortfalls?

The pension system in place for current employees is simply unsustainable. It has resulted in over $86 billion in long-term debt for taxpayers, and – left unattended – would undoubtedly run out of money within a generation or two. To ensure the solvency of the funds, protect the retirement of those whose livelihoods depend on it and protect taxpayers, we must restructure pension as follows: (1) current employees must contribute more, and (2) benefits need to be paid out at more reasonable levels.


Not only do I support pension reform, one of the first actions I took as a new legislator was to create a Legislative Advisory Committee consisting of over 70 residents from my district, including a smaller group of current and retired teachers and other interested citizens to specifically look at the issue of pension reform. As a result of our work together, I presented Speaker Madigan and Leader Cross with a viable proposal for reforming our pension systems, including both increased contribution rates and reduced benefit levels.

SB 512 would give state workers three options going forward, including paying more into the system to maintain their scheduled benefits; paying the same for a smaller defined benefit; or moving to a 401(k) – style defined contribution plan. Would you vote for this bill?

A pension reform bill addressing this issue – HB 149 – was one of the first bills I co-sponsored as a new legislator, and I would support SB 512 though I believe the bill could be improved to better accomplish our priority objectives. The system is unsustainable and bound for inevitable insolvency if not addressed. Legislators have shirked their responsibility on this issue for far too long. This conversation should have occurred long before the dire situation we find ourselves in now. It’s not a situation where “something’s got to give” It’s a situation where “everything and everyone is going to have to give” in order to restore viability and avoid chaos.

Medicaid

How can the state contain Medicaid spending? Should Illinois expand managed care to Medicaid recipients?

In 2008, Governor Blagojevich expanded Medicaid eligibility from 185% to 400% of poverty level, among the highest levels in the nation. Our Medicaid reimbursement obligations now constitute the single largest component of the state budget; nearly 30%. We need to act as quickly as possible to bring the eligibility criteria back down to a more reasonable level. We also must make identifying and eliminating Medicaid fraud a high priority. By one estimate, we lose up to $1 billion each year on Medicaid fraud. Finally, the state should also move Medicaid to a managed care system where provider reimbursements are tied to performance and outcomes (i.e., reducing reliance on extensive emergency room care).

Should the state tell hospitals how much charity care they must provide to qualify for a property tax exemption? If so, how should that level be determined?

The 24th Senate District contains some of our state’s finest non-profit hospitals, including the newly constructed Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in my current House district. But more important than telling non-profit hospitals how much charity care they must provide, is telling them (i.e., clarifying legislatively and/or administratively) how “charity care” is actually defined and what factors will be considered in determining their eligibility for the property tax exemption. There are varying definitions and understandings of the community benefits that non-profit hospitals provide to the communities they serve, such as education programs, bad debt from patients being unable to pay, and the losses stemming from very low government reimbursements (i.e., Medicaid and Medicare). Everyone – hospitals, taxpayers and our communities – would be best served by clarifying these concepts so that every knows and understands how charity care will be measured.

Taxes

Last year, the General Assembly passed a 67 percent increase in the personal income tax rate. The increase has not solved the state’s budget problems – all of the new revenue is being spent to pay pension obligations or debt service. What steps must the General Assembly take to balance its budget?

Our State’s finances are a disaster. Despite the requirement for a balanced budget, Springfield politicians for decades spent billions more each year than revenue received and the state has accumulated debt up to $116 billion. To hide the extent of their mismanagement, state leaders engaged in excessive borrowing and unconscionable delays in paying service providers. Rather than addressing the underlying problems that put us in this situation, state leaders incessantly looked to new taxes (such as the recent income tax increase), more irresponsible borrowing or extremely undesirable and destructive options for new revenue, such as video poker and a massive expansion of gambling. Compounding the difficulty of understanding and repairing this mess is the lack of transparency in our state fiscal affairs. The budget process is opaque and confusing, and there is no state agency that provides regular, timely and comprehensive reviews and analysis of state fiscal issues.

Illinois needs to fundamentally change the way it budgets. We need a strong, professionally-staffed, independent equivalent of the Congressional Budget Office, tasked with producing easily understood financial statements in a timely manner. We should then comprehensively review all spending to eliminate duplicative, outdated, or ineffective programs. We also need to curb all new state spending. New programs should only be adopted when existing programs are eliminated to provide funding. Finally, we should make it more difficult for politicians to tax their way out of their own problems by requiring a 3/5 supermajority vote on any legislation raising taxes or fees.

Would you extend the tax, increase it further, allow it to expire or repeal it?

Reflecting how broken our State is, the income tax was increased in a lame duck session taking place just a few hours before I and dozens of other new legislators were sworn into office last January. Another blatant attempt by legislators to avoid being held accountable for their actions. I would have opposed the tax increase then, and I oppose it now. It must expire in 2014 if not sooner, as House Republicans have recently proposed. The people of Illinois have lost faith that any action termed “temporary” by a legislator really means that. The shell games by legislators must end.

What other changes would you consider? Should Illinois adopt a graduated income tax? Apply the sales tax to services? Impose other taxes? Can Illinois balance its budget without more taxes? What impact would your tax policy have on job creation in Illinois?

There is one silver lining on our State’s bleak budgetary outlook. For the first time in over a decade, the General Assembly passed a balanced budget this Spring that actually spends less this fiscal year than last year. It was the Illinois House – not the Senate – that took the lead in this effort, and I believe the impetus for this movement in large part came from the large class of new Representatives who were elected in 2010, including myself. The new State Representatives understood that we can no longer tolerate “business as usual” in Springfield, and they were quite willing to challenge the status quo, ask the hard questions, buck their leadership if necessary and make the tough decisions that needed to be made. We now need more of this in the Illinois Senate.

Spending Cuts

List and explain five specific areas in which you would cut state spending. Want to suggest more? Be our guest.

The state can best reduce spending by focusing on areas consuming large portions of the state budget. The first spending cut should be in the area of pensions. As currently structured, the pension system is unsustainable if left on its own, and the state’s required pension contributions are becoming larger parts of our budget each of year. Current employees must contribute more, and benefits need to be paid out at more reasonable levels. Pension reform was one of the first bills I co-sponsored in the House (HB 149). While these changes would not reduce costs immediately, they would save significant sums in the future.
The second spending cut should be moving Medicaid to a managed care program, rather than the current fee for service system, and reducing the salary eligibility from its current rate of 400% of poverty level to a more reasonable level. The Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago estimates that savings in the range of $2.6 billion could be achieved in these areas.

Another important area should be reining in the state’s rapidly rising costs for employee pay. While focusing on this area will not be popular with public employee unions, no serious attempt to rein in Illinois’s budget can ignore this issue. The state should undertake across-the-board pay and hiring freezes, including stopping any cost-of-living adjustments and renegotiating previously-approved union wage increases. Nearly $250 million could be saved through these measures.

A fourth area where we can make cuts is to rebalance the state’s approach to care for individuals with developmental disabilities. As a Board Member with the Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities, I have firsthand knowledge and experience the effective and efficient manner in which person-centered, community-based service providers can provide care for those with disabilities. In contrast, it costs nearly $200,000 on average for state-run institutions to provide similar services. Our state would save significant sums by transferring the delivery of services away from costly, outdated state-run institutions and to more cost efficient (and private) community-based care providers, where the cost is about one-third the amount at an institution in most cases.

Though it would not save as much as the cuts above, a fifth area in which to cut state spending is to end the abused and controversial General Assembly “scholarship” program. Though not a direct expense, this is costing taxpayers in the form of higher tuition, such as the recent tuition hike at the University of Illinois. One of my first official acts upon taking office last year was refusing to participate in this program. My opposition to this perk (in principle and in practice) has been consistent and unwavering. I have never given them out, I never will, and the first bill I filed was to end the program for good (HB 201).

Education

How can Illinois improve the performance of public schools? Should the state eliminate the cap on the number of charter schools? Do you support proposals to provide tuition vouchers for 30,000 children in Chicago’s weakest schools? Do you favor or oppose eliminating tenure for teachers? How could Illinois increase compensation for its best teachers?

It is our collective obligation to provide a first rate education for all Illinois children. As a first step, I would fight for removing the cap on charter schools. Charter schools have shown the most success in improving student achievement and educating children. I would also support vouchers for children in Chicago’s weakest schools. We must not allow union protectionism to impede educational improvement. I do not favor eliminating tenure for teachers, but I do think we need to have more effective teacher evaluations to make sure we are rewarding, retaining and promoting only the best, and that is why I was a strong supporter of SB 7 this Spring. Illinois could increase compensation for its best teachers by insisting that local schools boards stop negotiating such high across-the-board salary increases for all teachers (especially in this tough economy), and instead target salary increases to those teachers that have demonstrated superior competence and dedication to their profession.

Should Illinois eliminate regional superintendents of education?

A regional superintendent of education is primarily an administrative (not a policymaking) position, and so I support making the positions non-elected. There is no need for this office to be political. I also believe that these offices do not need to be operated as independent entities, and that the services they offer can be more effectively coordinated through other bodies such as the state or counties.

Do you support calls to consolidate nearly 870 Illinois school districts? If so, how would you do it?

Yes, I support consolidation within reason. Consolidation must be population-driven, and we need to first consider consolidation with respect to school districts serving very small populations and those districts that have (in some cases) only one school. In contrast, consolidation in the high density suburban areas around Chicago (such as the communities I currently represent) would simply not generate the same benefits that it would in less dense areas, and would probably actually cost more money since it would involve such a huge undertaking to execute. The ideal way to achieve consolidation is not to force it on unwilling participants, but rather to give school districts and their taxpayers incentives to consider the benefits of consolidation. For example, we might want to consider “consolidation grants” where school districts that consolidate are given increased transportation funding.

Legislative scholarships

Should this program be abolished? Why or why not? Do you/would you award these scholarships? If so, how do/would you select the recipients? If not, why not?

One of my first official acts upon taking office last year as a new legislator was refusing to participate in the abused and controversial General Assembly “scholarship” program. The first bill I filed last year as a new legislator was to end the program for good (HB 201). I have frequently said that legislators need to lead by example in matters of ethics, and this is yet another situation where that is the case. My opposition to this perk (in principle and in practice) has been consistent and unwavering. I have never given them out, and I never will. Appropriately, other legislators now seem be to following this lead and example.

Local governments

Illinois has nearly 7,000 local governments, more than any other state. What governments could be consolidated or abolished? What should lawmakers do to make this happen? Cite specific examples.

I agree that there is too much government in Illinois, and we absolutely need to reduce the number and make those that remain more accountable to the taxpayers they serve. The functions of mosquito abatement, tuberculosis, and street light districts all need to be merged into the county, township or municipal body that overlaps with the service areas of these antiquated single-function districts.

The best example for how Springfield can serve as a partner with local government to eliminate unnecessary government and make them more accountable is the work my former Senator Dan Cronin completed with the DuPage Water Commission. Governed by a non-elected body of appointed trustees, the DuPage Water Commission was structured in a manner as to be unaccountable to taxpayers, and the result was millions of dollars of unaccounted expenses for which a separate, outside audit was required to fix. The waste was intolerable. When Senator Cronin led the effort to make this body accountable, Kirk Dillard voted against the reform. It’s another case of punting on controversial issues where the taxpayer is the sacrificial lamb to a very broken system. The status quo needs to be upended, not adjusted or slightly reformed. One Senator was resolved to reform it, one wasn’t. All too often the bureaucrats win and the people lose. That must change. I’m willing to champion any effort to reduce the cost and scope of unnecessary government bodies. My record confirms that.

Campaign finance

Two years ago, the General Assembly passed a law that limits contributions by individuals, corporations, unions and political action committees – but not those made by political parties or House and Senate leaders. Would you vote to impose comparable limits on parties and leaders? Why or why not? Are there other ways in which Illinois should regulate or require more disclosure of contributions?

Campaign contribution limits are critically needed to clean up Illinois government, and the limits should apply to political parties and caucus leaders in general elections. Moreover, I believe it is extremely important in today’s political atmosphere to lead by example on this issue. When I first ran for State Representative two years ago, I voluntarily agreed to abide by contribution limits before they became law. In contrast, Kirk Dillard has been singled out as the legislator receiving the largest combined amount of donations from utility companies seeking passage of the ComEd bill. He also took a quarter million dollars ($250,000) from teacher’s unions in his race for Governor two years ago. We need to end this kind of “business as usual” in Springfield, where some legislators receive outrageous amounts of campaign money from interest groups and are then asked to “objectively” decide important issues like pension reform and utility regulation.

Independence

What have you done to change the status quo of Illinois politics and government?

On the final day of the Spring session I was the only House Republican to stand up to leadership and support last year’s workers’ compensation proposal saving businesses over $600 million on their rates. Needless to say, it is extremely unusual for any legislator – Republican or Democrat – to stand up in such a manner, let alone a freshman. But when it comes down to it, this bill will improve our job climate and that what the voters sent me down to Springfield to do.

Quite frankly, Springfield needs more legislators who will not cower to leaders and lobbyists, and who will instead fight for what they believe in and be willing to take a tough stand if it is needed. What is wrong with our State is that we have too many legislators who just want to “go along to get along,” and we will not have more productive and principled policy in this State, until we have more productive and principled policymakers.

In November 2010, your publication predicted that I was “going to be a force in
Springfield.” I humbly submit that I have not only met but exceeded the expectations set by you and the constituents whose support I was honored to earn during the last election.

Accountability

Do citizens have adequate means to hold their elected officials accountable? Do you believe the new legislative map provides voters with an opportunity for fair representation? Do you support term limits on statewide officials, legislators, committee chairmen, House and Senate leaders? What county, state or municipal officeholders, if any, should be subject to recall? Explain your answers.

The Chicago Tribune put this problem in its proper context better than I could: “The current crop of incumbents is entrenched, thanks to the many steps they’ve taken to insulate themselves from accountability. The new legislative maps are Exhibit A.”
I am one of the three House Republican members drawn into a single House district. Kirk Dillard is a 20-year incumbent was given advance knowledge by President Cullerton of a district drawn for him before it was public. He now refers to this new district as “my district.” He did not anticipate having any opposition in the primary while the maps were rushed to passage. “His” district was supposed to be “safe.”
I agree with the Chicago Tribune: we need reasonable term limits. Serving in the legislature was never meant to be a “lifetime career” but too many legislators have made it that. By the time a new full term ends, Kirk Dillard will have served a quarter century in the Senate should he win. That is just wrong, and that’s why the first bill I filed this year is a meaningful, but reasonable term limits proposal – 12 years for Representatives and Senators. This is enough time for people to advocate for their districts before allowing new energy, new ideas and new people to emerge. As I go door-to-door throughout the district, this is the one issue nearly all people express support for. We need to do this, and get rid of “career politicians.”

Personal

Tell us something we would be surprised to learn about you.

I won my first race for local office by only 35 votes. We had a very intense “Get Out The Vote” operation that put us over the top, which included my wife Faye – then 9 months pregnant – spending half the day sitting on a metal folding chair poll watching at one of the local gyms. We were up until late in the evening waiting for all the results to come in, and when we finally knew that we had won, we commenced with our victory party. When I got home later that evening, Faye was still up sitting on the couch watching TV. She then for the first time notified me that her water had broke from sitting on the chair all day, and that she was going into labor … one month early! We found a babysitter for our son Connor, hurried off to Elmhurst Hospital, and Olivia Marie was born 12 hours later. Faye has been an absolute blessing to me and our kids. Being married to an elected official is very challenging for spouses, but she has handled it with tremendous patience, endurance and understanding. How many wives would poll watch in a metal chair at 9 months pregnant and then wait until the end of the victory party before notifying their husband that they were going into labor early!

Chris Nybo
State Representative for 41st District
State Senate Candidate for 24th District
Campaign HQ address: P.O. Box 915 Lombard, IL 60148
Campaign phone: 630-941-9228

What is your Number 1 campaign issue?

The lack of jobs is the most important problem facing Illinois families and businesses, including those in the 24th Senate District. According to numerous studies, Illinois ranks nearly last among all states in job creation and retention over the last decade. Through its action and inaction, the General Assembly has created an environment hostile to business – exorbitant taxes and fees, unstable and unpredictable state finances, too many rules and regulations for businesses to navigate, and crumbling infrastructure and transit systems. Creating jobs and stemming the flow of jobs to other states must be our first priority. We must repeal the staggering number of fees on businesses imposed or increased since 2003, roll back new laws and regulations that make it more and more costly to do business here, increase access to capital, and give businesses greater incentive to keep and create jobs in this state. Because of my commitment to job creation for Illinois, I focused my efforts on passing legislation that will assist us in creating and retaining quality employment. One of the bills on which I spent a great deal of time on as a new legislator – and that now has become law – was S.B. 107. This new law will allow the State of Illinois to place a portion of its investment portfolio into venture capital funds that will boost start-up and growing technology companies, and it is a proven fact that most job growth comes from small – not large – companies. These are the kinds of initiatives that our State needs to be pursuing.

What is your Number 2 campaign issue?

Although I believe job creation is the number one priority, a close second is restoring our State’s fiscal health. These issues go hand-in-hand. Our State’s finances are currently a disaster. Despite the constitutional requirement for a balanced budget, Springfield politicians for decades have spent billions more each year than revenue received and the state has accumulated long term debt up to $116 billion. To hide the extent of their mismanagement, state leaders have engaged in excessive borrowing and unconscionable delays in paying service providers. And rather than addressing the underlying problems that put us in this situation, state leaders incessantly look to new taxes (such as the recent income tax increase), more irresponsible borrowing or extremely undesirable and unproductive options for new revenue, such as video poker and a massive expansion of gambling. Compounding the difficulty of understanding and repairing this mess is the lack of transparency in our state fiscal affairs. The budget process is opaque and confusing, and there is no state agency that provides regular, timely and comprehensive reviews and analysis of state fiscal issues.

Illinois needs to fundamentally change the way it manages its finances. We should create a strong, professionally-staffed, independent equivalent of the Congressional Budget Office, tasked with producing easily understood financial statements for the entire budget in a timely manner. We should then undergo a comprehensive review of all state spending to consolidate or eliminate duplicative, outdated, or ineffective state programs and remove ineffective or inefficient spending. And we need to curb all new state spending. New programs should only be adopted when existing programs can be eliminated to provide funding, and programs launched as part of stimulus funding must sunset when those funds are no longer available. Finally, we should make it harder for the politicians to tax their way out of their own problems by requiring a 3/5 supermajority vote on any legislation raising taxes or fees.

The one silver lining on this bleak outlook is that for the first time in over a decade, the General Assembly passed a balanced budget this year that actually spends less this fiscal year than last year. It was the Illinois House – not the Senate – that took the lead in this effort, and I believe the impetus for this movement in large part came from the large class of new Representatives who were elected in 2010, including myself. The new State Representatives understood that we can no longer tolerate “business as usual” in Springfield, and they are quite willing to challenge the status quo, ask the hard questions, buck their leadership if necessary and make the tough decisions that need to be made. We now need more of this in the Illinois Senate.

What is your Number 3 campaign issue?

It is time for Illinois to impose reasonable term limits. Serving in the General Assembly was never meant to be a “lifetime career” but far too many of our legislators have made it exactly that. Indeed, by the time a new four year term ends, my opponent in this race will have served a quarter century (nearly 25 years) in the State Senate should he win. That is just wrong, and that is why the first bill I filed this year is to adopt meaningful, but reasonable term limits in Illinois – 12 years (6 terms) for State Representatives, and 12 years (3 terms) for State Senators. This is a sufficient amount of time for people to advocate for their districts before stepping aside and allowing for new energy, new ideas and new people to emerge. As I go door-to-door throughout the district, this is the one issue for which folks have more frequently expressed their support. We need to get this done, and get rid of “career politicians.”

What can you do specifically to help the economy in your district? What is your view of the tax breaks granted to companies like Motorola Mobility, Navistar and Sears? For incumbents, how did you vote on the Sears plan in this fall’s veto session?

The lack of jobs is the most important problem facing Illinois families and residents. Although the 24th Senate District is home to some of our State’s greatest businesses, Illinois’ anti-business climate is exacerbating the high unemployment already caused by the poor economy. There are three specific steps that Illinois lawmakers should take to enhance job creation, expand the economic base here and stem the flow of jobs to other states. First, we must repeal the staggering number of new and increased fees on Illinois businesses imposed since 2003, such as the recent income tax increases. Second, we must roll back new laws and regulations that make it more and more costly to do business here in Illinois. For example, last year I co-sponsored the Illinois Enterprise Commission Act, which would require our State to review and repeal any fees, laws or regulations that were proven to have driven jobs away. Finally, we need to continue workers’ compensation reform that only began (not ended) with HB 1698. Notwithstanding the criticism and pressure from those within my own caucus, I am proud to have been the only House Republican to support this measure that will help businesses save over $600 million on workers’ compensation rates. But we must continue the effort toward comprehensive reform, including establishing “primary” cause as the standard for determining compensability, requiring objective findings of disability based on AMA guidelines, and more appropriately taking into account employee intoxication in awarding benefits.

Businesses in Illinois, like residents, need tax relief. The best way to collect more tax revenue is to increase the amount of tax payers, not taxes. Corporations and businesses need to see an economically stable environment with revenue neutral incentives that increase their desire to do business in Illinois. But while I strongly support making (and keeping) Illinois a relatively low-tax state compared to our neighbors, the recent veto session focused on special tax breaks for Sears and CME revealed that there is really no such thing as “business tax structure” in Illinois. Instead of a coherent policy applicable to the entire business community, we have literally thousands of special exemptions, breaks, discounts, credits and the like for numerous businesses and industries that have accumulated over decades. Our state desperately needs a more cogent, coherent and consistent policy in this area, and we should make it a priority to establish ourselves as an overall “low tax” state for ALL businesses – small and large. That is the only way that we can achieve a regional advantage in business growth and job creation compared to our neighbors, who already seem to be far ahead of us in this effort.

As for the Sears plan, I abstained from voting because Sears is a client of the business that employs me. Although Sears is not my client, and although it was not an actual conflict of interest as defined under law, I did not feel it was appropriate to vote on a matter that would have specifically benefitted a client of my employer. Indeed, I think our entire State would be better served if legislators more frequently erred on the side of caution (as I did), rather than trying to “split hairs” in situations like these.

Do you favor limiting how much money party leaders can give candidates during a general election? If elected, do you plan to vote for the current leader of your caucus? Why or why not?

Campaign contribution limits are critically needed to clean up Illinois government, and the limits should apply to political parties and caucus leaders in general elections. Moreover, I believe it is extremely important in today’s political atmosphere to lead by example on this issue. When I first ran for State Representative two years ago, I voluntarily agreed to abide by contribution limits before they became law. In contrast, my opponent has been singled out as the legislator receiving the largest combined amount of donations from utility companies seeking passage of the ComEd bill. He also took a quarter million dollars ($250,000) from teacher’s unions in his race for Governor two years ago. We need to end this kind of “business as usual” in Springfield, where some legislators receive ridiculous amounts of campaign money from interest groups and are then asked to “objectively” decide important issues like pension reform and utility regulation.

As for leaders in Springfield, I believe they wield too much power over policymaking and that we need more independence in Springfield. I believe my record strongly reflects that I am willing to stand up for this belief. On the final day of the Spring session I was the only House Republican to stand up to leadership and support last year’s workers’ compensation proposal saving businesses over $600 million on their rates. Needless to say, it is extremely unusual for any legislator – Republican or Democrat – to stand up in such a manner, let alone a freshman. But when it comes down to it, voters in the 41st District sent me to Springfield to help our State grow jobs and get our economy back on track. This bill will improve our job climate, and my constituents overwhelmingly support it.

Quite frankly, Springfield needs more legislators who will not cower to leaders and lobbyists, and who will instead fight for what they believe in and be willing to take a tough stand if it is needed. What’s wrong with our state is that we have too many legislators who just want to “go along to get along,” and we will not have more productive and principled policy in this State, until we have more productive and principled policymakers.

How, specifically, would you cut the budget? What does Illinois need to do to fix its status as a “deadbeat state?” How have you or will you vote on future gambling bills? What is your view of slots at racetracks? Casino expansion?

The state can best reduce spending by focusing on three areas consuming large portions of the state budget. The first spending cut should be in the area of pensions. As currently structured, the pension system is unsustainable if left on its own, and the state’s required pension contributions are becoming larger parts of our budget each of year. Current employees must contribute more, and benefits need to be paid out at more reasonable levels. Pension reform was one of the first bills I co-sponsored in the House (HB 149). While these changes would not reduce costs immediately, they would save significant sums in the future.

The second spending cut should be moving Medicaid to a managed care program, rather than the current fee for service system, and reducing the salary eligibility from its current rate of 400% of poverty level to a more reasonable level. The Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago estimates that savings in the range of $2.6 bill could be achieved in these areas.

Another important area should be reining in the state’s rapidly rising costs for employee pay. While focusing on this area is unlikely to be popular with public employee unions, no serious attempt to reign in Illinois’s budget can ignore this issue. The state should undertake across-the-board pay and hiring freezes, including stopping any cost-of-living adjustments and renegotiating previously-approved union wage increases. Nearly $250 million could be saved through these measures.

One thing I would not consider as a solution to our budget problems is expanded gambling in our State. Chicago-based or any other casinos will only displace the revenues of existing Illinois casinos, leading to a spiraling decline of all of them in a “race toward the bottom.” The only thing worse than having casinos in your state is having casinos becoming run-down. The problem with the foolhardy plan of gambling expansion is that you’re pegging new revenue expenditures to a declining revenue source of diminishing returns. This has not worked anywhere in a sustainable way. It’s a band aid approach where a few people make a lot of money and society loses in more ways than just lost wagers. More is not the answer. Accordingly, I have always opposing gaming expansion, including voting against this year’s “Casino Christmas Tree” bill and leading the effort to prohibit video poker in our community when I served on the Elmhurst City Council.

What do you specifically support to deal with the state’s pension gap? Would you vote for House Republican Leader Tom Cross’s three-tier pension plan? Why or why not?

The pension system in place for current employees is simply unsustainable. It has resulted in over $80 billion in long-term debt for taxpayers, and – left to its own – would undoubtedly run out of money within a generation or two. To ensure the solvency of the funds, protect the retirement of those whose livelihoods depend on it and protect taxpayers, we must restructure pension as follows: (1) current employees must contribute more, and (2) benefits need to be paid out at more reasonable levels. A pension reform bill addressing this issue – HB 149 – was one of the first bills I co-sponsored as a new legislator, and I would support SB 512 even though I think the bill could be improved to better accomplish our priority objectives.

Not only do I support pension reform, one of the first actions I took as a new legislator was to create a Legislative Advisory Committee consisting of over 60 residents from my district, including a smaller group of current and retired teachers and other interested citizens to specifically look at the issue of pension reform. As a result of our work together, I presented Speaker Madigan and Leader Cross with a set of reasonable suggestions for reforming our pension systems, including both increased contribution rates and reduced benefit levels.

In closing, the system as it currently trends is unsustainable and bound for inevitable insolvency if not addressed. Legislators have shirked their responsibility on this issue for far too long. This conversation should have occurred long before the dire situation we find ourselves in now. It’s not a situation where “something’s got to give” It’s a situation where “everything and everyone is going to have to give” in order to restore viability and avoid chaos.

Should gay marriage be legalized? Should Illinois define life as beginning at conception as others have? How would you vote on a concealed carry firearm plan? Should the death penalty be reinstated?

I believe that marriage is a sacred covenant between a man and a woman, and I do not support gay marriage.

As a lifelong Catholic and a father of three children, I am dedicated to instilling respect for the sanctity of human life. Protecting the unborn has always been a core belief for me. I am Pro Life with exceptions only for rape, incest and the life of the mother; I do not believe that Roe v. Wade was correctly decided; and I oppose all public abortion funding.

I support the Second Amendment, oppose unconstitutional attempts to infringe on the Amendment’s protections, and voted to support concealed carry in Illinois (HB 148).

At a minimum, the death penalty should be reinstated for the “worst of the worst” such as serial killers or those who murder children.

Chris Nybo
State Representative for 41st District
State Senate Candidate for 24th District
Campaign HQ address: P.O. Box 915 Lombard, IL 60148
Campaign phone: 630-941-9228

The lack of jobs is the most important problem facing Illinois families and businesses, including those in the 24th Senate District. According to numerous studies, Illinois ranks nearly last among all states in job creation and retention over the last decade. Through its action and inaction, the General Assembly has created an environment hostile to business – exorbitant taxes and fees, unstable and unpredictable state finances, too many rules and regulations for businesses to navigate, and crumbling infrastructure and transit systems. Creating jobs and stemming the flow of jobs to other states must be our first priority. We must repeal the staggering number of fees on businesses imposed or increased since 2003, roll back new laws and regulations that make it more and more costly to do business here, increase access to capital, and give businesses greater incentive to keep and create jobs in this state. Because of my belief in the importance of job creation, one of the bill on which I spent much time as a new legislator – and that now has become law – was S.B. 107. This new law will allow the State of Illinois to place a portion of its investment portfolio into venture capital funds that will boost start-up and growing technology companies, and it is a proven fact that most job growth comes from small – not large – companies. These are the kinds of initiatives that our State needs to be pursuing.

What is your top priority for the state?

Although I believe job creation is the number one priority for both the 24th Senate District and the entire State of Illinois, a close second is restoring our State’s fiscal health. Our State’s finances are currently a disaster. Despite the constitutional requirement for a balanced budget, Springfield politicians for decades have spent billions more each year than revenue received and the state has accumulated long term debt up to $116 billion. To hide the extent of their mismanagement, state leaders have engaged in excessive borrowing and unconscionable delays in paying service providers. And rather than addressing the underlying problems putting us in this situation, state leaders incessantly look to new taxes (such as the recent income tax increase), more borrowing or extremely undesirable and unproductive options for new revenue, such as video poker and more casinos. Compounding the difficulty of understanding and fixing this mess is the lack of transparency in our state fiscal affairs. The budget process is opaque and confusing, and there is no state agency that provides regular, timely and comprehensive reviews and analysis of state fiscal issues.

Illinois needs to fundamentally change the way it manages its finances. We should create a strong, professionally-staffed, independent equivalent of the Congressional Budget Office, tasked with producing easily understood financial statements for the entire budget in a timely manner. We should then undergo a comprehensive review of all state spending to consolidate or eliminate duplicative, outdated, or ineffective state programs and remove ineffective or inefficient spending. And we need to curb all new state spending. New programs should only be adopted when existing programs can be eliminated to provide funding, and programs launched as part of stimulus funding must sunset when those funds are no longer available. Finally, we should make it harder for the politicians to tax their way out of their own problems by requiring a 3/5 supermajority vote on any legislation raising taxes or fees.

The one silver lining on this bleak outlook is that for the first time in over a decade, the General Assembly passed a balanced budget this year that actually spends less this fiscal year than last year. It was the Illinois House – not the Senate – that took the lead in this effort, and I believe the impetus for this movement in large part came from the large class of new Representatives who were elected in 2010, including myself. The new State Representatives understand that we can no longer tolerate “business as usual” in Springfield, and they are quite willing to challenge the status quo, ask the hard questions, buck their leadership if necessary and make the tough decisions that need to be made. We now need more of this in the Illinois Senate.

For incumbents, please list your accomplishments. For challengers, what unique strengths would you bring to the job of state lawmaker?

In less than one year, I have already demonstrated that I am can get things done and am willing to “take the heat” to make tough decisions. As a freshman, I realized that my duty to my constituents demanded that I undertake and pursue significant legislative challenges.

The first bill I authored – HB 3294 – was a proposal to expand the availability of life-saving allergy medicine for school children who suffer from severe allergies. This bill was in response to a tragic allergy-related death in a Chicago school, it became one of the top legislative priorities for Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and as a result of our successful effort together I was honored by the Illinois School Nurses Association.

On the jobs front, I worked with Treasurer Dan Rutherford and several Democratic colleagues to pass SB 107 – a new law allowing the State of Illinois to place a portion of its investment portfolio into venture capital funds that will boost start-up and growing technology companies. This bill had stalled on several occasions in the past, but working together we finally passed it into law this year.

Recognizing that our State continues to be plagued by a continuing culture of corruption, I was also the chief House sponsor for the measure finally prohibiting state officials from putting their names and image on State billboards, in response to Governor Blagojevich’s blatant abuse of power and waste of tax dollars putting his name on Open Road Tolling signs in 2006. This bill had also failed on prior occasions, but my efforts in the House finally got it passed.

Finally, on the final day of the Spring session I was the only House Republican to stand up to leadership and support last year’s workers’ compensation proposal saving businesses over $600 million on their rates. Needless to say, it is extremely unusual for any legislator – Republican or Democrat – to stand up in such a manner, let alone a freshman. But when it comes down to it, voters in the 41st District sent me to Springfield to help our State grow jobs and get our economy back on track. This bill will improve our job climate, and my constituents overwhelmingly support it.

Quite frankly, Springfield needs more legislators who will not cower to leaders and lobbyists, and who will instead fight for what they believe in and be willing to take a tough stand if it is needed. What’s wrong with our state is that we have too many legislators who just want to “go along to get along,” and we will not have more productive and principled policy in this State, until we have more productive and principled policymakers.

The state public employee pension system is severely underfunded and paying down the debt threatens to crowd out spending on core state services. Do you support reducing pension benefits not yet earned through a bill like SB512, which offers state workers three options for earning future pension benefits. Should police officers and firefighters be included in a reduced pension system?

The pension system in place for current employees is simply unsustainable. It has resulted in over $80 billion in long-term debt for taxpayers, and – left to its own – would undoubtedly run out of money within a generation or two. To ensure the solvency of the funds, protect the retirement of those whose livelihoods depend on it and protect taxpayers, we must restructure pension as follows: (1) current employees must contribute more, and (2) benefits need to be paid out at more reasonable levels. A pension reform bill addressing this issue – HB 149 – was one of the first bills I co-sponsored as a new legislator, and I would support SB 512 even though I think the bill could be improved to better accomplish our priority objectives.

Not only do I support pension reform, one of the first actions I took as a new legislator was to create a Legislative Advisory Committee consisting of over 60 residents from my district, including smaller group of current and retired teachers and other interested citizens to specifically look at the issue of pension reform. As a result of our work together, I presented Speaker Madigan and Leader Cross with a set of reasonable suggestions for reforming our pension systems, including both increased contribution rates and reduced benefit levels.

Police officers and firefighters put their lives on the line on a daily basis to keep us safe, and the physical and emotional demands of their job (on both them and their families) are more onerous than in other professions participating in public pensions. For these reasons, benefits have always – and should be – structured differently, and quite frankly more generously, than for other professions. That being said, firefighters and police should also accept greater partnership in pension restoration. While I am not convinced that reduced benefits are the solution for them, I would like to explore outside income offsets that would take into account income from full-time jobs or other work that retired public safety employees (and all retired public employees for that matter) do while they are collecting a pension.

In closing, the system as it currently trends is unsustainable and bound for inevitable insolvency if not addressed. Legislators have shirked their responsibility on this issue for far too long. This conversation should have occurred long before the dire situation we find ourselves in now. It’s not a situation where “something’s got to give” It’s a situation where “everything and everyone is going to have to give” in order to restore viability and avoid chaos.

If you don’t support a bill like SB512, how would you deal with the
state’s unfunded pension liability?

I support SB 512 so this question is inapplicable.

Do you want the 2 percent point income tax increase to expire in 2014, as planned, or would you like to see the tax increase extended beyond 2014?

Again reflecting how broken our State is, the income tax was increased in a lame duck session taking place just a few hours before me and dozens of other new legislators were sworn into office last January. Another blatant attempt by legislators to avoid being held accountable for their actions. I would have opposed the tax increase then, and I oppose it now. It must expire in 2014 if not sooner, as House Republicans have recently proposed. The people of Illinois have lost faith that any action termed “temporary” by a legislator really means that. The shell games by legislators must end.

Do you support any changes to the corporate income tax rate? Do you support any other changes to the state’s business tax structure?

Yes, I want the recently enacted increase repealed. Businesses in Illinois, like residents need tax relief. The best way to collect more tax revenue is to increase the amount of tax payers, not taxes. Corporations and businesses need to see an economically stable environment with revenue neutral incentives that increase their desire to do business in Illinois.

As for our state’s business tax structure, the recent veto session focused on special tax breaks for Sears and CME revealed that there is no reality no such thing as “business tax structure” in Illinois. Instead of a coherent policy applicable to the entire business community, we have literally thousands of special exemptions, breaks, discounts, credits and the like for numerous businesses and industries that have accumulated over decades. Our state desperately needs a more cogent, coherent and consistent policy in this area, and we should make it a priority to establish ourselves as an overall “low tax” state for ALL businesses – small and large. That is the only way that we can achieve a regional advantage in business growth and job creation compared to our neighbors, who already seem to be far ahead of us in this effort.

What should the state government do to create a more favorable business climate and to promote job growth?

The lack of jobs is the most important problem facing Illinois families and residents. Our state’s anti-business climate is exacerbating the high unemployment already caused by the poor economy. There are three specific steps that Illinois lawmakers should take to enhance job creation, expand the economic base here and stem the flow of jobs to other states. First, we must repeal the staggering number of new and increased fees on Illinois businesses imposed since 2003, such as the recent income tax increases. Second, we must roll back new laws and regulations that make it more and more costly to do business here in Illinois. For example, last year I co-sponsored the Illinois Enterprise Commission Act, which would require our State to review and repeal any fees, laws or regulations that were proven to have driven jobs away. Finally, we need to continue workers’ compensation reform that only began (not ended) with HB 1698. Notwithstanding the criticism and pressure from those within my own caucus, I am proud to have been the only House Republican to support this measure that will help businesses save over $600 million on workers’ compensation rates. But we must continue the effort toward comprehensive reform, including establishing “primary” cause as the standard for determining compensability, requiring objective findings of disability based on AMA guidelines, and more appropriately taking into account employee intoxication in awarding benefits.

Lay out your plan for paying the billions the state owes schools,universities, human service providers and others. Would you support borrowing to pay down those bills?

It is unconscionable how long our service providers, especially the non-profits, have had to wait for state reimbursement. The first important step I would take to expedite reimbursements would be to curb all new spending so that we do not incur any additional obligations competing for scarce state revenue. The second step I would take would be to expand eligibility and participation in the state’s new Vendor Assistance Program. For example, medical services providers are currently ineligible to participate, even though Medicaid reimbursement delays are among our state’s longest. A third step would be to dedicate all new revenue generated beyond our official estimates for reimbursements. Finally, although it is important to pay those who are owed money, I do not support additional borrowing to accomplish this objective. We simply cannot afford it. Illinois ended fiscal 2010 as the most broke state in the nation, and owed $37.9 billion more than all of its assets combined, according to a recent statewide financial audit by the Illinois Auditor General. Moreover, our high debt load and unpredictable political structure means that our credit rating is lower than other governmental entities, resulting in us paying among the highest interest rates in the nation.

State legislative leaders are trying to give the General Assembly a role in negotiating contracts with state labor unions. What is your opinion of that?

Given how Governor Quinn negotiated sweet heart deals for state labor unions shortly before his re-election, I strongly support more legislative involvement and oversight for our state’s labor relations. The negotiated union pay increases and guaranteed job retention provisions are simply unconscionable given what has been happening in the private sector with wage freezes and reductions in force. Just like a business or a household, Illinois needs to tighten its belt, and this includes what we pay our employees and whether we can afford to employ them.

The legislature has tried repeatedly to expand gambling in Illinois. Do you support expanded gambling in Illinois? In what form? Do you support a Chicago casino?

No. Not any new form. Chicago-based or any other casinos will only displace the revenues of existing Illinois casinos, leading to a spiraling decline of all of them in a “race toward the bottom.” The only thing worse than having casinos in your state is having casinos becoming run-down. The problem with the foolhardy plan of gambling expansion is that you’re pegging new revenue expenditures to a declining revenue source of diminishing returns. This has not worked anywhere in a sustainable way. It’s a band aid approach where a few people make a lot of money and society loses in more ways than just lost wagers. More is not the answer. Accordingly, I have always opposing gaming expansion, including voting against this year’s “Casino Christmas Tree” bill and leading the effort to prohibit video poker in our community when I served on the Elmhurst City Council.

Would you seek any changes to the state ethics and campaign finance laws? Would you support capping what state party leaders can donate during a general election?

Campaign contribution limits are critically needed to clean up Illinois government, and the limits should apply to political parties and caucus leaders in general elections. Moreover, I believe it is extremely important in today’s political atmosphere to lead by example on this issue. When I first ran for State Representative two years ago, I voluntarily agreed to abide by contribution limits before they became law. In contrast, my opponent has been singled out by your publication as the legislator receiving the largest combined amount of donations from utility companies seeking passage of the ComEd bill. He also took a quarter million dollars ($250,000) from teacher’s unions in his race for Governor two years ago. We need to end this kind of “business as usual” in Springfield, where some legislators receive ridiculous amounts of campaign money from interest groups and are then asked to “objectively” decide important issues like pension reform and utility regulation. Stronger campaign finance laws are part of the solution, and legislative term limits are another. Serving in the General Assembly was never meant to be a “lifetime career” but far too many of our legislators have made it exactly that. Indeed, by the time a new four year term ends, my opponent in this race will have served a quarter century (nearly 25 years) in the State Senate should he win. That is just wrong, and that is why the first bill that I am filing this year is to adopt meaningful, but reasonable term limits in Illinois – 12 years (6 terms) for State Representatives, and 12 years (3 terms) for State Senators.

Would you back a constitutional amendment to shift from a flat income tax to a progressive income tax system?

No.

Do you have a plan to adequately fund schools and reform the property tax system that results in inequities?

We must improve the academic performance of all our schools – public and private – and reduce the achievement gap between white and minority students. Money is not only the only answer. As a first step, I would fight for removing the cap on charter schools. Charter schools have shown the most success in improving student achievement and educating children, and we must not allow union protectionism to impede educational improvement. Second, I would push for a standard teacher evaluation system across the state that includes student performance as an important component. We must ensure that we have capable and competent teachers in the classroom, and work with those who need to improve their performance. Finally, I would support an expansion of the tuition tax credit for private schools to make it easier for all students, including minority students from poorly performing districts, to go to the school of their choice and to get the quality education they deserve.

What is your view on gay marriage?

I believe that marriage is a sacred covenant between a man and a woman, and I do not support gay marriage.

Chris Nybo
State Representative for 41st District
State Senate Candidate for 24th District
Campaign HQ address: P.O. Box 915 Lombard, IL 60148
Campaign phone: 630-941-9228

Suburban Life Publications

Chris Nybo (R-Lombard) is hosting an educational policy forum, with guests from Stand for Children, an advocacy group that collaborates the efforts of parents, educators and community members on behalf of students, to educate community members about education reform and to seek their input.

Nybo and representatives from Stand for Children will give information about new legislation regarding education, along with what is expected in 2012. Residents will then have an opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns.

The forum is scheduled for Jan. 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Pleasant Lane Elementary School, 401 N. Main St.

Dear Neighbor,

You may have recently received written notice of the assessed value of your home from your Township Assessor. This assessment will determine how much property tax you will owe next year. Please review this notice carefully. If you believe your assessment to be too high, you have a short window to challenge your assessment, only until December 19, 2011 in York and Milton Townships. Many homeowners miss the opportunity for a review because of this tight time frame. For detailed information on how to challenge your assessment, please visit your Assessors’ website or call them at the number below.

Unfortunately, property taxes continue to rise even though property values are falling. Please know that I have and will continue to support initiatives to ease the property tax burden for those on fixed incomes like seniors, such as the Senior Citizen Homestead exemption and the Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze Program.

Please also be aware that there are many programs available to assist senior citizen homeowners in reducing their real estate tax bills:

• The Senior Homestead Exemption is granted to owner-occupied properties if the owner is 65 years of age or older and was the owner-occupant of the property on January 1st of the assessment year. The exemption reduces the equalized assessed value by $4,000. You can apply by calling your Assessor.
• The Senior Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption is also available to those with a GROSS HOUSEHOLD annual income less than $55,000. You can apply by calling the DuPage County Supervisor of Assessments Office at (630) 407-5858.
• Finally, the Property Tax Deferral is available to seniors with annual household income under $50,000. You can apply by calling the DuPage County Treasurer at (630) 407-5900.

I strongly believe that rising property taxes should not force families and seniors out of their homes. Therefore, I wanted to call your attention to the upcoming assessment challenge deadline and to available programs to assist those in need. As always, please call my office at (630) 941-9228 with any questions or if we can be of further assistance.

Chris Nybo
State Representative for 41st District
State Senate Candidate for 24th District

York Township (630) 627-3354
Milton Township (630) 653-5220
Addison Township (630) 530-8161
Downers Grove Township (630) 719-6600
Lisle Township (630) 968-1183
Lyons Township (708) 482-8300

Thank you,

Chris Nybo

WHEATON – State Representative Chris Nybo (R – Lombard) announced last evening that he will seek re-election to the Illinois General Assembly by running for State Senate in the newly drawn 24th Senate district. Nybo made the announcement at the Milton Township Republican Organization meeting with large numbers of committeemen from both Wheaton and Glen Ellyn.

“The newly drawn Democratic map has forced difficult choices for many of my colleagues. By running for Senate in this new district, I can continue to represent the largest number of constituents from my current district, including those in Lombard, Elmhurst, Westmont and Oak Brook,” Nybo said while making the announcement. “Additionally,” he continued, “I did not want to run against my esteemed colleagues Patti Bellock or Sandy Pihos. There are far too few women in the state legislature, and both Patti and Sandy are among the most conscientious and committed legislators in Springfield. I would not be comfortable attempting to reduce the number of women representatives by even one.”

Nybo said that as a State Senator he wishes to continue his mission to create jobs and end State practices that discourage job growth and hamper business growth in Illinois. He also believes that it is imperative that all elected officials work to restore the public trust and to clean up state government. Putting the state’s financial house in order has been one of his top priorities and he intends to expand that mission as a State Senator.

“The culture in Springfield has been allowed to continue because we have too many life-long career politicians. I intend to fight for term limits and work with our communities to make sure we are sending independent Republicans to Springfield who will stand up for families and taxpayers and then return to the private sector. That is my intention,” Nybo concluded.

Currently serving his first term in the Illinois House, Chris Nybo resides in Elmhurst with wife Faye and their children, Connor, Olivia and Allison, and they are parishioners at Immaculate Conception Parish. A former Elmhurst Alderman, Nybo works as an attorney assisting businesses with labor and employment matters. He is a graduate of Fenwick High School, Dartmouth College (Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude) and the University of Chicago Law School, being awarded the Harry S. Truman Scholarship for Public Service.