In January, House Republican Leader Tony McCombie announced that the House Republican's budget team would be Deputy Leader Norine Hammond (94th District - Macomb) as Chief Budgeteer and Assistant Leader Amy Elik (111th District - Alton) as Deputy Budgeteer.

Representative Norine Hammond has in-depth experience in appropriations and public policy. She has successfully passed legislation to tackle the teacher shortage, keep Illinois students attending Illinois universities, fairly fund public K-12 education, and protect our seniors and most vulnerable citizens. Hammond has been a strong advocate for procurement reform and other cost-cutting measures which keep dollars focused on strategic goals instead of overhead and administrative costs.

“The House Republican Caucus wants to make it perfectly clear that we will not negotiate a budget that includes any tax increases,” said Hammond. “State government desperately needs structural reforms and to learn to live within its means. If history serves us correctly, the Democratic supermajority will continue to craft a budget alone, continue to increase wasteful spending, and absolutely continue to raise taxes on hardworking Illinois families and businesses.”

Representative Amy Elik has spent her thirty-year career as a Certified Public Accountant and auditor and brings a sharp eye and attention to detail to budget negotiations. Elik has been a strong voice for reining in wasteful spending.

“I’m a CPA and am used to making difficult decisions to craft a budget that is rooted in reality,” said Elik. “Fuzzy math is not fiscal responsibility. Our communities are screaming out for tax relief, it’s hard for young families to afford homes, daycare, and utilities, and the budget that comes out of the 104th General Assembly cannot include a tax increase.”

Rep. Elik was a member of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability and serves as Spokesperson for the General Services Appropriations Committee and Elementary/Secondary Education: Education Policy Committee.

As the deadline to pass a budget approaches, Hammond and Elik have made clear that Republicans will not support any budget that includes a tax increase to pay for the Democrats’ spending spree.

Starting now and going through late fall, gardens are beginning to reach their peak bloom. Warm weather coupled with busy bees (among other pollinators) are to thank for that.

A pollinator is anything that helps to carry pollen from the stamen to the pistil. While bees, some birds, and butterflies are the most recognized pollinators, they are not the only ones that contribute to the ecosystem. Many different types of insects, like beetles, wasps, and flies, while pesky, play a vital role that affects our daily lives. Some mammals and reptiles, too, help spread pollen, including bats, honey possums, lemures, skinks, geckos, and wall lizards.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications for Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship grants through June 13, 2025.

Eligible applicants are conservation land trusts exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and whose originating documents include in its purposes the restoration and stewardship of land for conservation purposes.

Armed Forces Day, observed each year on the third Saturday of May, is a moment to pause and acknowledge the dedication, sacrifice, and strength of those serving in the United States military. While it may not carry the same level of national attention as Memorial Day or Veterans Day, it serves a distinct and important purpose: recognizing those actively serving in the armed forces and reinforcing the nation’s gratitude for their commitment to protecting its freedoms. Across the country, communities come together to honor service members.

TAXES
House Republicans Raise Alarm on New Service Tax Proposal. Deputy House Republican Leader Ryan Spain and State Representative Joe Sosnowski joined with small business owners this week to decry a new proposal making the rounds in Springfield that would establish a new sales tax on services across the state. This new service tax would cover almost all services consumers rely on, ranging from streaming services to dry cleaning, haircuts to vehicle repairs, and everything in between. Proponents are pushing the new tax as a bailout to fill the void for years of mismanagement in the Chicago region's mass transportation system, which is facing nearly a billion-dollar budget shortfall in 2026.

State Representatives Chris Miller (R-Hindsboro), Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville), Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich), Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City), Jed Davis (R-Yorkville), and Marty McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) held a press conference this week highlighting the looming budget pressures, wasteful spending, and the need for Illinois DOGE implementation.

The SAFE-T Act, touted by Illinois Democrats as a step toward criminal justice reform, has proven to be anything but safe. House Republicans gathered at the Capitol yesterday to demand urgent changes to the law, citing its disastrous impact on public safety and judicial oversight during the “Illinois’ Broken ‘SAFE-T Act’” press conference. With tragic cases like Megan Bos’ death underscoring the dangers of eliminating cash bail, House Republican lawmakers called for immediate legislative action to fix the broken system.