BUDGET
Hammond & Elik named heads of Illinois House Republican budget team. House Republican Leader Tony McCombie announced the House Republicans’ budget team on Friday, naming Deputy Leader Norine Hammond as Chief Budgeteer for the caucus for the 103rd General Assembly as well as announcing that Representative Amy Elik will be elevated to Deputy Budgeteer.

Deputy House Republican Leader Norine Hammond (left)
and State Representative Amy Elik (right). 

House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (89th District- Savanna) announced the House Republican’s budget team on Friday, naming Deputy Leader Norine Hammond (94th District- Macomb) as Chief Budgeteer for the caucus for the 103rd General Assembly as well as announcing that Representative Amy Elik (111th District- Alton) will be elevated to Deputy Budgeteer.

A new study in the journal of Pediactics urges healthcare providers to be prepared to treat a growing number of children who are accidentally ingesting edible cannabis. It also serves as a warning to parents and caregivers to keep edibles out of the reach of young children.

Over the past 5 years, there has been a substantial increase in the number of children ingesting edible cannabis, resulting in acute toxicity for some of the young patients who were treated. According to the study, between the years 2017 and 2021, there were 7,043 cases of pediatric edible cannabis exposures recorded in the National Poison Data System (NPDS). The number of cases rose from 207 in 2017 to 3,054 cases in 2021, a whopping increase of 1,375%.

FIREARMS

Lawsuits filed against Illinois’ new gun ban law. Starting on Friday, January 13, opponents of the new law have filed lawsuits in State and federal courts to have the measure stayed and then struck down. The State-enacted measure is seen by constitutional lawyers as highly vulnerable to court action. The law purports to ban certain firearms and magazines, and would require the registration of a wide variety of firearms that are listed as so-called “assault weapons.” Action in the courts will continue, with the preliminary goal of staying enforcement of the law.

With new leadership for the caucus in place, I am eager to hit the ground running as the first woman to serve as House Minority Leader. With new leadership comes potential new opportunities to work for our team. As positions become available we will list them on HRSCareers.com and encourage those who thrive in a fast-paced environment and have great multi-tasking skills to sign up to receive notifications when there are openings.

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103rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Illinois House convenes for inauguration, with House Republicans electing new Leader Tony McCombie. The inauguration of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 103rd General Assembly took place Wednesday at the University of Illinois Springfield. The Illinois House Republican Caucus formally elected Rep. Tony McCombie as the new House Republican Leader. 

House Republican Leader Tony McCombie hit the ground running by announcing her new leadership team today. She has assembled an accomplished group of lawmakers from across the state who will help guide the Republican caucus through the 103rd General Assembly.

McCombie and her team will focus their efforts on restoring checks and balances in state government and protecting the rights and freedoms of Illinois residents. Members of the House Republican Leadership Team include: 

On Wednesday, January 11, 2023, Tony McCombie began her fourth term of office as State Representative and first term as House Republican Leader. McCombie is the first woman to serve as House Republican Leader in Illinois. She has focused her work in Springfield on job creation, property tax relief, and improved government accountability. McCombie leads the House Republican caucus in efforts to restore balance to the system of checks and balances and protect the rights and freedoms of Illinois residents.

We join Leader McCombie in welcoming our new legislative members to the House Republican Caucus and the 103rd General Assembly.