State Rep. Jack Franks issued the following news release on Tuesday:

Franks passes landmark property tax reform

Advances relief to struggling homeowners

SPRINGFIELD – Following through on his commitment to provide relief to overtaxed property owners, state Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) overcame massive opposition from taxpayer-funded lobbyists and passed groundbreaking legislation to prevent automatic property taxes increases through the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

“Real estate values have dropped dramatically in recent years, but the tax burden on those homes continues to rise unabated,” said Franks. “As Illinois residents fight to overcome a housing and mortgage crisis, today we acted to provide relief for homeowners struggling to get by.”

In 1991, state legislators passed the Property Tax Extension Limitation or tax cap, to slow the rapid increase of property taxes. Under current law, the ceiling of five percent or the rate of inflation on any increases went from protecting homeowners in boom times to harming them as real estate values have plummeted. More than 46 percent of all single-family homes with a mortgage in the Chicago area were under water in third quarter of 2011 and the percentage of homes with negative equity continues to rise.

“Government, at all levels, must look for opportunities to increase efficiency and do more with less – just like every family in America,” continued Franks. “Taxing bodies act as though they are victims when in fact homeowners are getting victimized by an unfair and outdated system. It should be fundamental that when property values decrease, property taxes should at the very least, not increase.”

In McHenry County, for example, taxing units raised their rates an average of 9.4% and that of 132 taxing bodies reviewed last May, only five lowered their rates and one kept the same. At the time, McHenry County also had a $47 million budget surplus, but still voted to increase property taxes.

While lobbyists representing local governments battled back an initial effort to provide property tax relief, Franks succeeded by amending Senate Bill 2073, sending the tax reform measure to the state Senate for approval. Franks’ legislation provides that if the value of the property for the current taxable year is less than the total in the previous year, then property taxes cannot be increased without a referendum. The reform does not diminish the revenues that local governmental units currently receive – rather it prevents automatic increases when property values decline.

“Public response to my proposal has been overwhelming positive,” Franks said. “The premise that government should get automatic tax hikes at a time when its citizens have less is not only contrary to all economic reality, it runs against the ideals our nation was founded on.”

For more information, contact Franks’ constituent service office at (815) 334-0063.

Congressman Randy Hultgren issued the following news release on Wednesday:

Hultgren: Governor Quinn’s Anti-Jobs Policies Have Cost 1,000 Illinoisans A Job

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released the following statement after Caterpillar Inc. announced that it will not be building its new North American plant in Illinois; the plant would have brought 1,000 jobs to the state.

“Governor Quinn’s agenda of crushing tax increases, endless spending, and regulatory uncertainty have cost 1,000 Illinoisans the potential for good-paying jobs with Caterpillar,” said Hultgren. “With one in ten Illinoisans looking for a job, our state needs policies that will promote private-sector growth and job creation. Instead, the governor and his allies in Springfield have continued to push an agenda that discourages new investment in the state, and worse, drives business out of Illinois altogether.

“While today’s news is sobering, I hope that it will serve as a wakeup call for Governor Quinn. With the General Assembly currently in Springfield, he should immediately call for the repeal of his job-crushing tax hike, and work with them to improve Illinois’ business environment.”

State Rep. Jack Franks issed the following news release on Thursday:

Franks offers County Board compromise

WOODSTOCK – Furthering his effort to help Illinois’ smaller communities get better representation at the county level, state Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) this week responded to McHenry County Board Chairman Kenneth Koehler’s criticism of legislation aimed at overhauling the manner in which voters elect county board leaders and proposed a solution to bridge the disagreement.

“We both agree that these are very important questions that affect all citizens of McHenry County,” wrote Franks. “As such, we should let the voters decide. You do not wish for me to have the Legislature mandate these requirements, and I believe it is in the best interests of McHenry County residents to directly determine the style of their government.”

Franks’ legislation provides for the Chairman of the County Board to be elected countywide, rather than chosen by County Board members. A companion bill establishes cumulative voting rights in multi-member county board districts, allowing voters to assign their multiple votes to one candidate. Franks has previously passed legislation allowing counties to adopt single-member districts, but McHenry County has refused to do so.

Koehler wrote Franks arguing that the Board is “best positioned to understand the internal needs of the organization.” In response, Franks acknowledged the disagreement and offered a compromise allowing McHenry County voters to make the decision.

“In the spirit of compromise, I propose that I will agree to not to call the bills, if you agree to place two questions on the November ballot as a binding referendum for all citizens to vote on,” Franks continued in his response to Koehler. The Northwest Herald editorialized in favor of this solution on January 14th, arguing that “County voters should decide themselves, via referendum, if they prefer to elect their board chairman rather than having County Board members do it themselves.”

Franks offered not to call his county board reform legislation if Koehler agreed to place questions on November’s ballot asking whether the Chairman of the McHenry County Board should be elected countywide and whether the County Board should be reduced to 17 single-member districts, as opposed to the current 24 member Board. As a sign of good faith, Franks delayed consideration of the legislation, which was to be heard in February 1st, to give Koehler an opportunity to reply.

 \For more information, contact Franks’ constituent service office at (815) 334-0063.

Congressman Joe Walsh issued the following news release Wednesday:

Rep. Walsh Returns Personal Budget Funds to U.S. Treasury

Joins Other Members in Requesting these Funds be Used to Pay Down the Debt

WASHINGTON- Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-8), along with seven colleagues, sent a letter to Speaker Boehner that requested the returned Members Representational Allowance (MRA) funds leftover from the first session of the 112th Congress be used to pay down the national debt. From these eight offices, over $1.4 million in taxpayer money will be given back to the U.S. Treasury. Each member is allocated roughly $1.5 million for their yearly office budget.

Walsh stated:“Since day one, I promised to fight for lower taxes, less spending, and a balanced budget. The national debt has spiraled out of control and is now nearly the size of the entire U.S. economy. Americans have seen big government policies try to fix this problem, but big government is the problem. The place to start is at home, which is why I am giving back almost $200,000 in taxpayer funds that must be used to pay down the debt.

“One of my first votes as a member of Congress was to cut Congressional budgets by 5 percent. While that was a good start, I did not think that cut went far enough so I am giving almost 15 percent of my entire budget back to pay down the national debt. Every day we ask that the American people tighten their belt and it is time that we do the same. This is not our money, it’s the American taxpayer’s money and that is why I am proud to do my part in returning these funds.”

State Rep. Jack Franks issued the following news release on Thursday:

Franks: Hearing will investigate abuse, negligence across Gov't agencies

CHICAGO – In response to large-scale abuse unearthed by a joint report from the Executive Inspector General (OEIG) and Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Inspector General, state Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) will convene a hearing Friday to investigate lax oversight and cronyism that allowed a close friend of former DCFS Director Erwin McEwen nearly unsupervised control of more than $18 million in state grants.

“The sheer magnitude and depth of this abuse is breathtaking,” said Franks. “To add insult to injury, Director McEwen was allowed to stay on the job for months after the Governor was made aware of his deficiencies.”

After receiving the Inspector General’s report detailing widespread negligence under McEwen's leadership, Governor Quinn waited four months before accepting the Director’s resignation. Notably, McEwen refused to cooperate with the Inspector General’s investigation, even though as a State employee he was legally required to.

“The first day an employee of mine stopped cooperating would be his last day on the job,” continued Franks. “Not only was Mr. McEwen using his position to facilitate the squandering of millions of public dollars, he was allowed to continue collecting a paycheck months after the Inspector General informed Governor Quinn of his findings.”

The report details alleged abuse and fraud perpetrated by business entities operated by Dr. George E. Smith. From ghost employees and forged signatures to excess billing for administrative costs and the administration of psychotropic drugs to DCFS wards without proper consent – the findings paint a troubling picture of inadequate oversight and failure to monitor grant contracts across several State agencies that paid out grants to Smith.

“As Illinois remains months behind in paying lawful vendors, the negligence and failure to undertake even the most rudimentary oversight of grants came at the expense of Illinois children and families that rely on legitimate service providers,” concluded Franks.

Franks, the chairman of the House State Government Administration Committee, state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), the chairman of the House Human Services Committee will hear from witnesses across government agencies to fully investigate the report’s findings. The hearing will take place at the State of Illinois’ Bilandic Building, Room C-600, located at 160 North LaSalle in Chicago on Friday, January 27th at 10:00 A.M.

For more information, contact Franks’ constituent service office at (815) 334-0063.