Supporting Working Families
Tax Relief
Families work hard for the money they earn but they are getting hit hard by inflation. To provide some relief, I voted to freeze the gas tax and suspend the sales tax on groceries.That means lower costs for everyday goods and more money in your pockets. I voted to provide relief for working families now so you can look toward a better financial future.
Families are bearing the brunt of inflation and taxes are only making matters worse. That’s why I’ll fight in the Senate to bring relief to middle-class homeowners through a property tax refund, helping families keep more of what they earn.
To help teachers and parents, who invest so much in our kids, I voted for a “Back to School” sales tax holiday on clothing and school supplies for a week in August and doubled the tax credit for teachers who buy classroom supplies. Quality education should not be an additional financial burden on our families and educators.
Public Safety
Rising criminal activity throughout the state has left families feeling vulnerable. That’s why I pushed for legislation that would increase safety in our communities and help people feel comfortable carrying about their daily lives.
This legislation increased funding to law enforcement agencies across the state while also improving access to mental health for officers and providing clear guidelines to improve the quality and success of our law enforcement agencies. It also requires officers to wear body cameras, which is in the best interests of both officers and the public.
This same legislation also includes additional services and protection for domestic violence victims. Their stories are rarely reported, but the violence they experience is painfully real, and I was proud to vote for additional funding to support anti-domestic violence work.
Veterans
Veterans have fought to protect our country, our rights, and our way of life. Showing our gratitude for their work and sacrifice starts with giving them resources they need. This includes housing and suicide prevention services. Veterans fought for us and I will always fight for them.
I’ve worked to improve Veterans’ mental health services and bring additional resources for Veteran homes in my role as Vice-Chair of the Veterans Committee. I will keep that up in the Senate because Veterans deserve someone who will protect their well-being. I won’t stop pushing for the dignity, resources, and support our Veterans deserve.
Job Creation & Supply Chains
Illinoisans are hard workers and they deserve to have someone in the State Senate who will work as hard for them as they work for our communities. As a State Representative, I passed the $15 minimum wage, advocated for union dues to be deductible from State income taxes, sponsored a wage-theft bill that makes sure construction workers always get paid for the work they do on a project, and walked the picket line supporting the UAW during the John Deere strike.
Manufacturing
We need to make our products in the United States to increase jobs and to ensure that we all have access to the products we need. This means fixing our supply chain so that we make things here at home, in our district.
That’s why I fought for tax incentives to bring microchip manufacturers to our district. Not only does this create more good-paying jobs, it creates economic sustainability for years to come. In the Senate, I will continue pushing to bring more manufacturing, union-friendly, and clean jobs home to Illinois and to the 36th district.
Fiscal Policy
Having a balanced budget allows us to plan for a better future. When I came into office three years ago, our credit was tanking and there was a backlog of bills. I have consistently voted for a balanced budget every year and sponsored a bill to increase our rainy day fund. During my time in office, Illinois has gotten six credit upgrades and our budget process has continuously improved. I will always fight for a responsible budget that prioritizes the needs of our families and communities.
Environment
Protecting the environment is protecting our future. We all want to live in a world that is inhabitable and where our children can enjoy the same outdoor experiences we did growing up.
As a father, I worry about my children’s future and want to ensure they grow up in a world that is safe and beautiful for them to explore. That is why I support comprehensive policies that aim to combat the impacts of climate change, while investing in the conservation of our natural resources. This includes clean energy initiatives that set higher standards for vehicle emissions and encourage the use of electric vehicles.
Women’s Health
A woman’s healthcare decisions are between her and her doctor. Politicians shouldn’t get in the way. To be sure of that, I voted to guarantee Roe v. Wade remains the law of the land in Illinois. So even if the Supreme Court overturns Roe nationally, women in Illinois will always have access to healthcare and birth control.
Protecting choice is important, but so is investing in women’s healthcare providers and ensuring they have the funding necessary to operate and offer quality services. That is why I support Planned Parenthood and all women’s health clinics that provide critical healthcare services.
Fighting Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is an unfortunate reality for some in our state and it can oftentimes go unnoticed. That is why it is important that workers in hotels, where trafficking often takes place, are incentivized to train on how to recognize human trafficking. To help with this, I passed a bill to prevent state employees from spending state funds on hotels that haven’t been certified in doing the proper human trafficking-prevention training.
Healthcare
Healthcare should be affordable and people living with chronic conditions shouldn’t have to pay a high price to get the care they need. I pledge to work in the Senate, pushing for more affordable and accessible care, continuing the work I have done expanding access to medication for diabetes in school and voting to cap the price of insulin for all insurance companies.
Schools
Schools are anchors in our communities. In the Senate I’ll make sure parents and teachers continue to have the support they need to help students thrive. This means evidence based funding that benefits our school districts, minimum salary increases for teachers, and resources to those committed to the success of our students.
Ethics
Corruption has plagued our state government for far too long and it’s time we set higher ethical standards. I voted to reform our broken ethics laws so politicians in Springfield are banned from lobbying their colleagues right after they leave office.
As State Senator I’ll work to make sure lawmakers are accountable to taxpayers, not their lobbyist friends. I have also worked to keep out corporations and foreign investors in our politics by sponsoring a bill that would prevent foreign nationals from contributing to our ballot initiatives. Setting these ethical boundaries helps our government focus on what matters, helping families throughout Illinois to live more prosperous lives.