{"id":638,"date":"2023-03-01T09:48:47","date_gmt":"2023-03-01T15:48:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/repbradstephens.com\/?p=638"},"modified":"2023-03-10T09:49:45","modified_gmt":"2023-03-10T15:49:45","slug":"rep-stephens-march-2023-legislative-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/repbradstephens.com\/rep-stephens-march-2023-legislative-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Rep. Stephens March 2023 Legislative Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello and happy (almost) spring! I hope you are well. In the last month, members of the House organized themselves into committees in order to discuss legislation proposed for the 2023 spring session and more than 2,100 House bills have been filed.<\/p>\n

With each new General Assembly, the House passes a resolution establishing the Rules by which the chamber will operate. The rules adopted by the House ensure the failed old way of doing business will remain in place for at least two more years to come. We had a unique opportunity prior to the vote to start off this new General Assembly focused on good government and transparency. Unfortunately, the people of Illinois will be the ones to suffer from the failure of these House Rules to accomplish those goals.<\/p>\n

We are in session every week this month, so be sure to reach out to my office at any time with your thoughts on legislative issues at\u00a0(773) 444-0611\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0stephens@ilhousegop.org<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong>Your feedback is always welcome and appreciated!<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

As we celebrate St. Patrick\u2019s Day this month, I leave you with part of the Irish blessing:<\/p>\n

May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Rep. Stephens Assigned to House Committees, Serving as Republican Spokesperson for the Cities & Villages Committee<\/strong><\/h6>\n

I was appointed by House Minority Leader Tony McCombie to serve on the House Gaming, Labor & Commerce, Police & Fire, and Transportation: Rail Systems, Roads, & Bridges Committees. I\u2019m also honored to serve as House Republican Spokesperson for the House Cities & Villages Committee. I\u2019m looking forward to diving right into these committees and getting to work for the people of the 20th<\/sup>\u00a0District this spring.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Stephens Responds to Governor\u2019s FY24 Budget Address<\/strong><\/h6>\n

Governor Pritzker gave his FY24 Budget Address and State of the State on February 15th<\/sup>. Here is my full statement in response:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are approaching the edge of a fiscal cliff in our state\u00a0that\u00a0will collapse when one-time federal funds and extra revenue from inflation dry up. Illinoisans deserve a government that spends their hard-earned money responsibly, one that makes a U-Turn before we reach the edge of this cliff. What also wasn\u2019t mentioned in this budget address was real property tax relief, and I look forward to continue working across the aisle to provide this for the working class people of the 20th\u00a0District.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

At a February press conference, House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) was joined by members of her newly appointed budget team to call on Democrats to engage in a truly bipartisan budget process and bring reform to the most important legislation passed at the Capitol each year.<\/p>\n

McCombie appointed Deputy House Minority Leader Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) as the House Republican caucus Chief Budgeteer, and she laid out some of the caucus\u2019 primary budget reform ideas, which include:<\/p>\n