I am heading back to Springfield this week and anticipate a busy week, as this Friday is the deadline to pass Senate Bills through House committees. This update, I’ll let you know what I’ve been up to around the district, what’s going on in Springfield, and let you know what’s coming up.
BUDGET
At a Capitol news conference Thursday, I joined Deputy Republican Leader Norine Hammond and Assistant Republican Leader C.D. Davidsmeyer as we provided an update on the budget.
Last week, progressive Democrats ramped up their campaign for a graduated income tax hike, despite Illinois voters soundly rejecting a constitutional amendment for a progressive income tax in 2020. And the Illinois Revenue Alliance presented a list of tax hikes that would raise taxes by $6 billion.
These progressive special interests that are part of the Illinois Revenue Alliance, aka the ‘Tax-and-Spend Alliance,’ are proposing $6 billion in new taxes on hardworking Illinois families and businesses. $6 billion in new taxes! All to pay for taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits for illegal immigrants, more pork projects for Democrats, and a wish list of wasteful spending programs. These tax hikes would further damage our economy and drive up the cost of living for Illinois families.
So far this spring, we haven’t talked about the most important issues affecting Illinois families, like high property taxes and the high cost of living and doing business in Illinois.
The people of Illinois are tapped out. We cannot accept ANY tax increases. Our seniors are suffering under the weight of crushing property tax bills; it’s hard for young families to afford housing, daycare, and utilities; and this budget – and any other bill that comes out of this General Assembly – cannot include a tax increase. That’s a message that resonates with people all across Illinois.
Read more here.
ENERGY
Electric bills set to soar again this summer
Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the interstate grid operator that posts prices for peak-load electrical supplies bought by utilities and end-users throughout central and southern Illinois, has reported a massive increase in summer capacity prices.
These are the price levels charged by peak-load electrical generation suppliers that operate and supply electricity online during times of peak summer demand. In some cases, these peak-load electrical supply prices, which electric utilities are legally empowered to pass on to their customers, are 22 times higher than last summer’s prices. These price levels reflect the continued withdrawal of coal-fired and other carbon-based electric generation from the supply picture of the central U.S. states, coupled with improved use of mathematical algorithms by the remaining suppliers to maximize their prices and profits.
The largest utility serving central and southern Illinois, Ameren, warned customers this week that the utility expects to pay approximately 50% more this summer for the electricity it purchases. Ameren expects the overall prices will increase from 8 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) last summer to 12 cents/kWh this summer. After these supply prices are passed on to customers as allowed by law, the average summer 2025 consumer electric bill will be 18% to 22% higher in summer 2025 than during the comparable months of 2024. This price increase will apply to the four-month period beginning June 1, 2025, and ending on September 30, 2025.
Starting on October 1, 2025, and in line with expected end of summer temperatures and air-conditioning-related peak demand loads, the summer 2025 capacity price structure posted by MISO will expire, and the billing surcharges to be charged by Ameren and other Downstate Illinois electrical utility suppliers may be partly reduced. The Downstate Illinois summer 2025 electrical pricing picture was described to members of the General Assembly on Wednesday, April 30.
AROUND THE DISTRICT
We had a great crowd at my Senior Fraud Protection Seminar! Thank you to the experts from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and the Department on Aging for helping equip our seniors with the tools to prepare themselves from fraud.
I joined local leaders to OPPOSE HB 1237, the “Mascot Ban.” Thank you to everyone who came out to rally against the Mascot Ban Great speakers from school districts across the Metro East who are being targeted by this legislation. Please continue to urge your state legislators to OPPOSE HB1237!
I had the pleasure of visiting the 4th Grade classes at St. Mary’s in Alton with former State Rep for the 111th, Dan Beiser. We explained the state legislature, talked about the Capitol, and about the job of a State Rep. We also talked about our faith and party beliefs, and most importantly, showed that Democrats and Republicans can get along.
I attended the Alton High School Construction Trades Class Groundbreaking Ceremony. They will learn home-building skills at this new build site.
AT THE CAPITOL
We paid tribute to Illinois police officers who died in the line of duty over the last year. Every year, this somber event is a reminder of the strength and bravery of all our men and women in blue. Officers Averbeck and Lawson were here from Alton Police Department as K9 Odin was honored. May the fallen officers sacrifice never be forgotten.
Senator Erica Harriss and I were so pleased to welcome Isaiah Stuckel from the Alton Boys & Girls Club and Austin Nichols from the Bethalto Boys & Girls Club to Springfield this week! Both young men were nominated for State Youth of the Year, and Isaiah won!
I was happy to meet with this bright group of civics students from East Alton – Wood River High School at the Capitol! I hope they enjoyed their day in Springfield.
We honored women leaders across the state at the Women to Watch Leadership Conference in Springfield. I was proud to have Amber Scott and Kristen Burns as my honorees this year. They deserve every bit of recognition, and I can’t wait to see the next thing they do to bring a positive change to our region!
Thank you for taking time to read my Capitol Update! I’ll keep you posted with important happenings as the final month of Session rolls on.