News

The Illinois Farm Bureau has presented State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) with the “Friend of Agriculture” award. “Agriculture represents the heart of the Illinois economy,” said Senator Syverson. “It is an honor to be recognized for my support of our state’s family farms.” According to the Illinois Farm Bureau, this award honors state and federal legislators who understand the importance

Judge orders appointment of federal hiring monitor at IDOT A federal judge sided with a longtime anti-patronage crusader, ruling that hiring practices at the state’s Department of Transportation have been so corrupted by political influence under Governor Pat Quinn and his predecessor that a federal monitor is now needed. “The mission of state agencies is to do the work of

Federal Judge Sidney Schenkier has ruled in favor of good government advocates and will be appointing a hiring monitor at the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). A recent report from Illinois Auditor General Bill Holland found that hundreds of IDOT employees were illegally hired by the Blagojevich and Quinn administrations. “The mission of state agencies is to do the work

In this newsletter: Another potential Quinn administration scandal brewing and an upcoming town hall with Senator John McCain. Plus, a new report from a major bond rating agency offers a grim forecast, hospitals release an Ebola fact sheet, and are there more rats in Chicago? John McCain Coming to Rockford U.S. Senator John McCain will be the special guest at a Veterans

Governor Quinn’s scandal-plagued Neighborhood Recovery Initiative is poised to once again take center stage as federal prosecutors cleared the way for the bipartisan Legislative Audit Commission to resume their investigation of the program, said State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford). In advance of an Oct. 8 Audit Commission hearing, several lawmakers are raising concerns that Governor Quinn has shuffled millions of

ROCKFORD- The Illinois General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) is preparing to vote next month on new rules for the statewide smoking ban. Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) is calling on his colleagues to reject expanding the rules to beer gardens and patios. “Attempts to now ban outdoor ‘patio’ areas for smokers at restaurants and bars are unfair to

Springfield, IL – The Governor’s bungled “anti-violence” program continues to draw scrutiny, said State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) as media reports revealed this week that a federal grand jury in Chicago has issued a subpoena requesting records related to Pat Quinn’s $54.5 million Neighborhood Recovery Initiative (NRI). In legislative news, the state’s legislative rulemaking body has unanimously deferred implementation of

Illinois has received some encouraging economic news lately, with recent drops in the state’s historically high unemployment rate and other signs that an improving national economy may finally be boosting the state’s outlook, State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) said. But, two new reports serve as reminders of how far the state still must go to get its financial house in

A state audit revealed continued problems in the Expanded All Kids state health insurance program; a bipartisan legislative committee is set to begin its review of state rules on hydraulic fracturing; and patient applications are now being accepted for the state’s medical marijuana program, State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) said. Audit: Problems continue in All Kids A new state audit

The Governor concluded action on all bills sent to him during the 2014 legislative session, approving more than 100 measures and vetoing bills that would have established regulations for ridesharing companies like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar and brought uniformity to speed limits on Interstates and toll highways, State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) said. Among the more notable measures signed were