Didech Fights for Tax Relief; Secures Gun Safety Reform; Stands for Women’s Rights in First Session

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Committed to building a stronger Illinois, state Rep. Daniel Didech, D-Buffalo Grove, worked to move our state toward a fairer tax system by holding the line on middle-class taxes, as well as to empower taxpayers to reduce the size of government and lower property taxes. He also championed major legislation to modernize background checks and enacted reforms to crack down on workplace harassment and protect access to reproductive health care. 

 “While more work remains to be done to lower the property tax burden on local families, we were able to move our state in the right direction this session,” Didech said. “By working together we were able to make government more accountable to local taxpayers by paying down over a billion in unpaid bills, meeting the state’s full pension obligation and investing $375 million in new funding for education, all while providing income tax relief to middle-class families and seniors in our community.”

Didech worked tirelessly to provide real property tax relief and to hold government more accountable to taxpayers. He introduced House Bill 3646, which would empower taxpayers to eliminate unnecessary and duplicative units of government, as well as reforms to crack down on pension and salary benefits for politicians. Didech lead by example by refusing a taxpayer-funded pension. He also held the line on middle-class taxes by supporting the Fair Tax Amendment, which is a critical step towards providing local families with income tax relief as they work towards a fairer tax system.

Additionally, Didech championed Senate Bill 1966, which makes mandatory background checks more stringent by closing the person-to-person background check loophole and requiring all transactions to go through federally licensed dealers. The measure clarifies when a Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card can be revoked due to an individual taking any actions that causes harm to others; ensures law enforcement can share information of individuals who have had their FOID revoked by creating a Law Enforcement Prohibited Persons Portal; and creates a fund to provide grants for in school mental health services.

 “The recent tragedy in Aurora, Illinois showed us the desperate need for improving the tools available for law enforcement to keep our communities safe,” Didech said. “This legislation is a necessary step that will improve background checks, invest in mental health, and prevent criminals from getting their hands on a firearm.”

Didech also worked to combat workplace harassment by supporting House Bill 905, which creates a task force to work on developing model policies and best practices to keep workplaces safe, such as methods for anonymous reporting and protections from retaliation. He also championed legislation that would put an end to discriminatory wage practices that lock women into a lifetime of lower pay, as well as legislation to ensure that the fundamental rights of women in Illinois are protected from extremist politicians aiming to erode access to reproductive health care across the country.