SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, is pushing for a measure to support the families of first responders who have lost their lives in the line of duty, legislation which just passed the House.

“Families of first responders who have lost their lives bear a huge burden on behalf of the people of Illinois which I cannot imagine, and the least we can give them is financial stability as they process the sacrifice their loved ones were forced to make,” Halpin said. “The 100 Club of Illinois is an organization committed to providing necessary assistance, and the measure we just passed creates an easy way for the people of Illinois to lend a hand with that effort.”

Halpin co-sponsored House Bill 4161, which creates an option for Illinoisans to donate money to the 100 Club of Illinois by checking a box on their income tax returns. The 100 Club will use these donations to provide for the families of first responders who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Similar options exist for other causes, such as homeless assistance and Alzheimer’s research. This legislation passed the state House with strong bipartisan support, and the state Senate will now consider it.

“I am absolutely committed to giving our first responders the support they need,” Halpin said. “Hopefully, they will be more comfortable and effective at performing their duties with the knowledge that, if the worst should happen on the job, their families will have the financial stability they deserve.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois will put into place long-needed ethical standards and government transparency reforms due to a bill that state Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, helped pass.

“For too long, Illinoisans have had to tolerate ethical violations and a lack of transparency in their government,” Halpin said. “Our community deserves public servants who are working to better Illinois, not line their pockets. Making health care more affordable, building up a better education system for our children, and revitalizing Illinois’ economy following the COVID-19 pandemic are challenges that deserve our focus. Representatives should never divert from critical issues like those in favor of personal financial opportunities.”

Halpin supported Senate Bill 539 to put an end to public officials enriching themselves on the job. The legislation prohibits elected officials from lobbying on behalf of those who have lobbied them, creates buffer periods between retirement from influential public positions and accepting lobbying jobs, and increases transparency.

“Along with new regulations on various lobbying practices, we must make government more transparent to protect our democracy,” Halpin said. “Good government happens out in the open with public oversight, and I will continue fighting so that communities across Illinois have a fair say in their democracy.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, issued this statement following the end of the 2021 spring session:

“Despite the challenges of COVID-19, we have taken big steps towards our goals. I’m proud of the work I’ve done bringing our community’s economy back to pre-Covid strength, working for more affordable health care, and protecting our workers from corporate attack. Thanks to our public health community’s effective vaccine distribution program, Illinois will begin to return to normal as the pandemic finally fades, and this progress will remain.

“If anything, COVID-19 showed us that making health care accessible is more important than ever. People need their doctors and their medicines, and they should not be forced to pay skyrocketing prices or clear miles of red tape to get them. This session, I worked to pass numerous bills to curtail big insurance and pharmaceutical companies’ efforts to pad their profits by overcharging working families, and I’m proud of the progress made.

“A significant part of rebuilding our local economy following the coronavirus is ensuring unions remain strong. I pushed for a constitutional amendment to secure the rights of workers to unionize. Powerful corporations have been working to prevent legislation like this from passing for years, but we overcame their efforts to maintain the rights of Illinois workers. This success will have huge benefits for our community immediately and in the long-term.

“I will always advocate for our community during my time in Springfield, and I firmly believe that the work I have done will help us prosper. More than that, facing challenges that may seem too difficult to overcome, as we have done this past year, becomes easier when we face them together and don’t stray into partisan bickering. Our community has done that and we should all be proud of that accomplishment.”

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, is pushing for greater efficiency in how states and municipalities spend taxpayer dollars, having introduced legislation that would prevent large, massively profitable corporations from taking advantage of taxpayer-funded subsides and then failing to deliver on promises to create jobs.  

“Under current corporate subsidy programs, companies that are already profitable are intentionally pitting states against each other to offer the largest tax breaks, oftentimes with no real payoff in local job creation,” said Halpin. “This is money that could be better spent on workforce training or other career development education, rather than on boosting corporate profits.”

The House Revenue & Finance Committee heard testimony Thursday on Halpin’s House Bill 95, which aims to phase out corporate giveaways through the creation of an interstate compact. States that opt in to the compact would agree not to offer company-specific tax breaks or grants to lure large corporations. The committee also discussed Halpin’s House Bill 22, which prohibits the use of non-disclosure agreements in economic development negotiations between local governments and big businesses looking to relocate or expand their facilities.

“When cities are making deals to attract new corporate headquarters, the details should not be kept secret from local residents and taxpayers,” said Halpin. “I’m committed to bringing greater transparency and accountability to economic development decisions to make sure they’re in the best interest of workers and families.”

For more information, please contact Halpin’s full-time constituent service office at 309-558-3612 or at rephalpin@gmail.com.

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, is working to make local voices heard in Illinois’ redistricting process by bringing a public hearing of the House Redistricting Committee to Rock Island on April 3rd at 11 a.m.

The hearing will be held at the Martin Luther King Center at 630 9th Street in Rock Island.

“Our community has a wide range of voices, all of which deserve to be heard during a process as integral to our democracy as the redistricting process,” Halpin said. “These committees are an opportunity for people to speak up about their priorities before redistricting decisions get made. I strongly encourage everyone interested in contributing to join us.

The hearing is part of Halpin’s commitment to an open and participatory redistricting process, and is one of 23 scheduled hearings across the state where legislators will receive input from groups and individuals. Members of the public are welcome to share their thoughts on demographic trends they see in their areas, communities of interest, and other information about the region that should inform the process of creating new legislative districts.

Individuals or groups interested in testifying should contact RedistrictingCommittee@hds.ilga.gov. Please include the date and region of the hearing you wish to attend, and a brief description of the testimony you wish to share.  

Written testimony can also be shared directly with the Redistricting Committee at any time by emailing RedistrictingCommittee@hds.ilga.gov.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, issued the following statement Wednesday after fighting for changes to a comprehensive criminal justice reform package that took into account input and personal experiences from law enforcement:

“The criminal justice reform package that passed today includes reasonable reforms to ensure respect and fairness in the justice system.

“Throughout discussions on this bill, I fought for changes that honored feedback from law enforcement. The bill that I supported creates new officer wellness and training programs, as well as the opportunity for Illinois to institute proven co-responder programs. It also preserves qualified immunity, the legal shield that protects officers from lawsuits based on their reasonable actions.

“That said, we must recognize that some in our communities have faced the consequences of a criminal justice system that fails to respect and protect them. To ensure that there are more services for victims of crime, this bill expands victim services including counseling and protects those who witness crimes from retaliation.

“I empathize with my colleagues in the Black Caucus and see the need to implement reasonable reforms against police misconduct and ensure accountability. I stand with our local activists who drafted The Resolution, and who entrusted me to deliver on this agenda in Springfield. While not perfect, this measure is an honest effort to bring more accountability and transparency to our justice system, and that’s why it received my support.”

For more information, please contact Halpin’s full-time constituent service office at 309-558-3612 or at rephalpin@gmail.com.

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Amid a rising death toll from a widespread coronavirus outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home, state Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, is calling for a meeting of the House Veterans Affairs Committee to investigate COVID protocols and care practices at the state-run facility.

“While I am conscious of the health and safety risks that come with asking legislators to travel and gather in-person, there is a crisis at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home that needs our attention,” said Halpin. “Those who risked their lives to fight for our country deserve the highest standard of care, yet the numbers we’re seeing suggest they are not receiving it. We need to get to the bottom of what fueled this outbreak and provide full transparency to the families grieving a lost loved one.”

Halpin, who serves as vice chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, echoes a request made Friday by the committee chair for an in-person hearing regarding COVID cases at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home. At least 31 veterans, a quarter of residents at the home, have died from COVID-related complications since the beginning of the outbreak.

“The situation at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home is devastating and concerning,” said Halpin. “I am hopeful that a committee hearing, with proper safety measures in place for lawmakers and staff, can help shed light on the cause of this outbreak and the changes that are necessary moving forward.”

For more information, please contact Halpin’s full-time constituent service office at 309-558-3612 or at rephalpin@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, issued the following statement Sunday, upon the conclusion of a special session to address the state’s most urgent needs amid the coronavirus pandemic:

“The COVID-19 health crisis has created massive challenges for just about every resident of our state. The budget I supported provides targeted relief to those who need it most, like the small business owners in danger of permanently losing their livelihood and the furloughed workers who can no longer afford basic necessities. This budget also makes our full pension payment, keeping our promise to retirees, while increasing legislative oversight of state spending to ensure we are not spending money we do not have.

“The pandemic has not only exposed gaps in our current health care and economic systems, but also generated new priorities to be addressed. This week we passed measures expanding support for tele-health and mental health services, so residents can safely receive the care they need. Workers affected by the virus will also have access to additional resources, including expanded unemployment and workers’ compensation benefits for those sickened on the job.

“Even as our region takes steps to reopen and get people back to work, the economic impacts of COVID-19 are still being realized. There is much more work to be done to help Quad-Cities families and businesses regain stability, including long-term property tax relief. Throughout and beyond the current emergency, I will continue fighting to build a stronger Illinois.”

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – As quarantines and ‘stay at home’ orders necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic can be particularly challenging for abuse survivors, state Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, is raising awareness of resources for those living in unsafe homes such as the Illinois Domestic Violence Helpline.

“Anyone living with an unsafe partner should know that, while Illinois is fully-engaged battling the spread of COVID-19, regular services are still available to help,” Halpin said. “Any person who feels they might be facing danger in their own home can still reach out to the Illinois Domestic Violence Helpline for assistance.”

Halpin is encouraging anyone living in a potentially hazardous home to contact professionals that are available to help. COVID-19-related distancing procedures have closed many public places and the added stress of isolation can aggravate preexisting problems. For anyone feeling unsafe, the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline is 877-863-6338. Those in immediate danger should call the police.

“The safety of everyone in this community is a priority for me,” Halpin said. “During a time when a new concern like COVID-19 is capturing everyone’s attention, we cannot forget to care for people dealing with other serious dangers. I urge everyone in danger of domestic violence to stay safe and use the resources available to them.”