AURORA, Ill. – State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Aurora, encourages residents to submit ideas for new laws for the upcoming 2019 legislative session.

“I want to offer residents the opportunity to share their ideas on laws that could improve our community,” Kifowit said. “Every year I develop a strong legislative agenda because of the input I receive from the community.”

Residents can submit their legislative ideas for review to Kifowit’s district office, located at 1677 Montgomery Rd., Ste. 116 in Aurora. Last year, multiple ideas submitted by Kifowit’s Youth Advisory Council became law. One example, House Bill 4226, calls for the Illinois Department of Public Health to develop, publish and distribute educational brochures that schools can pass out to children who may have sustained a concussion. Another, House Bill 5148, adds more instruction on sexual consent and discussions of sexual harassment and assault that occur in workplaces and colleges to Illinois schools’ sex education courses. HB 4100, which also became law, came from local nurses who submitted the idea for the Nurse Violence Prevention Bill, legislation to prevent violence against nurses and other healthcare workers.

“I greatly value residents’ ideas to improve our communities and work hard to ensure that the legislation I introduce and support addresses their concerns,” Kifowit said. “I look forward to working with residents to hopefully enact their ideas into law.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, is inviting area residents to her annual Recycle and Shred Day on Saturday, June 9 from 9 a.m. to noon at her district office, located at 1677 Montgomery Rd. in Aurora.

“We are looking to protect local residents from identity theft, forgery and other crimes that can happen when sensitive documents are not safely disposed of,” Kifowit said. “Each year, the community response to our shred day event is incredibly positive, and I am glad to offer this free, convenient service to our residents once again.”

Kifowit’s Recycle and Shred Day event will offer local families the opportunity to recycle old electronics and shred paperwork for free. Residents are welcome to bring documents that contain personally identifiable information to be safely shredded, such as bank statements, outdated medical records, old tax returns and other sensitive documents.

Kifowit will be joined by Fox Metro and the Association for Individual Development.  Fox Metro will accept unused or expired medications so they can be properly disposed. The Association for Individual Development will be accepting computer equipment, cell phones, stereos, and other electronic appliances for free recycling; TVs and computer monitors will not be accepted.

“As we responsibly dispose of items we no longer need or use, we are protecting our community and our environment,” Kifowit said. “I hope residents will take advantage of this opportunity to clear out some space in their homes and benefit our planet.”

For more information, please contact Kifowit’s constituent service office by phone at 630-585-1308, or by email at Stephanie.Kifowit@att.net. Residents can keep up with the latest events and news by visiting www.ILDistrict84.com, or by liking Kifowit’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ILDistrict84.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Aurora, helped pass a bipartisan, balanced budget, focused on cracking down on expensive taxpayer-funded “golden parachute” severance packages, improving veterans’ health care and providing critical protections for nurses during the spring legislative session.

Kifowit was joined by a bipartisan group of Republicans and Democrats in passing a balanced budget which holds the line on taxes and spending, and focuses on cutting wasteful bureaucracy while protecting critical services such as affordable child care, domestic violence shelters, and breast cancer screenings. In a significant step toward property tax relief, the bipartisan, balanced budget provides $350 million in new funding for schools with $50 million to be used for property tax relief.  In addition, the budget restores funding needed for local governments that would otherwise raise property taxes to make up the difference.

“Our most important job is to pass a balanced budget that reflects our values,” said Kifowit. “I am proud to be a part of a bipartisan effort to pass a budget that continues the healing process after the damage done by the governor.”

Kifowit also worked across the aisle to pass the Government Severance Pay Act, Senate Bill 3604. Kifowit’s bill comes in response to large payouts from government entities to fired executives, such as the College of DuPage granting its former president a $763,000 severance package even after he was dismissed for misconduct. Northern Illinois University also approved a $600,000 severance package to its former president after his dismissal for inappropriate hiring.

The Government Severance Pay Act would prevent government entities from awarding severance pay to those who have been dismissed for misconduct. The legislation also reigns in all government severance packages to a 20-week maximum.

“These publicly-funded golden parachutes break the public trust every time they occur,” Kifowit said. “Taxpayers ought to know that rogue public officials are not taking advantage of them.”

In response to mismanagement at the Quincy Veterans’ Home, Kifowit passed House Bill 4278, which would improve transparency in the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs by requiring state-run facilities to notify each veterans’ family within 24 hours of learning that at least two staff members and/or residents have been diagnosed with an infectious disease.

“The devastating Legionnaires’ outbreak at the Quincy Veterans’ Home is a prime example of bureaucrats prioritizing their interests over veterans,” Kifowit continued. “Our veterans should know that the state is focused on providing the best possible care, not keeping them in the dark about their health and safety.”

Recent reports have revealed the day-to-day dangers faced in the nursing profession. Kifowit responded to these dangers by championing the Health Care Violence Prevention Act, House Bill 4100, which would require that medical facilities develop a workplace violence prevention program, forbid management to discourage employees from contacting law enforcement or filing a complaint after an incident of workplace violence occurs and require hospitals to establish protocols for the reception of potentially violent patients transferred from law enforcement.

“Health care providers can’t save lives if their health or safety are at risk,” Kifowit continued. “Nurses require more protections to do their job properly.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Aurora, passed legislation to rein in obscenely large severance packages granted to fired or outgoing government employees at taxpayers’ expense.

“Government should invest in its people, not enrich fired or outgoing employees,” Kifowit said. “These publicly-funded golden parachutes granted to dismissed government employees break the public trust every time they occur.”

Kifowit’s Government Severance Pay Act, Senate Bill 3604, is in response to large payouts from government entities to outgoing executives. Most notably, the College of DuPage paid a $763,000 severance package to its fired president, and the University of Northern Illinois provided its dismissed former president a $600,000 severance package. Kifowit’s Government Severance Pay Act requires government entities entering into an employee contract that includes severance to provide a provision prohibiting the severance pay when the worker has been fired for severe misconduct and reigns in all government severance packages to a 20-week maximum.

“People ought to know that they can trust their public officials to be responsible with our public dollars and not enrich their pockets by looking for a big payout when they leave,” Kifowit continued. “My legislation limiting, or if there is misconduct eliminating, public severances will help restore people’s trust in government.”

The Government Severance Pay Act now heads to the governor for his signature.

Dear Editor,

Throughout the years, local small businesses have given so much to our community. They donate money to scouting events, the Rotary Club and local non-profits, not to mention taking the time to volunteer for worthy causes. Small businesses are the drivers of our economy, and some of the most important pillars of our community.

In May, we recognize “National Small Business Week,” but we need to be recognizing and supporting our local small employers all year long. Small businesses employ the majority of workers and create the majority of new jobs; however, actions to actually support local small businesses often are not happening. Out-of-state companies are undermining our local small businesses and I do not think this is right.

That is why I championed commonsense legislation, House Bill 4774, that would direct local governments to provide a small preference to local businesses.

While no one in Springfield seems opposed to spending big dollars on large companies, I was shocked at the discussion and negative votes on this bill. One legislator from the other side of the aisle even stated “your bill is a waste of taxpayer money”.

I do not think that supporting the local, small businesses who support our community is a waste of taxpayer money.  Small businesses are increasingly being squeezed by corporate online retailers and big box stores. These corporate groups still receive too many special deals that aren’t available to small employers that create jobs right here in our community. It’s time to correct that imbalance, and I will continue to do so as your representative in Springfield.

Unfortunately, House Bill 4774 did not pass, but I will not stop fighting to help support our local, small business owners because it’s the right thing to do.

AURORA, Ill. – In response to emails from Gov. Bruce Rauner’s former deputy chief of staff Darlene Senger suggesting the administration shift blame for 13 deaths at the Quincy Veterans’ Home to Sen. Tammy Duckworth, USMC Veteran state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Aurora, and US Army Veteran state Sen. Tom Cullerton, D-Villa Park, released the following statement:

“Like all who have served in the armed forces, we know that true leadership means taking responsibility. This is a lesson Governor Rauner and Darlene Senger clearly have not learned. We are disappointed, but not surprised, that one of Bruce Rauner’s advisors actively discussed placing the blame for the crisis at the Quincy Veterans’ Home on Senator Tammy Duckworth, a war hero who has sacrificed more for her country than Governor Rauner could imagine.

“The crisis at the Quincy Veterans’ Home has revealed that Rauner and his people are busier finding ways to evade responsibility and find scapegoats than taking responsibility and finding solutions. We do not accept the governor’s attempt to blame others or evade legislative inquiries.

“We hope in the coming weeks and months the governor will begin to take responsibility for the crisis that occurred under his watch.”