CHICAGO – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, recently highlighted opportunities in the arts at a town hall meeting.

“The arts in Illinois provide thousands of jobs and have an economic impact of over $25 billion dollars,” Lilly said. “But the arts are about more than a job or the impact of a dollar because the contributions of artists in our state connect us, inspire us, teach us and challenge us as Illinoisans to think more deeply about the world we inhabit.”

Lilly, the Chairperson of the Illinois House Museums, Arts, & Cultural Enhancements Committee, hosted the town hall to provide residents access to information and resources about the arts in Illinois. Topics covered at the town hall included arts education, economic contributions of the arts sector, and grant funding opportunities for artists and arts-supporting organizations.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – State Rep. Mark Walker, D-Arlington Heights, is thanking residents who attended a town hall meeting Wednesday evening to discuss the Fair Tax income tax proposal.

“A Fair Tax income tax system is one of the biggest issues to come out of the General Assembly this past session,” Walker said. “It’s really important residents are aware of the facts on the Fair Tax plan, which is why I was glad to see so many attendees at our event.”

Walker was also joined by state Sen. Ann Gillespie, D-Arlington Heights, and Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. As was explained during the town hall, a fair, or progressive, income tax system would change Illinois’ current flat rate tax system to a tiered rate structure like the tax brackets used by the federal government and 34 other states. Under the proposed plan, those making $250,000 or less will pay either the same rate or a lower rate.

“It’s been a top priority of mine to right Illinois’ fiscal ship while also providing real tax relief for those who most need it,” Walker said. “A Fair Tax system will cut taxes for 95% of residents in my district, including most of our small businesses, all while collecting an estimated $3 billion a year in new revenue that will allow us to better invest in education, infrastructure and other priorities while addressing our state’s fiscal challenges. That’s a win-win to me.”

HANOVER PARK, Ill. –State Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, partnered with local legislators and environmental advocacy groups to host a a town hall meeting last week to discuss clean energy and better environmental policy.

“Climate change is a serious threat, and while the Trump administration continues to overlook the severity of the issue, it is more important than ever to invest in renewable energy and create legislation that will protect our families and our planet,” Mussman said. “We must address climate change with policies that will ultimately put people to work transforming the state into a greener, healthier place to live.”

During the town hall, Mussman and other local elected officials discussed the effects of climate change and ways to prevent environmental catastrophes. Topics of discussion also included the Clean Energy Jobs Act, which would require Illinois to run entirely on renewable energy by 2050, and creating economic opportunities for sustainable business.

“We need to act quickly to prevent climate change from reaching a point of no return and causing unnecessary destruction of our environment,” Mussman said. “Investing in clean energy and implementing better environmental policies will not only help secure a habitable planet for future generations, but it will also create opportunities for economic growth in our community.”

For more information, please contact Mussman’s constituent service office at 847-923-9104 or StateRepMussman@gmail.com.

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill.  – To give residents an update on issues facing Lake County and the state, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, is hosting a joint town hall with Lake County Board Member Sandra Hart on Wednesday, April 4 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Wildwood Park District’s Oak Room located at 33325 N. Sears Blvd. in Grayslake.

“As an elected official, I firmly believe our work must always be open and that feedback from the people we represent is critical,” Yingling said. “By inviting residents to join the conversation at town hall events, my goal is to provide residents as many opportunities as possible to be heard and have their questions answered. I really value every chance to learn more about the issues that are important to our area and the opportunity to help people.”

Yingling and Hart’s Town Hall event is free and open to the public. RSVPs are appreciated but not necessary. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Yingling’s full time constituent service office by phone at 847-231-6262, by email at RepSamYingling@gmail.com, or on social media at RepSamYingling.

“I look forward to joining Rep. Yingling for our town hall event and to participating in an engaging discussion about local and county issues and the work we are doing on behalf of the taxpayers,” Hart said.

Hart and Yingling’s event is not affiliated with Wildwood Park District and they both represent portions of Grayslake and Wildwood areas.

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ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, is reminding residents to attending a joint town hall meeting with Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran on Tuesday, Nov. 28 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Woodland Elementary School in Grayslake.

“Public safety is a bipartisan issue, and elected officials from all political backgrounds must work together to ensure that our communities are safe,” Yingling said. “Everyone ought to feel safe in their communities and be aware of what’s going on at the state and local levels of government. My town hall meeting event with Sheriff Curran is a chance to provide our mutual constituencies with an update about what our offices are doing to better serve the people in Lake County, and I hope residents will join us for this important discussion.”

Yingling and Curran’s event is free and open to the public. RSVPs are appreciated by not necessary.

Who:               State Rep. Sam Yingling and Sheriff Mark Curran

What:             Joint Town Hall Meeting

When:             Tuesday, Nov. 28

                        6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Where:           Woodland Elementary School West’s cafeteria

                        17261 W. Gages Lake Rd., Grayslake

This event is not a Woodland School District 50 sponsored event. Rep. Yingling and Sheriff Curran are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Woodland School District 50.

CHICAGO – As a way to inform constituents about the issues affecting Illinois’ Latino community, the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation (ILLCF) will host a Town Hall Meeting on Friday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 pm at Northeastern Illinois University’s Alumni Student Union Building, located at 3701 N. Bryn Mawr Ave. in Chicago.

“Due to the times we’re living through, it’s important that we communicate the steps that we have taken to ensure that regardless of what happens in Washington, the Latino community can continue to prosper in Illinois,” state Rep. Fred Crespo, Co-Chair of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus said. “Our goal is to give the community a clear understanding about what’s happening in Springfield and answer any questions families may have. I encourage everyone to join us and be a part of the conversation so we can make sure that all voices are being heard in Springfield.”

Join the ILLCF, and business and community leaders to discuss the extraordinary year in politics, and be part of the discussion about the issues affecting the Latino community, including the economy, education, healthcare and immigration. Additionally, elected officials will be on hand to discuss how they have taken action at the state and local level to mitigate the effect of harmful policies being pushed at the federal level.

The event will be moderated and live streamed on Facebook by Univision Chicago. Admission is free, but attendees must register online at www.illcf.net

For more information, visit the foundation’s website at www.illcf.net or call 224-366-8512.

EVERGREEN PARK, Ill. – State Rep. Kelly Burke, D-Evergreen Park, and state Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, are inviting residents to discuss issues facing the state and local communities at a Meet and Greet on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Chicago Ridge Public Library, located at 10400 South Oxford Ave. in Chicago Ridge.

“One of my top goals is being easily accessible to the families I represent and providing them with the latest news,” Burke said. “I am greatly concerned about President Trump’s proposed tax plan that would raise taxes on middle-class families, while giving huge tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires.”

Burke and Cunningham are inviting residents to stop by and discuss local and state issues in a casual setting. They will also provide a brief legislative update and discuss the latest news from Springfield. Burke will also be collecting signatures urging Illinois’ congressional delegation to oppose Trump’s tax increase on middle-class families. Those unable to attend can add their name to her petition by calling Burke’s constituent service office at 708-425-0571, or email at kburke@kellyburkerep36.org.

“Being accessible legislators is priority for us,” Cunningham said. “Our ‘Meet and Greet’ events are designed for our constituents to ask questions and provide us with suggestions in an informal and friendly setting.”

MOLINE, Ill. – State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, is hosting a town hall meeting with local community senior service providers in response to the withdrawal rules that would have made dangerous cuts to senior care programs. The town hall meeting will be held on Monday, Sep. 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Moline Activity Center, located at 620 18th St. in Moline.

“The cuts that were proposed would have ended care for tens of thousands of seniors and reduced the quality of care for even more, lacking the standards and requirements that are critical to seniors’ health and security,” said Halpin. “This meeting will inform residents about how our efforts to preserve access to quality and safe care for senior citizens in our community were successful, and what seniors can expect moving forward.”

The town hall meeting is free and open to the public. For additional information, please contact Halpin’s constituent service office at 309-558-3612 or by email at RepHalpin@gmail.com.

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