Illinois State House District 23 issued the following announcement on Sept. 23.
I believe we have a responsibility as lawmakers to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink, and to take bold steps to ensure a healthier future for our children and grandchildren. This week the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) released its first ever Lifetime Environmental Scorecard, and I was recognized for a 94.8% lifetime environmental score. At a 94.8% ranking, I came in as the highest-ranked Republican from the House or Senate with regard to votes taken over the course of a career that protect the environment. I’m proud of my voting record as it relates to environmental protection and appreciate this recognition from the IEC.
Whereas the IEC typically releases a legislative scorecard during each General Assembly, this year was unusual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With fewer bills on which to judge lawmakers this year, the IEC instead chose to look at each legislator’s voting record over the course of their careers in Springfield. Legislators in the House and Senate were judged in four environmental content areas: Energy, Waste, Water, Conservation, and Agriculture. I’m proud to have earned perfect 100% voting scores for the votes I took that affect waste, water, conservation and agriculture.
Upon announcing the award, IEC Executive Director Jen Walling said, “Representative Grant Wehrli earned top marks for his lifetime pro-environment voting record, using his power as a state legislator to protect and defend the people and environment in the 41st District. Representative Wehrli is an environmental champion in the General Assembly, and the Illinois Environmental Council applauds his career-long legacy of protecting our environment in Illinois.”
My voting record on environmental issues reflects where I stand on the importance of taking action on climate change, fighting for clean air and water, and protecting our open spaces.
Special Investigating Committee to Meet on Sept. 29
As I mentioned last week, the US Attorney’s Office has given the Special Investigating Committee (SIC) the green light to pursue all avenues of the special investigation into the conduct of Speaker of the House Mike Madigan. The committee will meet at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, September 29 in Springfield. The hearing will be public, and those who wish to tune in can do so at this link: https://ilga.gov/houseaudvid.asp.
In his letter, US Attorney Lausch gave us broad access to seeking witness testimony, but asked that we do not ask witnesses about their experiences before the grand jury or about information specific to the ongoing federal investigation. We are grateful that Mr. Lausch told the Committee that his office recognizes the SIC’s ‘separate and independent obligation to conduct its inquiry.’
Upon receipt of Lausch’s letter, I issued this statement:
“It is apparent that Representative Welch was incorrect in his assessment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office position with regard to our ability to call and question witnesses. Rep. Welch has accused Republicans of playing politics, when all Republicans want to do is find the truth in the matter of the House Speaker’s knowledge or involvement with the items disclosed in the deferred prosecution agreement between Commonwealth Edison and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. With this clarity now provided, the Special Investigating Committee should reconvene without delay to continue our important work.”
In response to Lausch’s letter and a list of witnesses Republican SIC members submitted at the committee’s first meeting, Welch said he sent letters to everyone on the Republicans’ list of potential witnesses. They include:
Speaker of the House Mike Madigan (“Public Official A” in deferred prosecution agreement)
Michael McClain (former ComEd lobbyist)
Anne Pramaggiore (former ComEd CEO)
Fidel Marquez (former ComEd Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs)
John Hooker (former ComEd lobbyist)
Jay D. Doherty (former President, City Club of Chicago, veteran lobbyist)
Michael R. Zalewski (Chicago Alderman, ally of Madigan)
Commonwealth Edison
Wehrli Joins SIC Chair for Heated Debate on Fox 32’s “Fired Up” with Mike Flannery
On September 18, Special Investigating Committee (SIC) Chair Chris Welch (D-Hillside) and I sat down for a taping of Mike Flannery’s “Fired Up” political program. The interview aired three times over the weekend. During the segment, Welch doubled down on his false narrative about the limitations the committee faces, and I reiterated the House Republicans’ goal of getting to the truth in the matter of Speaker Madigan and his involvement with the bribery scheme outlined in the deferred prosecution agreement (DPA). Click here to watch the interview. Our segment begins at about the one minute mark.
Rep. Grant Wehrli Named “Champion of Manufacturing” for Support of Manufacturing Industry
Last week I was named a “Champion of Manufacturing” by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA). Members of the General Assembly were scored on their votes on 34 different bills that were brought forward during the 101st General Assembly, and those receiving a score of 80% or higher received the award.
Supporting our manufacturers and other businesses is critical as we try to grow Illinois’ economy and create new jobs. As the current unfriendly business climate in our state continues to drive manufacturing and other jobs to other states, supporting the bills included in the IMA package is a solid step toward turning that around. It’s an honor to be recognized for my work in this area.
When announcing the award recipients, IMA President & CEO Mark Denzler said, “Manufacturers in DuPage and Will Counties have a strong champion in Grant Wehrli. He understands the importance of a strong manufacturing economy. He supported the reinstatement of the Manufacturers Purchase Credit, the elimination of the Corporate Franchise Tax and the creation of the Blue Collar Jobs Act, which collectively resulted in a $300 million tax cut for employers. He also voted against several costly and burdensome taxes and regulations.” Click here to view the full scorecard and a list of bills that were judged.
Debate on Returning to In-School Learning Heats Up in DuPage, Will Counties
Families with children who are struggling with remote learning are beginning to organize and protest. Earlier this week I attended a rally in Naperville. I did not speak at the rally, but I was able to have several conversations with parents and learn about their struggles. I appreciated the respectful protest, and applaud the participants for engaging in a peaceful protest in accordance with their 1st Amendment rights.
During my conversations, I told parents about legislation I am sponsoring to provide parents and guardians with a tax credit to help them recoup out-of-pocket costs they have incurred due to remote learning. This week I did an interview with Cole Lauterbach of Center Square about this bill, which I will be pushing during the fall veto session. Click here to see that article, and click here to listen to a short radio interview I did about the bill.
Still No Meeting Scheduled for Joint Commission on Ethics & Lobbying Reform
It has now been 6 ½ months since the Joint Commission on Ethics & Lobbying Reform has met. That’s 203 days since our last meeting on March 5. Here is a short timeline that brings us to where we are today:
March 5: Commission meets in Springfield just before COVID-19 pandemic hits
March 31: Final Report of the Joint Commission is due; delayed due to COVID-19
June 12: Governor Pritzker Governor signed into law Public Act 101-0640, which amended the Open Meetings Act to allow meetings to be held by audio or visual conference without the physical presence of a quorum of members, removing all legal barriers preventing us from meeting
Mid-June: Other panels, including the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules, the Illinois Commerce Commission, several House and Senate committees begin conducting business either in person or via video platform
July 17: US Attorney John Lausch holds a press conference and implicates Speaker Mike Madigan in a bribery scheme involving Com Ed, and makes public a deferred prosecution agreement in which ComEd admits to paying $1.2 million to friends and political allies of Mike Madigan to gain favor with the Speaker
July 23: Republicans on the Joint Commission submit a letter to the Democrat commission chairs asking for meetings to continue either in person or via digital platform
July 25: Democrat co-chairs respond via text, and say they are working on planning a meeting “soon”
August 24: With no meeting scheduled, the Republicans on the Joint Commission hold a press conference demanding that meetings commence immediately
August 24: Democrats on the Joint Commission immediately respond and accuse Republicans of playing political games; announce that a report is coming in a few weeks.
Since then? Crickets. Before a report can be issued, the Joint Commission must reconvene, complete its work, agree to recommended policy solutions, compile the report, and vote to accept the report. None of that has happened, and as of this writing, we still have no date for our next meeting.
Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission Members Call for More Public Input on Failure of IDES Unemployment System
The three House Republican members of the Restore Illinois Collaborative Commission, a body of legislators created this spring to consult on the State’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, are requesting an open public hearing into the failures at IDES and what can be done to improve the situation. Thus far the panel is meeting via Zoom with no opportunity for public input.
Unemployment spiked in Illinois during the pandemic as businesses were shut down and economic activity slowed. IDES reported a surge in call volume far beyond its call center agents’ capacity to respond. More than two million Illinoisans applied for benefits during the pandemic. The problem was compounded by the discovery of a late-May data breach and a series of fraudulent applications.
We are now well into our sixth month of the pandemic, and my office still receives calls daily from constituents who are owed unemployment benefits and haven’t been able to collect them or reach anyone from IDES. It is incomprehensible to me that the Governor would allow this problem to persist. People are desperate, and all my office can do at this point is refer their names to IDES (almost all report back that they never received a call from IDES), and refer them to local food pantries and providers of emergency assistance.
Expired Driver’s Licenses Now Valid until Feb. 1, 2021; 12-Month Countdown to REAL-ID Drivers’ License Compliance Deadline Approaches
This week my office was notified that the Secretary of State has extended the time period for renewals of expired driver’s licenses by another three months. Expired licenses are now valid until February 1, 2021.
Regarding Real IDs, starting on October 1, 2021, federal government security will require that everyone present a REAL-ID-compliant drivers’ license or other form of compliant personal identification when entering a space under their control. This includes airport departure gates, federal buildings, military bases, and nuclear power plants. Starting in October 2021, security guards will require fliers to comply with this mandate in order to enter an airport boarding gate and get aboard an airline flight.
Original source can be found here.
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