Brady and Barickman urge Democrat leaders to stop playing games with school funding

To avoid creating an unnecessary crisis for Illinois schools, State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) and State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) are calling on the Senate Democrat majority to remove their parliamentary hold on Senate Bill 1, an evidence-based school funding measure, so that the governor can issue an amendatory veto that would make it fair and equitable to all 852 Illinois school districts... read more...

Senator Barickman's Senate Week in Review: July 19

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois residents’ paychecks will take a permanent hit due to the Democrats’ 32 percent income tax hike included in their budget last week, but a closer look at the Democrats’ spending plan reveals a state budget that is not balanced, may not make a significant dent in the state’s nearly $14.5 billion in unpaid bills and is filled with numerous mistakes and errors that will make it difficult, if not impossible, to enact some parts of their budget... read more...

Senator Barickman's Senate Week in Review: July 10

The state’s two-year budget impasse came to a temporary end this week as the General Assembly, despite vetoes by Gov. Bruce Rauner and objections by a majority of Republican legislators, passed a budget that contained a permanent 32 percent income tax increase, while failing to incorporate any meaningful government reforms... read more...

Sen. Barickman statement on budget vote

tate Senator Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) released the following statement after Senate Democrats passed an unbalanced budget: “It’s extremely disappointing that after all the progress we have made in negotiations, Democrats would simply ram through an unbalanced budget that doesn’t offer any fixes or reforms for the systemic issues that continue to plague Illinois... read more...

Sen. Barickman statement on election of new Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady

State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) released the following statement after State Senator Bill Brady was elected Senate Republican Leader: “Congratulations to Senator Bill Brady. I have had the great pleasure of working with him for several years on both local and statewide issues... read more...