Politics & Government

After a Year Working with Residents, Nybo Offers an Update on His Legislative Advisory Council

More than 70 residents of the 41st District have served on the LAC, and here's some of what they've been working on.

Editor's Note: This information was submitted by state Rep. Chris Nybo's office.

Prior to being sworn in to the Illinois House of Representatives last year, state Rep. Chris Nybo (R-41st, Lombard) formed a comprised of area residents representing all of the municipalities in the 41st House district. Their mission is to help assess the needs and desires in the district and to act as a research, deliberation and debate body that proposes legislation and offers input on issues coming before the house. Nybo credits the LAC for his successful legislative initiatives in 2011.

To date, more than 70 residents of the district have served on the LAC from all of the communities in the district. The council is divided into six committees, each with a chairman: business and economic affairs, education, environmental concerns, seniors, social and human services, and state finances and accountability.

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“The LAC has been a tremendous resource for me,” Nybo said. “Much of what the committees have worked on has wound up on the governor’s desk. This is an intelligent, dedicated and extremely unselfish group of people who have served the district well and produced thousands of hours of outstanding public service.”

Among the initiatives that have been considered and proposed for legislation are: worker’s compensation reform, pension reform, epi-pen legislation, veterans designation on state IDs, clean air and ground water; utility regulation; deinstitutionalization for persons with disabilities; capital investment for high-tech companies starting up in Illinois, ban of public resources for political signage (Blago billboards), and in-home care regulations to protect caregivers and those in their care.

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In many cases, committees met on urgent notice while the General Assembly was in session and bills were being considered. Other legislators also participated in meetings to add additional resources and their expertise, specifically Reps. Patti Bellock and Sandra Pihos, who attended a meeting with the Social and Human Services Committee considering issues facing the developmentally disabled in the state.

“We wanted to do all the due diligence required to help our Representative make the best possible decisions for our district,” said Jim Bindon, chairman of the State Finance and Accountability Committee.

Chairman Colleen Ceh of the Seniors Committee said, “As a gerontologist, I have compassion for seniors in difficult, even heart-breaking circumstances. I joined the LAC to learn more about government. This experience has exceeded my expectations.”

Chairman Jim Dahle of Environmental Concerns, said Nybo “made it clear that his vote of issues was his responsibility to the entire district to create and foster good policy. We had strong influence, but not so much that he would vote against better policy to please us."

Serving on the council in 2011: Michael Cullinane*, Michael Karpman, Tim Manning, Louise McMahon, Thomas O’Malley, John Osterhout*, David Weaver, Matthew Wren, Gena Faas, Deb Allen, Phil Lorenzini, Andy Isaacson, Andy Janikowski*, Kris O’Connor, Nancy Gryniewicz-Sika, Karen Steufen, Jean Baldikoski, Mario Vescovi, Daniel Hayman, Mary Ann Kalis, David Saenz, Rebecca Hemminger, John Casey, Susan Crowell, James Dahle*, Winnie Lyons, Wally Novak, Eric Pulia, Shawna Roubitchek, Roy Sohn, Dennis Streicher, Huzefa Master, Robert Carlquist, Colleen Ceh*, Timothy Hinsdale, Michael Ledonne, William Gebel, Victoria Candiotti Langan, Alana McBride Piech, Sharon Pike, Rae Rupp-Srch, Joseph Schrantz, Cindy Wellwood Burke, Sandra Hill, Tracy Ries*, Amanda Ciatti*, James Bindon*, Michael Hartley, Scott Iselin, Colleen Kelty, Lorelle Kiefer, Jon Leiman, Bradley Phillips, Darlene Sharpe, Robert Walsh, Kurt Warnke, Nancy Woodruff, Tari Marshall, Andy Ricchio, Scott Krueger, Joseph Urani*, Peter Breen*, Kevin Fitzpatrick*,and newest members Eric Taveras and Amie Norris.

(* indicates committee chairmen and coordinators. The LAC meets as a whole quarterly. Individually committees meet 8-10 times per year.)


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