"When everybody pays their own share, and everybody gets a fair shake, we all win!"
Barbara Flynn Currie led the charge for a higher state minimum wage and won. She supports tax incentives that make housing more affordable. Although more needs to be done, Barbara helped pass caps on property tax increases. She fully supports the income tax swap to fund education adequately and equitably. Barbara led the fight to crack down on predatory lending. Barbara also sponsored a bill to extend the 7 percent solution through 2011 in order to prevent rising property taxes from forcing families out of their homes. The bill also limits tax increases for those with an income under $100,000 and for those who have been in their homes for more than 10 years. Furthermore, the bill will create a new property tax exemption for disabled veterans, will expand eligibility for the senior assessment freeze, and will increase the values of senior and general homestead exemptions.
"Health care is a basic human right."
Barbara Flynn Currie supported the All Kids program, which provided affordable health care for all Illinois children. She helped create a safety net for low-income seniors so they're not left without the medications they need. Barbara also sponsored a bill that will bring an additional $600 million per year in Medicaid dollars into Illinois hospitals, much of which will help to fund care for low-income children, the elderly, and the disabled. The bill is expected to get federal approval shortly.
Barbara Flynn Currie sponsored the state’s efforts this year to keep Illinois’ top-notch early childhood education program running for the next two years. These efforts include continued funding for pre-school for all three- and four-year olds and state assistance for at-risk infants and toddlers.
"Perhaps we'll see fewer street crimes when there are fewer guns on the streets, fewer children without health care, and fewer people working three jobs just to get by."
Barbara Flynn Currie is a strong proponent of the statewide assault weapons ban. She was a major sponsor of the bill which closed the "gun show" loophole. Today everyone at a gun show needs to submit to a criminal background check before they can buy a firearm.
Barbara is a strong supporter of expanding drug treatment programs. She supports expunging non-violent criminal offenses for people who change their ways. This will allow those who made mistakes early in life to move on and get a job.
"I'm proud of my community and I work hard to protect and expand our resources."
Barbara has helped ensure funding for worthwhile organizations and projects including:
"Everyone deserves to be treated fairly, and we should each be judged by the content of our character. Without equal rights, our lives will never be as rich nor our society as strong as it should be."
Barbara Flynn Currie was the first woman named House Majority Leader in the state's history. She led the charge for the 2003 Equal Pay Act, which guarantees equal pay for Illinois working women. Barbara is a strong supporter of affirmative action and state contracts for minority and women owned businesses.
"Clean air and clean water: What could be more basic to a civil society?"
Last year, Barbara was honored with a first-ever lifetime legislative achievement award from the Illinois Environmental Council. Barbara Flynn Currie supported a law which mandates that all state buildings use fluorescent compact bulbs to reduce energy consumption and government electrical bills. If every house in America followed suit and replaced one light bulb with a fluorescent compact bulb, the US could light 3 million homes, save $600 million per year in energy costs, and cut greenhouse gases by the equivalent of 800,000 cars’ emissions. These energy-efficient alternatives to normal light bulbs are just one step forward in the march toward energy efficiency.
"It's time to clean up our political landscape."
Barbara Flynn Currie sponsored a bill that will prevent contract bidders from giving campaign contributions to the officials who award those contracts. This bill is a breakthrough step for Illinois ethics reform, and will help to level the playing field for contractors and keep our officeholders honest. The bill has passed the House and the Senate and awaits signature by the Governor.