Years served: 1993 - Present
Committee assignments: Approp-Elementary & Secondary Educ; Health Care Availability Access; Access to Federal Funding (Republican Spokesperson); Health Care Licenses; Appropriations-Human Services (Republican Spokesperson); Business Occupational Licenses; Medicaid Reform, Family & Children (Republican Spokesperson).
TAXES AND SPENDING
Mulligan helped pass Governor Blagojevich’s handout scheme that provides free public transportation to all senior citizens, even the wealthy.
HB0656 concurred with the Governor’s amendment to provide free public transportation to senior citizens aged 65 and older. (2008)
Mulligan voted for Governor Blagojevich’s Transportation Act.
HB0656 amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act by increasing the rate of taxes the Authority is allowed to impose. (2008)
Mulligan voted for Governor Blagojevich’s diversion of $385 million from the state’s general revenue fund to the Regional Transportation Authority.
SB0307 proposed using sales tax collected on motor fuel sold within the six Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) counties (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will) to fund the region’s mass transit systems. (2007)
Mulligan voted for the Democrats’ pork-bloated FY2008 $59 BILLION budget.
Mulligan’s vote for HB3866 demonstrates inability as a legislator to seriously address Illinois’ chronic fiscal crisis that’s attributable to out-of-control spending, an antiquated pension system, and government corruption. (2007)
Mulligan voted to allow the Mayor of Chicago to DOUBLE the telephone tax.
SB0837 would give Mayor Richard Daley the ability to raise the telephone tax from $1.25 to $2.50 per month for all customers. (2007)
Mulligan voted against electric rate relief.
In January 2007, a 10-year electric rate-freeze expired, exposing thousands of Illinois residents to huge increases in their electric bills. SB1592 provided $1 billion in rate relief to Illinois consumers. More importantly, the law establishes an independent Illinois Power Agency that will be responsible for planning and purchasing electricity at the lowest possible price for consumers. (2007)
Mulligan voted for Governor Blagojevich’s ALL KIDS universal health insurance plan.
Critics of HB0806, a bill that would cost $45 million in its first year alone, said they feared that such a sweeping offer could end up costing far more at a time when the state’s budget is already strained. The program can also be expected to turn Illinois into a magnet for families from other states desperate to insure their children. (2005)
Mulligan voted to increase the real estate transfer tax by $30 million.
SB0075 increased the cost of selling a house in Illinois by adding a $10 tax to closing fees. (2005)
Mulligan voted to allow non-Home Rule sales tax increases to double.
According to National Taxpayers United of Illinois, SB0272 allows non-Home Rule municipalities to increase their sales tax 100%. Governor Blagojevich rightly vetoed the bill, but his veto was overridden. (2005)
Mulligan voted against reducing the taxpayers’ burden to the state pension fund by $1.1 BILLION.
According to National Taxpayers United of Illinois, SB0027 limited end-of-career salary hikes for government school teachers and other government employees to 6% instead of the usual 20%. Such a reform would reduce state taxpayers’ contribution to state retirement funds by over $1.1 billion yearly. (2005)
Mulligan voted for Governor Blagojevich’s FY2005 Partial Operational Budget totaling $45.5 billion.
SB3340 included substantial increases for healthcare and education but did not address out-of-control spending. According to National Taxpayers United of Illinois, after months of debate in the legislature, the FY2005 Capital Budget was passed totaling $9.1 billion. FY2005’s $54.6 billion state budget represented a 4% or $2 billion increase over the FY2004 budget. (2004)
Mulligan voted for a state income-tax increase that hits Illinois businesses for $29 million.
According to National Taxpayers United of Illinois, SB2207 redefines that phrase “business income” in a way that benefits the big-spenders in Springfield. (2004)
Mulligan voted for a computer software sales-tax hike.
SB2205 raised state sales taxes on computer software by $64 million. (2004)
Mulligan voted for a $750 million pork spending bill.
SB1239 included $300 million in new pork spending and about $450 million to finish projects started by former Governor George Ryan. $556 million of the pork spending bill was vetoed by Governor Blagojevich. Mulligan voted to override most of the Governor’s line item vetoes. (2003)
Mulligan voted for a property tax hike to increase patronage employees’ pay.
SB1881 will cost taxpayers $31 million per year. Governor Blagojevich vetoed SB1881. Both Houses overrode the veto. (2003)
Mulligan did not vote against Governor Blagojevich’s $10 BILLION bond deal.
Mulligan was in attendance when the vote was taken to nearly double the state’s indebtedness with the largest bond issuance in Illinois history, by far. Mulligan voted “present” refusing to take a principled stand. HB2660 also helped net controversial Republican National Committeeman Bob Kjellander $809,000 in “finder’s” fees. Kjellander is a key figure in an ongoing probe of corruption in Illinois. (2003)
EDUCATION
Mulligan voted against groundbreaking school choice legislation.
Mulligan voted against SB2494 which would have given parents in underperforming Chicago school districts a voucher to cover educational expenses at nonpublic schools. SB2494 represented a lifeline to poor children who face bleak futures as a consequence of the awful and dangerous public schools in the City of Chicago. To read more about this disgrace - go here. (2010)
Mulligan listened to the teachers’ unions and voted against a Constitutional Convention.
HB0025 urged the electorate to support the calling of a Constitutional Convention. The Illinois Education Association (IEA) and Mulligan fear giving taxpayers the opportunity to debate and decide upon school funding reforms in Illinois. Instead, the IEA and Mulligan want to keep the power in the hands of politicians whose votes can be easily bought and controlled by teachers’ union PAC money. (2007)
Mulligan voted to prohibit parents’ right to alternative education.
HB0232 prohibits the State Board of Education and school boards from establishing, maintaining, or in any way supporting any virtual schools or virtual classes for elementary or secondary students in this State. (2007)
Mulligan voted to increase education spending by nearly $600 million.
Mulligan’s vote for HB3866 proves she is incapable and unwilling to address the public education-spending crisis in Illinois. Instead of leading with bold reforms, Mulligan follows the Democrats’ dishonest argument that blames school failures on “not enough money.” (2007)
Mulligan voted for a $45 million taxpayer-funded experiment - Universal Preschool.
According to National Taxpayers United of Illinois, SB1497 will once again prove that “universal preschool” schemes yield benefits that simply do not justify the costs involved. (2006)
STEM CELL RESEARCH
Mulligan sponsored legislation seeking $1 billion for stem cell research.
HB3815 would have asked the General Assembly to let the voters decide by public referendum whether to issue $1 billion in bonds to fund stem cell research over the next decade in Illinois. Bond debt to create and fund the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute would have been serviced by a 6% tax on elective cosmetic procedures. (2007)
Mulligan voted for taxpayer funded embryonic stem cell research.
SB0004 was signed into law at the end of August 2007, capping off a long effort to proceed with all forms of stem cell research, including human embryonic. SB0004 became effective January 1, 2008. (2007)
Mulligan voted for what is referred to by some as the “clone and kill bill”.
HB3589 would have provided state funds for embryonic stem-cell research. This bill, cynically titled the “Ronald Reagan Biomedical Research Act” despite the former president’s strong pro-life convictions, was termed the “Embryonic Clone & Kill Bill” by critics. (2004)
ABORTION
Mulligan voted to allow a minor girl seeking an abortion to circumvent her parents’ authority.
According to the Illinois Family Institute, HB0317 would all but eliminate a parent’s right to be notified if his or her minor child seeks to have an abortion. This legislation is a blatant attempt to stop the Parental Notification Act of 1995 from going into effect. (2007)
Mulligan voted to impede pro-lifers’ freedom to protest in front of abortion clinics.
HB2486 would make it a misdemeanor to interfere with women entering abortion clinics. Pro-lifers said HB2486 would restrict free-speech rights of protestors. (2003)
Mulligan sponsored legislation that would require hospitals to inform rape victims about emergency contraception.
According to SB0114, a hospital’s plan for emergency services in cases of sexual assault must “provide sufficient protections from the risk of pregnancy by the sexual assault survivor” by requiring that hospitals “providing such services develop and implement a protocol that ensures that each sexual assault survivor receives medically and factually accurate information about emergency contraception.” Liberal Democrat Barack Obama was also a Co-Sponsor. (2001)
GAMBLING
Mulligan voted to subsidize horseracing through riverboat casinos.
HB1918 requires riverboat casinos that have gross receipts of more than $200 million in 2004 to pay 3% of their adjusted gross income to the Horse Racing Trust Fund. (2006)
Mulligan did not vote against legalizing video gambling in bars across Illinois.
Mulligan was in attendance when the vote was taken, but did not vote for or against HB1124. HB1124 would have legalized gambling on video game “contests” of two or more in bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, and other venues. (2007)
PROTECTING OUR FAMILIES
Mulligan voted against silent reflection and student prayer.
SB1463, amended the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act to require (instead of allow) a teacher to observe a brief period of silence at the opening of every school day with the participation of all pupils assembled. (2007)
Mulligan voted to give children access to contraceptives and condoms.
SB0715, “School Health Centers” Act creates 20 new “school health centers.” These school-based clinics can dispense contraceptives, condoms and refer girls for abortions. The Administrative Code for School-Based/Linked Health Centers states that medical services WILL include “family planning” and “prescribing, dispensing, or referring for birth control”. (2007)
Mulligan voted against internet filters in public libraries.
HB1727 required public schools and libraries to filter/block internet access to illegal obscenity, child pornography, and material harmful to minors. (2007)
Mulligan voted to allow alcohol to be sold near schools.
SB2445 removed the restriction that had prohibited alcohol sales within 100 feet of a school entrance. (2006)
GAY RIGHTS
Mulligan voted for civil unions for gay and lesbian couples
Mulligan voted for SB1716 legalizing civil unions in Illinois. SB1716 grants gay partners most of the same spousal rights, including adoption rights, as married heterosexual couples. (2010)
Mulligan voted to add sexual “orientation” to the Illinois Human Rights Act.
HB3186 amends the Illinois Human Rights Act to add sexual orientation to the list of other protected classes already covered by the act (like race, gender and religion). The intent of this “gay rights” bill, as stated by its sponsor, is to force public acceptance of sexual behavior irrespective of those who morally or conscientiously object to the homosexual lifestyle. (2005)
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Mulligan voted for the Illinois DREAM Act.
Mulligan voted YES and helped pass the Illinois DREAM Act, legislation awarding special rights and benefits to undocumented immigrants in Illinois (SB2185). (2011)
Mulligan voted to make it more difficult to enforce the nation’s immigration laws.
HB1744 amends the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act to prohibit employers from enrolling in any Employment Eligibility Verification System. (2007)
Mulligan voted to give driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.
Under HB1100, anyone would be able to obtain a driver’s license without proof of citizenship and with no Social Security number. They can call it a “driver’s certificate” - they can call it anything. But the fact is HB1100 would allow an illegal immigrant to obtain full driving privileges. That’s a driver’s license pure and simple. (2007)
Mulligan voted to force state and local governments to recognize “consular identification cards” issued by foreign governments.
SB1623 forces state and local governments to recognize the consular identification cards issued by foreign governments and commonly used by illegal Mexican immigrants. (2005)
Mulligan voted for in-state tuition for illegal aliens.
HB0060 allows undocumented immigrants to attend state universities at in-state tuition rates. (2003)
2ND AMENDMENT
Mulligan voted against concealed carry.
Mulligan voted NO on a bill that would allow Illinois residents to carry concealed handguns. HB148 (which had support from even many Democratic lawmakers) failed by just six votes in the House. (2011)
REFORM (or the lack thereof)
Mulligan voted to make it more difficult for write-in candidate to get on the ballot.
SB662 changed the deadline for filing to be a write-in candidate to 61 days before an election. The purpose for this change is purely for incumbent protection. (2007)
Mulligan desperately opposes a common sense reform that would once again allow ALL Republicans to directly elect the senior leadership of their own Illinois Republican Party.
Mulligan continues to keep rank-and-file Republicans from having the same voice all Illinois Democrats enjoy in their State Party. Mulligan opposes SB600 - returning to the better system of direct election Illinois Republicans used until the late 1980’s. Illinois has been a “Blue State” ever since the change to the easily corruptible system Mulligan dishonestly still protects.
Mulligan did nothing to help cleanse the Illinois Republican Party of the tainted National Committeeman Bob Kjellander.
Bob Kjellander could have been removed and replaced with an honest leader a lot earlier, if only Republican “leaders” like Mulligan were serious about reform. Mulligan never joined the rank-and-file and more serious officials who overwhelmingly called for Kjellander’s immediate ouster. It’s only because Mulligan and a tiny handful of other old guard faces refuse to unify on reform that even this simplest of clean-ups remain difficult to accomplish.
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