Years served: 1999 - Present
Committee assignments: Appropriations-Human Services; Human Services; Labor (Republican Spokesperson); Environmental Health; Rules; Health Care Availability Access; Telecommunications Committee; Medicaid Reform Subcommittee; Joint Committee on Pier.
TAXES AND SPENDING
Schmitz voted for a huge electric rate increase.
Schmitz helped pass SB1652 – a huge electric rate increase sought by ComEd and Ameren. (2011)
Schmitz voted to raise sales taxes and fees.
Schmitz voted for HB255 significantly raising the sales tax on a number of grocery related items including beverages, candy, and health and beauty aids. Taxes on beer, wine and other alcohol were also hiked. HB255 also triples the driver’s license fee. Further, this bill legalizes video gambling for bars and taverns. You can call that a “voluntary” tax if you want - but it still represents a big tax hike. Those bars and taverns don’t just hand over a big cut of their gambling machine proceeds to the state out of the goodness of their hearts. It’s a tax that gets the state its share of the machines’ take. (2009)
Schmitz was absent for the vote for the Democrats’ pork-bloated FY2008 $59 BILLION budget.
Republican’s who voted for HB3866 demonstrated 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)
Schmitz sponsored legislation 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. Schmitz was absent when the vote was taken. (2007)
Schmitz was absent when the electric rate relief bill was voted upon.
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)
Schmitz 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)
Schmitz 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)
Schmitz 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)
Schmitz voted for a computer software sales-tax hike.
SB2205 raised state sales taxes on computer software by $64 million. (2004)
Schmitz 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. Schmitz voted to override most of the Governor’s line item vetoes. (2003)
Schmitz 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)
Schmitz voted with the Democrats to eliminate income tax deductions.
According to the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, SB1634 eliminated income tax deductions pivotal to businesses struggling to continue to operate during hard times. (2003)
Schmitz did not vote against Governor Blagojevich’s $10 BILLION bond deal.
Schmitz was in attendance when the vote to nearly double the state’s indebtedness with the largest bond issuance in Illinois history was taken. Schmitz voted “present” refusing to take a principled stand. It is important to note that HB2660 helped net his friend and 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)
Schmitz voted with the Democrats to greatly increase fees on Illinois trucking companies.
By greatly increasing the fee burden on Illinois trucking companies, SB0841 nearly destroyed the industry in our state. (2003)
Schmitz voted for 300 tax and fee increases (Governor Blagojevich’s FY2004 $52.6 billion budget).
SB1903 increased state spending by 9% (or $6.5 billion) by the end of fiscal year 2004, and imposed $350 million in tax hikes, mainly on Illinois businesses. According to the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, SB1903 added $2 BILLION to the cost of doing business in Illinois. (2003)
EDUCATION
Schmitz voted to exempt teachers, principals and school superintendents from FOIA disclosure.
At the urging of the teachers’ unions and just months after approving what was billed as a sweeping reform of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, Schmitz voted for SB315. The bill exempts from FOIA disclosure of performance evaluations for teachers, principals and school superintendents. Also supporting SB315 was the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 which seeks the same exemption for all public employees who receive performance evaluations. (2010)
Schmitz was absent when a vote was taken to support a Constitutional Convention.
HB0025 urged the electorate to support the calling of a Constitutional Convention. The Illinois Education Association (IEA) fears giving taxpayers the opportunity to debate and decide upon school funding reforms in Illinois. Instead, the IEA wants to keep the power in the hands of politicians whose votes can be easily bought and controlled by teachers’ union PAC money. Once again, Schmitz is absent for an important vote for Republicans. (2007)
Schmitz 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)
Schmitz was absent for the vote increasing education spending by nearly $600 million.
Once again, Schmitz was absent when an important vote was taken. HB3866 was just another example. Time and time again, Schmitz has proven he is incapable and unwilling to address the public education-spending crisis in Illinois. Instead of leading with bold reforms, Schmitz continues to support the Democrats’ (and the teacher’s unions’) mantra that blames school failures on “not enough money.” (2007)
Schmitz 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)
GAMBLING
Schmitz voted to allow video poker at truck stops and VFW halls and to make it more difficult to regulate gaming operators.
Schmitz voted for HB4927 - a controversial video poker bill that state gambling regulators fear will allow operators of illegal machines to stay in business throughout the state. The bill requires a felony conviction on gambling charges before regulators could deny a license to operate video gambling machines in Illinois. HB4927 further expands gambling by adding truck stops and VFW halls to the list of venues that will be allowed to have on-site video gambling machines that make payouts to patrons. (2010)
Schmitz voted for a massive expansion of gambling.
Schmitz voted for HB255 - a massive expansion of gambling in Illinois. HB255 legalizes video gambling for bars and taverns, and permits Internet Lottery on computers and cell phones. Video gambling machines are often called the “crack cocaine” of gambling because of the speed of play and the rapid onset of addiction. (2009)
Schmitz voted to legalize video gambling in bars across Illinois.
HB1124 would have legalized gambling on video game “contests” of two or more in bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, and other venues. (2007)
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Schmitz 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)
Schmitz voted for in-state tuition for illegal aliens.
HB0060 allows undocumented immigrants to attend state universities at in-state tuition rates. (2003)
REFORM (or the lack thereof)
Schmitz voted to exempt teachers, principals and school superintendents from FOIA disclosure.
At the urging of the teachers’ unions and just months after approving what was billed as a sweeping reform of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, Schmitz voted for SB315. The bill exempts from FOIA disclosure of performance evaluations for teachers, principals and school superintendents. Also supporting SB315 was the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 which seeks the same exemption for all public employees who receive performance evaluations. (2010)
Schmitz voted to water down ethics reform law.
Schmitz voted to exempt transportation projects from the new ethics law (SB761). Despite the awesome demands of riding around on a High Horse every day since Rod Blagojevich’s arrest lecturing about the need to reform Illinois’ culture of corruption - state lawmakers still somehow found time to gut their own brand new “landmark” ethics reform law. This of course would be the same ethics reform law these same lawmakers hailed as “a big step forward.” (2009)
Schmitz sponsored legislation 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)
Schmitz fecklessly looked to Democrat House Speaker Mike Madigan to rid the Illinois Republican Party of controversial National Committeeman Bob Kjellander.
Instead of taking serious and mature action, Schmitz joined House Republican Leader Tom Cross’ scheme and Co-Sponsored HB5861, asking the Democrats to help take care of the Kjellander mess, an issue which is solely a Republican responsibility. House Speaker Madigan understandably just laughed at the Republicans’ idea. Madigan rightly told Republicans to clean-up their own Republican house and to stop wasting the General Assembly’s time on what is a purely a matter internal to the State GOP. Kjellander could have been removed and replaced with an honest leader a lot earlier, if our Republican leaders really wanted to get the job done. (2007)
A frightened Schmitz teamed up with his old guard cronies to deny Schmitz’s Primary challenger equal access to voter information.
Republican candidate Jim Krenz, who is running for representative in the 49th District, was denied access to the Party’s general voter information referred to as Voter Vault. Voter Vault is a voter database developed by the Republican National Committee (RNC) that captures valuable information about voters. The RNC’s intent is that the resource be made available to ALL Republican candidates. The local State Parties are merely supposed to assist Republican candidates who make the request. Clearly, protecting his government paycheck and playing petty games are more important to Schmitz. (2007)
Schmitz 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.
Schmitz continues to keep rank-and-file Republicans from having the same voice all Illinois Democrats enjoy in their State Party. Schmitz 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 Schmitz dishonestly still protects.
Schmitz 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 Schmitz were serious about reform. Schmitz never joined the rank-and-file and more serious officials who overwhelmingly called for Kjellander’s immediate ouster. It’s only because Schmitz 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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