Years served: 2007 - Present
Committee assignments: Bio-Technology (Republican Spokesperson); Cities & Villages; Environment & Energy; Electric Generation & Commerce; Mass Transit; Youth and Family (Republican Spokesperson).
TAXES AND SPENDING
Fortner voted for a huge electric rate increase.
Fortner helped pass SB1652 – a huge electric rate increase sought by ComEd and Ameren. (2011)
Fortner was absent when the vote was taken for 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)
Fortner did not vote against Governor Blagojevich’s Transportation Act.
Fortner was in attendance when the vote was taken. Fortner voted “present” refusing to take a principled stand. HB0656 amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act by increasing the rate of taxes the Authority is allowed to impose. (2008)
Fortner voted for the Democrats’ pork-bloated FY2008 $59 BILLION budget.
Fortner’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)
Fortner was absent for the vote 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)
Fortner 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)
EDUCATION
Fortner 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, Fortner 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)
Fortner voted to impede parents’ rights 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)
Fortner voted to increase education spending by nearly $600 million.
Fortner’s vote for HB3866 proves he is incapable and unwilling to address the public education-spending crisis in Illinois. Instead of leading with bold reforms, Fortner follows the Democrats’ dishonest argument that blames school failures on “not enough money.” (2007)
GAMBLING
Fortner 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)
Fortner favors a massive expansion of gambling in Illinois, possibly including up to 3 new casinos.
Despite a recent Rasmussen poll showing voters are opposed to expanding gambling by a margin of almost 2 to 1, Fortner supports expanding Illinois’ gaming positions and the addition of at least one new casino to be owned by the City of Chicago. Two other additional casinos are also being discussed as part of House Minority Leader Tom Cross’ $5 BILLION infrastructure plan.
REFORM (or the lack thereof)
Fortner 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, Fortner 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)
Fortner voted to water down ethics reform law.
Fortner 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)
Fortner 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)
Fortner 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 Fortner were serious about reform. Fortner never joined the rank-and-file and more serious officials who overwhelmingly called for Kjellander’s immediate ouster. It’s only because Fortner 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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