Years served: 1993 - Present
Committee assignments: Committee of the Whole; Revenue (Minority Spokesperson); Appropriations I; Appropriations II; Consumer Protection; Pensions and Investments; Public Health; Revenue Subcommittee on Property Taxes; Subcommittee on Special Issues; Subcommittee.on Pension Enhancements; Subcommittee - Nursing Home Care; Subcommittee on Containing Costs/Tuition.
TAXES AND SPENDING
Lauzen did not vote against Governor Blagojevich’s handout scheme that provides free public transportation to all senior citizens, even the wealthy.
Lauzen was in attendance when the vote was taken but did not cast a vote for or against, refusing to take a principled stand. HB0656 concurred with the Governor’s amendment to provide free public transportation to senior citizens aged 65 and older. (2008)
Lauzen did not vote against allowing the Mayor of Chicago to DOUBLE the telephone tax.
Lauzen was in attendance when the vote was taken but did not cast a vote for or against, refusing to take a principled stand. 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)
Lauzen 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)
Lauzen 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)
Lauzen 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)
Lauzen 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)
Lauzen did not vote against a $750 million pork spending bill.
Lauzen was in attendance when the vote was taken but did not cast a vote for or against, refusing to take a principled stand. 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. Lauzen voted to override most of the Governor’s line item vetoes. (2003)
Lauzen did not vote against a property tax hike to increase patronage employees’ pay.
Lauzen was in attendance when the vote was taken but did not cast a vote for or against, refusing to take a principled stand. SB1881 will cost taxpayers $31 million per year. Governor Blagojevich vetoed SB1881. Both Houses overrode the veto. (2003)
EDUCATION
Lauzen 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, Lauzen 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)
REFORM (or the lack thereof)
Lauzen 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, Lauzen 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)
Lauzen did not vote against making it more difficult for write-in candidate to get on the ballot.
Lauzen was in attendance when the vote was taken but did not cast a vote for or against, refusing to take a principled stand. 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)
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