Years served: 1995 - Present
Committee assignments: Committee of the Whole; Consumer Protection (Minority Spokesperson); Executive Appointments (Minority Spokesperson); Commerce; Education; Elections; Higher Education; Subcommittee on Special Issues.
TAXES AND SPENDING
Luechtefeld voted to raise sales taxes and fees.
Luechtefeld 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)
Luechtefeld did not vote against Governor Blagojevich’s handout scheme that provides free public transportation to all senior citizens, even the wealthy.
Luechtefeld was in attendance when the vote was taken but did not case 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)
Luechtefeld voted for the Democrats’ pork-bloated FY2008 $59 BILLION budget.
Luechtefeld’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)
Luechtefeld did not vote against allowing the Mayor of Chicago to DOUBLE the telephone tax.
Luechtefeld was in attendance when the vote was taken but did not case 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)
Luechtefeld did not vote against electric rate relief.
Luechtefeld was in attendance when the vote was taken but did not case a vote for or against, refusing to take a principled stand. 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)
Luechtefeld did not vote against allowing non-Home Rule sales tax increases to double.
Luechtefeld was in attendance when the vote was taken but did not case a vote for or against, refusing to take a principled stand. 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)
Luechtefeld 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)
Luechtefeld 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)
Luechtefeld voted for a computer software sales-tax hike.
SB2205 raised state sales taxes on computer software by $64 million. (2004)
Luechtefeld did not vote against a $750 million pork spending bill.
Luechtefeld was in attendance when the vote was taken but did not case 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. Luechtefeld voted to override most of the Governor’s line item vetoes. (2003)
EDUCATION
Luechtefeld 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, Luechtefeld 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)
Luechtefeld voted to increase education spending by nearly $600 million.
Luechtefeld’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, Luechtefeld follows the Democrats’ dishonest argument that blames school failures on “not enough money.” (2007)
GAMBLING
Luechtefeld voted for the most massive expansion of gambling in Illinois history.
Luechtefeld voted for SB744 which allows for five new casinos (including one Chicago-owned casino), slot machines at the state’s horse racing tracks, slot machines at Chicago’s two airports, more gaming positions at existing casinos, and slot machines and year-round racing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. (2011)
Luechtefeld voted for a massive expansion of gambling.
Luechtefeld 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)
Luechtefeld 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)
Luechtefeld 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
Luechtefeld did not vote against making it more difficult to enforce the nation’s immigration laws.
Luechtefeld was in attendance when the vote was taken but voted “present” refusing to take a principled stand. HB1744 amends the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act to prohibit employers from enrolling in any Employment Eligibility Verification System. (2007)
Luechtefeld did not vote against forcing state and local governments to recognize “consular identification cards” issued by foreign governments.
Luechtefeld was in attendance when the vote was taken but voted “present” refusing to take a principled stand. SB1623 forces state and local governments to recognize the consular identification cards issued by foreign governments and commonly used by illegal Mexican immigrants. (2005)
Luechtefeld 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)
Luechtefeld did not vote for establishing a commission to work towards reducing the size of government.
Luechtefeld was in attendance when the vote was taken but did not cast a vote for or against, refusing to take a principled stand. HB268 establishes a commission of legislative members appointed by the legislative leaders and local government representatives appointed by the Governor to report to the General Assembly on consolidating local governments. (2011)
Luechtefeld voted against reducing the size and cost of government.
Luechtefeld voted against SB173 - a bill that would have reduced the size and cost of government through consolidation or elimination of unnecessary units of local government. Illinois now has almost 7,000 taxing districts – far exceeding the number of any other state. Republican lawmakers had an incredible opportunity to strike a blow for limited government, but instead they chose big government over reform. (2011)
Luechtefeld 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, Luechtefeld 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)
Luechtefeld did not vote against making it more difficult for write-in candidate to get on the ballot.
Luechtefeld was in attendance when the vote was taken but did not case 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)
Luechtefeld 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 Luechtefeld were serious about reform. Luechtefeld never joined the rank-and-file and more serious officials who overwhelmingly called for Kjellander’s immediate ouster. It’s only because Luechtefeld 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.
END
TWITTER
