Newsletter: Standing Up For Illinois Taxpayers

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Let me start this week by wishing everyone Happy Thanksgiving. May this be a time for family and friends, and reflection on all for which we can be thankful.

The big news last week was the passage of the House Republican tax plan. Below I'll discuss why I voted against this plan, which I firmly believe is a step in the wrong direction for Illinois taxpayers.

Last week was also the occasion of Attorney General Jeff Sessions first appearance at a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee. Read on to see how he answered my questions about protecting the integrity of our elections from foreign interference.

STANDING UP FOR ILLINOIS TAXPAYERS

Last Thursday, I voted against the GOP tax proposal because it will raise taxes on my constituents, hurt our local communities, and irresponsibly explode our national debt.

I spoke on the House floor during debate on the bill to highlight these concerns. Click the above image to watch.

Many of the provisions in the bill seemed crafted to deliberately target states like Illinois. It severely curtails the state and local tax deduction that more than 140,000 of my constituents depend on, forcing hard-working families to pay double taxation. It also places restrictions on deductions that middle-class Americans use -- from mortgage interest to medical expenses to student loan interest. At the same time that the tax plan squeezes working families, it also adds an unsustainable $1.7 trillion in debt, burdening our children and grandchildren with the consequences.

One of my first actions upon returning home for the holiday was to convene a small business roundtable to discuss tax reform. I wanted to hear from local small business owners and community leaders their perspective on the legislation. Over breakfast Saturday at Bonta Cafe in Lincolnshire, they shared many of their worries and feelings that this bill prioritizes big corporations over the small businesses and local communities that are the engine of our economy.

While this bill is a step backward, but I remain committed to working across the aisle to produce real reform that prioritizes the middle class, is fiscally-responsible and grows our economy for the next generation.

QUESTIONING AG SESSIONS ON ELECTION INTEGRITY

Click the above image to watch my questioning of Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Attorney General Sessions appeared before the House Judiciary Committee last week for the first time this year. There were many excellent questions from my colleagues about the connections between the Trump Campaign and Russia, as well as the damaging steps the Department of Justice has taken to attack voting rights, immigrants, and LGBTQ protections.

I wanted to use my questions to take the opportunity to look ahead to what we're doing to prepare for the 2018 elections to prevent foreign interference. I was shocked by the Attorney General's answers that little to date has been done.

There's nothing more fundamental to our democracy than the integrity of our elections. I asked for, and Attorney General Sessions committed to briefing the committee on future progress the Justice Department makes in securing our voting processes. I'll be routinely following up with the Department to hold them accountable and ensure we take urgent action.

COUNTERING IRANIAN EXPANSION

This week Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) and I led a letter to Secretary of State Tillerson urging the Trump Administration to present Congress with a strategy to prevent Iran's regional expansion. Iran has expanded its military presence in Syria as well as support to the Assad regime and terrorist proxies. This recent expansion into Syria poses a threat to regional allies, including Israel and Jordan, while benefiting Iranian-sponsored terrorist organizations including Hizballah with more training, equipment, and other resources.

Preventing Iran from establishing a permanent military presence in the region must be a bipartisan priority, and I'm glad more than 40 colleagues from both sides of the aisle joined us on this letter.

Read coverage of the letter in The Algemeiner.

OPEN ENROLLMENT 2017

Health Care Open Enrollment continues until December 15th. Make sure you're ready to #GetCovered here: https://www.healthcare.gov/downloads/application-checklist.pdf

WEEKLY WRAP-UP

Great to visit with these DREAMers during their visit to Washington. I was very pleased the Trump Administration reversed its decision this week and is now accepting the DACA applications that were submitted by the deadline yet arrived late due to a postal mistake. My office is already working with three constituents who were affected by this error, and earlier this week I joined a letter urging the Trump Administration to make right with these young people. The next step is to urgently pass the DREAM Act now!

It was a busy week on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. I'm proud three bipartisan amendments I offered shedding light on use of underground tunnels against Israel by Hamas and other terrorist organizations, and improving our international cyber diplomacy were included in legislation. Learn more about the amendments on our website.

Was honored to speak at the ninth annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, which brings together members of the local Bahai, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim communities, at Advocate Condell Medical Center

Visit our Facebook and Twitter pages for more photos and updates.

As always, please continue to stay in touch and share your thoughts, either by calling our DC office at (202) 225-4835 or emailing via our website.

Thanks for reading!