093_HR0311
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1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of
3 the State of Illinois would like to congratulate our
4 long-time colleague, Charles A. "Chuck" Hartke, as he retires
5 from his position as State Representative for the 108th
6 Legislative District; and
7 WHEREAS, Representative Hartke served in the legislature
8 since his appointment in 1985 and served in leadership during
9 part of his years in office; he is retiring from the
10 legislature to serve as the Director of Agriculture; and
11 WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure in office, Representative
12 Hartke has made agricultural legislation one of his top
13 priorities; he sponsored legislation to improve "mega hog
14 farm" standards, open additional markets for Illinois
15 agricultural products, and promote value-added products; he
16 co-sponsored legislation to create the AgFirst Development
17 Program that will provide counseling, grants, education, and
18 technical assistance to farmers experiencing economic
19 difficulties; he also co-sponsored several measures aimed at
20 increasing ethanol usage as an alternative fuel; and
21 WHEREAS, Representative Hartke promoted all issues in
22 agriculture, even when the subject matter brought questions
23 and jokes from this body; one example was during the 88th
24 General Assembly when Representative Hartke brought House
25 Bill 904 before this body; this ground breaking legislation
26 provided an occupation and use tax exemption for those
27 businesses in Illinois that deal in Bull Semen; he weathered
28 the expected jokes, and successfully provided these small
29 business owners the seed they needed to grow their industry;
30 and
31 WHEREAS, Representative Hartke has shown dedication and
32 commitment to education; he has been successful in helping
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1 his district secure much needed school construction grants;
2 he has focused on finding an equitable and fair school
3 funding formula for his Southern Illinois District and has
4 continued to provide students with state-of-the-art
5 educational equipment; and
6 WHEREAS, Representative Hartke has worked consistently to
7 reduce the tax burden on homeowners, senior citizens, and
8 lower income working families, by supporting the Illinois
9 Earned Income Tax Credit, Circuit Breaker expansion, and
10 property tax rebates; and
11 WHEREAS, Chuck has been active in public service for most
12 of his life, first by valiantly serving his country in the
13 U.S. Army from 1966 until 1968, including a tour in Viet Nam;
14 he served on the Effingham County Board from 1971 to 1974,
15 was elected Secretary of the Democratic Central Committee in
16 1976, and was elected as Effingham County DCC Chairman from
17 1978 to 1985; and
18 WHEREAS, Chuck and his wife, Kathy, have two children,
19 Chris Hartke and Kim Deters, along with five grandchildren;
20 Chuck is active throughout his community in a variety of
21 roles; he is a member of St. Francis Parish, the Knights of
22 Columbus-Teutopolis 2874, the American Legion-Dieterich, the
23 40 et 8-Effingham, the VFW-Altamont, AARP, the Farm Bureau,
24 and the Farmers Union; therefore, be it
25 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
26 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
27 we congratulate Representative Charles A. "Chuck" Hartke on
28 the occasion of his retirement from the legislature, and we
29 commend him for his dedication to the citizens of the 108th
30 Legislative District; and be it further
31 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
32 presented to Chuck as an expression of our respect and esteem
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1 and with best wishes for and utmost confidence in his future
2 as the Director of Agriculture.