HJ0015 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0015 LRB094 10541 CSA 40819 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The General Assembly takes pride in recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of Illinois officials and citizens; and

WHEREAS, The late Senator Paul Simon's success in politics began with the reformer's zeal he evidenced at the Troy Tribune, where he was a crusading owner-editor, the nation's youngest newspaper owner, before he was old enough to vote; and

WHEREAS, Senator Simon served eight years in the House of Representatives; he married Jeanne Hurley of Wilmette in 1960, becoming the first husband-and-wife team in the history of the Illinois General Assembly; she preceded him in death in 2000; and

WHEREAS, As a legislator, he was chief sponsor of the law that required governmental agencies at all levels to open their meetings to the public and the news media; he voluntarily disclosed his personal finances in his first race for the State legislature - long before any disclosure was required - and continued baring his finances in more detail than the law required throughout his political career; and

WHEREAS, In 1968, voters elected Republican Richard Ogilvie as Governor and Democrat Paul Simon as Lieutenant Governor, the only time in Illinois history that voters would pair politicians of different parties for those offices; as Lieutenant Governor, he held town meetings throughout the State to field complaints about State government; following his term as Lieutenant Governor, he started the public affairs reporting program at Sangamon State University, now the University of Illinois at Springfield; and

WHEREAS, In 1974, Senator Simon was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving 10 years until winning election to the U.S. Senate; he held the seat for 12 years before retiring in 1997; he helped overhaul the federal student loan program to enable students and their families to borrow directly from the government; he advocated for liberal causes and increased funding for social programs, but he also campaigned for a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution; he was known to be a man of integrity and a voice for the less fortunate; and

WHEREAS, Following his retirement from the U.S. Senate, Senator Simon took up teaching, writing, and heading the Public Policy Institute, a think tank which he founded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale; he married Patricia Derge in 2001; he is the recipient of several honorary degrees and other accolades; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that in honor of his many contributions to the citizens of the State of Illinois and this great Nation, the portion of Illinois Route 162 in Troy commencing at its intersection with U.S. 40 and ending at its intersection with Formosa Road is hereby designated the Paul Simon Parkway; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation and the family of Senator Paul Simon.