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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to honor our friend and colleague,
4 Illinois State Representative John Fritchey, for his many years
5 of dedicated public service; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey was born at Barksdale Air
7 Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana; he then moved to Chicago
8 with his mother, where he attended grammar school and high
9 school; he went on to earn his bachelor's degree in economics
10 from the University of Michigan in 1986 before returning home
11 to Chicago, where he earned his law degree from Northwestern
12 University Law School in 1989; after law school, he became an
13 Illinois Assistant Attorney General, representing the State in
14 both State and federal courts; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey has had a long and
16 distinguished career with the Illinois House of
17 Representatives since January of 1996; he has developed a
18 reputation as a thoughtful and substantive legislator who
19 always puts the wants and needs of his constituents first; he
20 has served as Chairman of the Civil Judiciary Committee and
21 Vice-Chairman of the Business & Occupational Licenses
22 Committee; he has also served on the Financial Institutions,
23 Insurance, and Mass Transit Committees, as well as the Joint

 

 

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1 Committee on Administrative Rules; and
 
2     WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey has been a leader and
3 sponsor of numerous pieces of ethics legislation; he was the
4 chief sponsor and the main impetus of the pay-to-play ban that
5 prohibits significant campaign contributions by companies
6 bidding for large State contracts; he also sponsored and helped
7 pass legislation that changed Illinois' procurement laws,
8 insulating decisions from political influence, and expanded
9 the Freedom of Information Act to create more transparency in
10 government operations; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey has sponsored legislation
12 to improve the health and quality of life of the citizens of
13 this State; he helped expand family health care programs to
14 provide coverage for working families without access to medical
15 care and expanded prescription drug coverage to seniors with
16 low incomes through the State's Circuit Breaker program; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey has served as a proud
18 champion of legislation that strengthens environmental
19 preservation laws, expands protected wilderness areas, and
20 increases investment in renewable energy; he was recently
21 honored by the Illinois Environment Council for his 100% voting
22 record on environmental issues that impact Illinois
23 communities and resources; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey has helped bring about
2 substantive change in local matters; he co-sponsored and helped
3 pass legislation that doubles the number of charter schools
4 from 60 to 120; he was instrumental in passing legislation that
5 reduced the Cook County veto override threshold down from a 4/5
6 majority to a more democratic 3/5 majority; he also drafted and
7 passed legislation requiring companies who receive TIF funds to
8 return taxpayers money if they choose to close or relocate
9 their business; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey has consistently proven
11 himself to be a stalwart defender of the rights of families
12 homeowners, and taxpayers throughout the State; he has helped
13 provide seniors and families with access to affordable and
14 adequate health care, expanded educational opportunities, and
15 helped bring about property tax and TIF reforms; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey is well known by his peers
17 as the "new face of Chicago Democrats"; as a result of his
18 effective leadership and centrist views, he was named by the
19 national Democratic Leadership Council as one of the "100
20 Rising Stars to Watch" in the country in 2000 and 2003; he has
21 also been the recipient of countless awards for his service to
22 his community and the people of this State; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey has taught as an adjunct
2 lecturer in political science at Northwestern University; he is
3 also involved with numerous civic organizations, local
4 community groups, and chambers of commerce; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey is the founder of the John
6 Fritchey Youth Foundation, an organization designed to create
7 educational and recreational opportunities for local children
8 through the sponsorship of academic and sports programs; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey will be remembered fondly
10 by the members of this body and the citizens of the State of
11 Illinois for his forthright and compassionate efforts to
12 improve the lives and livelihoods of every citizen and his
13 tireless fight against the injustices of our society;
14 therefore, be it
 
15     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
16 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
17 honor Illinois State Representative John Fritchey for his many
18 years of dedicated service to the citizens of this State, thank
19 him for his wonderful work in the Illinois House of
20 Representatives, and wish him the best in his future endeavors;
21 and be it further
 
22     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

 

 

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1 presented to Illinois State Representative John Fritchey as a
2 symbol of our great esteem and respect.