HR1245 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1245 LRB096 22306 KXB 41386 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to honor our friend and colleague, Illinois State Representative John Fritchey, for his many years of dedicated public service; and

WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey was born at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana; he then moved to Chicago with his mother, where he attended grammar school and high school; he went on to earn his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Michigan in 1986 before returning home to Chicago, where he earned his law degree from Northwestern University Law School in 1989; after law school, he became an Illinois Assistant Attorney General, representing the State in both State and federal courts; and

WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey has had a long and distinguished career with the Illinois House of Representatives since January of 1996; he has developed a reputation as a thoughtful and substantive legislator who always puts the wants and needs of his constituents first; he has served as Chairman of the Civil Judiciary Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Business & Occupational Licenses Committee; he has also served on the Financial Institutions, Insurance, and Mass Transit Committees, as well as the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; and

WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey has been a leader and sponsor of numerous pieces of ethics legislation; he was the chief sponsor and the main impetus of the pay-to-play ban that prohibits significant campaign contributions by companies bidding for large State contracts; he also sponsored and helped pass legislation that changed Illinois' procurement laws, insulating decisions from political influence, and expanded the Freedom of Information Act to create more transparency in government operations; and

WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey has sponsored legislation to improve the health and quality of life of the citizens of this State; he helped expand family health care programs to provide coverage for working families without access to medical care and expanded prescription drug coverage to seniors with low incomes through the State's Circuit Breaker program; and

WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey has served as a proud champion of legislation that strengthens environmental preservation laws, expands protected wilderness areas, and increases investment in renewable energy; he was recently honored by the Illinois Environment Council for his 100% voting record on environmental issues that impact Illinois communities and resources; and

WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey has helped bring about substantive change in local matters; he co-sponsored and helped pass legislation that doubles the number of charter schools from 60 to 120; he was instrumental in passing legislation that reduced the Cook County veto override threshold down from a 4/5 majority to a more democratic 3/5 majority; he also drafted and passed legislation requiring companies who receive TIF funds to return taxpayers money if they choose to close or relocate their business; and

WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey has consistently proven himself to be a stalwart defender of the rights of families homeowners, and taxpayers throughout the State; he has helped provide seniors and families with access to affordable and adequate health care, expanded educational opportunities, and helped bring about property tax and TIF reforms; and

WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey is well known by his peers as the "new face of Chicago Democrats"; as a result of his effective leadership and centrist views, he was named by the national Democratic Leadership Council as one of the "100 Rising Stars to Watch" in the country in 2000 and 2003; he has also been the recipient of countless awards for his service to his community and the people of this State; and

WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey has taught as an adjunct lecturer in political science at Northwestern University; he is also involved with numerous civic organizations, local community groups, and chambers of commerce; and

WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey is the founder of the John Fritchey Youth Foundation, an organization designed to create educational and recreational opportunities for local children through the sponsorship of academic and sports programs; and

WHEREAS, Representative Fritchey will be remembered fondly by the members of this body and the citizens of the State of Illinois for his forthright and compassionate efforts to improve the lives and livelihoods of every citizen and his tireless fight against the injustices of our society; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor Illinois State Representative John Fritchey for his many years of dedicated service to the citizens of this State, thank him for his wonderful work in the Illinois House of Representatives, and wish him the best in his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Illinois State Representative John Fritchey as a symbol of our great esteem and respect.