Working for Illinois Caucus

ROCKFORD, Ill. — State Rep. Maurice West is honoring 300 local mothers today at the Embassy Suites on South Main Street.

“The Mother’s Day Luncheon is an iconic event in our community, and I am so excited to continue this tradition and celebrate our mothers,” said State Rep. Maurice West. “We have had such an overwhelmingly positive response from the community, and it is so important that we recognize our impressive local mothers for their commitment to our community.”

Rep. West’s annual Mother’s Day Luncheon will feature a panel discussion around Maternal Trauma and Mental Health, in addition to giveaways and moments of inspiration.

Statistics on Maternal Mental Health conditions provided by the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance shows that one in five mothers are impacted by mental health conditions, while 75% of these mothers go untreated. This increases the risk of long-term negative impacts for the mother, child, and their family. 

One of the more commonly reported conditions is birth trauma, the overwhelming and distressing emotions and negative impacts resulting from a traumatic childbirth experience. One in three birthing people report feeling traumatized by their childbirth experience and one in five reported some form of mistreatment during their pregnancy or childbirth. 

Capacity for the luncheon is full and the registration is closed.

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Early indications show that former state Rep. LaToya Greenwood will raise serious money in her effort to take back the 114th state House seat from Kevin Schmidt.  

A Republican chiropractor from Millstadt, Schmidt topped Greenwood in something of an upset in 2022, winning by nearly 6 percentage points after criticizing Democratic tax, climate and COVID lockdown policies. 

Greenwood is showing her intent to assure that does not happen again. Her prospects are bolstered by clear signs of backing from a Democratic establishment that is poised to spend big on not just maintaining but growing its massive veto proof majority in the Illinois House and Senate.  

The St. Clair County district includes all or parts of Belleville, Centreville, East St. Louis, Fairview Heights Lebanon, Mascoutah, and O’Fallon. 

Besides spending time knocking on doors and making the rounds at political gatherings, job fairs and meet-and-greets, Greenwood is beginning to pull in the sort of cash that Illinois Democrats have used with great effectiveness to outpace Republican opponents in both experienced boots on the ground and expansive media presence.  

While money doesn’t guarantee political success, the lack of it all but guarantees failure. In 2022, Schmidt raised $131,000, with $22,000 coming from a loan from himself. He also received $57,000 in in-kind help, $42,000 of it from Republican political committees.  

That amount of cash likely won’t get the job done in 2024. Greenwood, who started the year with $33,000 on hand, took in more than $107,000 in the first quarter of 2024, far outpacing Schmidt. 

The Republican started 2024 with $21,000 and took in just more than $20,000, half of that from the Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management, during this year’s first quarter. 

Included in Greenwood’s first quarter revenue was $8,576.42 from House Speaker Chris Welch’s Democrats for the Illinois House, in five in-kind payments for campaign manager Lance Allen’s salary. Allen’s LinkedIn page touts his experience as a campaign field organizer.  

Welch flexed his speakership muscles impressively in 2022, helping novices take seats from Republicans in a strong election cycle that saw few disappointments, Greenwood’s loss being an exception.  

Money can be infused into a campaign in several ways, including direct donations from individuals, through transfers from state and local political committees, and from labor groups and other special interests.  

On March 18, the Greenwood campaign received $61,000 from the Illinois Laborers’ Legislative Committee as part of $74,400 from 10 PACs, most of it union money.  

She also received $13,800 from Chicagoans Michael and Cari Sacks. Michael Sacks is chairman and CEO of Chicago-based GCM Grosvenor, a board member of the Barack Obama Foundation, and a member of two advisory boards to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnston.  

So far, Greenwood has spent a bit more than $15,000, most of it on printing and advertising. 

Schmidt has expended just more than $6,000, with $4,100 going to lawn signs, printing, and mailing, and $600 for consulting.  

The second quarter is all but certain to see major infusions of cash into both Greenwood’s and Schmidt’s campaigns. As in 2022, the safe bet is the Democratic establishment will far exceed Republicans in expenditures.  

Should the November election for the 114th state House District be close, the possible tiebreaker will likely go to the Democrats, who have billionaire Gov. JB Pritzker as a benefactor. Since 2017, Pritzker has contributed an astounding $282 million to Democratic campaign coffers, most of it to political committees supporting Democratic candidates.  

Recently Illinois State representative Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) successfully advanced a bill designed to protect the historical graves of our Nation’s veterans. HB 4934, an initiative stemming from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), seeks to amend the Human Remains Protection Act to provide enhanced protection for those wishing to maintain and preserve our veterans’ graves.

“I am honored to champion HB 4934, a bill that reflects our unwavering commitment to honoring the legacy and sacrifices of our veterans,” stated representative Kifowit.

“As a U.S. Marine Corps veteran myself, ensuring the dignity and respect of our fallen heroes is a cause close to my heart. This legislation serves as a critical step towards preserving the memory of those who have served our Nation.”

HB 4934 proposes amendments to the Human Remains Protection Act to address the protection and maintenance of graves belonging to veterans who passed away more than 100 years ago. If identified as a veteran’s remains, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will permit veterans’ organizations, such as the VFW, to place markers on these graves. Additionally, in the unfortunate event of damage or destruction to these graves, the veterans’ organization may undertake necessary repairs or replacements after making a good faith effort to contact the next of kin.

“Honoring a veteran’s grave should never be reduced to placing a flag on a pile of dirt and rubble on Memorial Day,” said Naperville VFW Post #3873 senior vice commander, Staci Boyer.

“Witnessing this process that represented 35 veteran graves ignited the Adopt a Veterans’ Grave Project, uniting communities to honor our heroes. Collaborating with Naperville cemetery officials, and community businesses we have navigated legal complexities while ensuring respect for burial rights.

Through HB4934, we seek to grant our veteran service organizations authorization to help navigate refurbishment hurdles and honor those who served. Together, let’s ensure no veteran’s sacrifice is forgotten. Thank you for considering our mission.”

The VFW has been instrumental in advocating for this initiative, particularly through their “adopt a veteran’s grave project.”

However, one of the significant challenges faced has been locating next of kin to obtain permission for the maintenance of these historical graves. HB 4934 aims to address this hurdle by granting veterans’ service organizations the authority to intervene and maintain these graves when warranted.

With the successful passage of HB 4934 out of the House, the bill now awaits consideration by the Senate before it heads to the governor for his signature.

—Illinois State representative Stephanie Kifowit

The Illinois House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation on Tuesday that would have Illinois recognize June 27th as National PTSD Awareness Day. House Bill 4928 is sponsored by State Rep. Harry Benton of the 97th district in Plainfield.

Benton says that people across the state suffer from PTSD, or post traumatic stress disorder, and his bill aims to promote better recognition of the effects that it can have on individuals. Benton says that it is also important to recognize those who provide assistance to PTSD patients, including friends, family and other caretakers.

Millions of Americans suffer from PTSD, which can affect individuals who were a part of or near a traumatic event. Many PTSD cases involve veterans, assault victims and first responders.

After passing the House, the bill now heads to the Senate.

PLAINFIELD, IL — A Plainfield state representative and former village trustee helped pass a bill to raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Democrat Harry Benton’s House Bill 4928 aims to promote greater recognition of the effects that PTSD has on people, according to a Thursday news release. The bill is moving through the Illinois House of Representatives to have the state recognize June 27 as National PTSD Awareness Day.

"Anyone can experience a traumatic life event," Benton said in a statement. "What’s important is that after traumatic events we are struggling to cope with, we can count on care and support from our family and community. Part of making sure people across Illinois dealing with PTSD are supported is increasing awareness and understanding of this condition, which I’m hopeful this bill will play a part in doing."

Although anyone who experiences or was near a traumatic event can develop the disorder, certain groups of people, including veterans, experience PTSD at a higher rate.

About 6 out of every 100 people, or 6 percent of the United States’ population, will have PTSD at any given time, and about 13 million Americans had the condition in 2020, according to data from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

"People across this state, from veterans, to first responders, to assault victims struggle with PTSD," Benton said. "This condition not only affects those who live with it, but also their friends, family and other caretakers, and it can be really stressful and overwhelming for them too. That’s why it’s so important for us to acknowledge the people battling this condition, and to take steps to help ensure they are all seen."