Past Legislative Priorities in State Senate
- Create a business climate in Illinois where private sector can maintain and create more jobs paying higher wages
- Cut waste in government spending
- Consistent opposition to increases in major state taxes, perks, and pay increases for politicians, and increases to the size of state government
- Principles ahead of “politics”; solutions to the big problems; responsiveness to every constituent
- Honest competence
Senate Committee Appointments
| Ranking Republican on Revenue Committee |
|
Co-Chairman, Legislative Audit Commission |
| Member, Appropriations Committees I, II & III |
|
Past Chairman, Commerce and Industry Committee |
| Member, Labor Committee & Comm. of the Whole |
|
Republican School Funding Task Force |
Twelve Examples of Effectiveness
Education . . . more than doubled state funding for public education in Senate District over the past 15 years. Helped secure $48,000,000 for school construction grants. Sponsored into law education license plates for future teachers’ scholarships.
Tax Relief . . . sponsored and passed into state law the largest employment tax decrease in the past 15 years, which kept over $250 million of excess unemployment insurance premiums in the Illinois economy. (Received 1996 and 1998 Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business)
Women’s Health Issues . . . first successful legislation in the Senate was to establish the Breast Cancer Research voluntary check-off on the state personal income tax return. Since its inception, more than $2,500,000 has been gathered from voluntary contributions for research in Illinois.
Truth-in-Budgeting . . . successfully rewrote the state law that requires Illinois government to tell the truth (using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) about how tax money is being collected and spent.
Respect for Veterans . . . reduced property taxes on VFW and American Legion veterans’ posts by 85% and placed cap on future increases. In response to 9/11/2001, organized fundraiser events to help area wounded soldiers.
Seniors and Property Taxes . . . lead co-sponsor on original property tax assessment freeze for homeowners over 65 years old with income of less than $35,000. Co-sponsored increase in income ceiling to $50,000.
Property Tax Freeze . . . Lead Sponsor of SJR13 to provide permanent property tax relief for all real property owners by putting a “freeze” on property tax assessments on your current home that lasts until you buy a new home.
Keep Commitments . . . a lead co-sponsor of the 50-year solution to the $20 billion unfunded liability problem in the five state pension plans, the largest being for teachers. This law closed the gap between politicians’ promises to future pensions and the amount of money deposited. Unfortunately, in 2005 Blagojevich and ruling majority changed this law and raided $2.3B from pensions.
Illegal Immigrants . . . Only Senator to speak against and vote “No” on providing a 2/3rds tuition discounts to illegal immigrants at public universities.
Ban on Partial Birth Abortion . . . lead sponsor and passed into law prohibition of this horrible procedure. Although initially struck down by a Cook County judge, the law was upheld by the Federal Appellate Court after being appealed by Illinois’ Attorney General, but was struck down by U.S. Supreme Court. (Named “Outstanding Legislator” by Family PAC)
Protect Children . . . lead sponsor of and passed out of Senate law that would require all Illinois public schools to use devices that filter out pornographic material coming through the Internet into our taxpayer-paid public school computers. Also sponsored into law Child Support Deadbeat Parent Internet “Most Wanted” List, with adequate safeguards.
Cut Wasteful Spending . . . started “Illinois Porkbusters” which seeks to cut $5,000,000 in waste each year from the state budget (100 times annual salary of a State Senator). Launched a Prescription Medication Pilot Program that saves participants 50% on cost of drugs.
Personal
• Happily married to Sarah (Longley) for 26 years with four children—Ted, Elliot, Hans, and Rob
• Certified Public Accountant (Illinois 1975); Duke University Bachelor of Science (cum laude); Harvard MBA (1978)
• Successful private sector experience for over 14 years; built and sold accounting practice that employed 10 people
Printable Chris Lauzen Fact Sheet
