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As a wife, mother, small business owner, and community activist, I understand the challenges many Lake County families face in today’s economy. My main priorities as a legislator are job creation and retention, transportation improvements, education funding, property tax relief, health care availability and constituent services. For the past three years, I have kept my promises to the people of District 62 and have worked tirelessly to promote initiatives that have a "Family Focus” – quality of life issues such as tax relief, transportation, education, health care, and preservation of our natural resources and open space.
Thank you for the honor and privilege of serving you.
Sandy Cole
Increased Taxpayer Burden of Federal
Health Care "Reform" on Illinois
A Financial Burden We Can Ill-Afford
January 15, 2010
I, along with other Illinois House Republicans, am greatly concerned over the expected new pressures on state finances that the current proposed federal health care "reform" bill would impose on Illinois' Medicaid system. Specifically, Illinois Medicaid costs could increase up to $1.0 billion per year, a burden Illinois taxpayers can ill-afford.
We are asking Governor Quinn to proactively track and respond to this huge new fiscal challenge the state will face. For more details, please click on this link:
Serving the 62nd District
December 1, 2009
In addition to joining my House colleagues in voting no to several income tax increase proposals, GRT (Gross Receipts Tax), service taxes, etc. and fighting (prioritizing) for state road projects in the 62nd district (such as Route 45, Route 83, Route 120 bypass, Route 132 resurfacing), I have been able to secure member initiative dollars for projects such as:
Village of Grayslake
- 2009-10: $150,000 - Emergency road repair program for Atkinson Road
Village of Gurnee
- 2009-10: $150,000 – Emergency road repair program for Dada Drive/village’s 5 year capital plan
Village of Hainesville
- 2007-08: $85,000 – Pedestrian path along Hainesville Road
Village of Lake Villa
- 2009-10: $185,000 - Emergency road repair program for Ishnala Country Estates
Village of Lindenhurst
- 2009-10: $250,000 – Pedestrian walkway/trail connecting Engle Park with Lake Villa Library
Village of Round Lake Beach
- 2009-10: $100,000 – Orchard Lane elevated tank generator
- 2007-08: $85,000 – Public Works/Sewer pump replacement
- 2007-08: $12,000 – Programming equipment for summer youth programs at the RLB Cultural & Civic Center
Village of Round Lake Heights
- 2009-10: $150,000 – Emergency road repair program resurfacing
Grandwood Park Park District
- 2009-10: $400,000 – Community Center expansion for pre-school
- 2007-08: $85,000 – Community Center handicapped accessable restroom, sewer repair & kitchen preparation equipment
Grayslake Community Park District
- 2009-10: $65,000 – Storm sewer project for Alleghany Park
Round Lake Area Park District
- 2009-10: $40,000 – Gateway Park event shelter
- 2009-10: $48,000 – Orchard Lane Child Development Center room addition
Wildwood Park District
- 2009-10: $58,000 – Seawall repair at Willow Pointe shoreline
- 2007-08: $50,000 – Seawall repair & handicapped modification for fishing pier
Lake Villa Township
- 2009-10: $40,000 – ADA equipment, shoreline stabilization at Waterfront Park
- 2009-10: $100,000 – Highway Department Black Cherry Lane in Round Lake Heights
Grayslake Consolidated School District #46
- 2007-08: $80,000 – Science lab/Interactive smart boards
Gurnee Police Department
- 2007-08: $20,000 – ATV for flood zone rescue & additional tactical channel for unit-to-unit communications
Oasis Youth Center – Grayslake
- 2007-08: $75,000 – Roof replacement & asbestos abatement
Mano A Mano Resource Center (Round Lake Area)
- 2007-08: $40,000 – Health education, child care & computer training
PADS – Grayslake, Wildwood, Gurnee Area
- 2007-08: $10,000 – Food service equipment, chairs, cots, bedding.
House Approves Weak Campaign
Finance ReformBill
October 29, 2009
After months of negotiations between reform groups and legislative leaders, the Illinois House of Representatives today passed a campaign finance bill that does little to limit the influence of political parties and inside power brokers.
Despite Republican efforts to require meaningful campaign contribution caps as part of the agreement, House Democrats pushed through a watered-down campaign finance bill that falls far short of making long-overdue reforms.
Senate Bill 1466, sponsored by Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, includes campaign contribution caps for individuals, corporations, unions and political action committees (PAC’s). However, the bill does not limit contributions from a political party or caucus PAC to a candidate. Under these rules, political parties and legislative leaders will remain free to give unlimited amounts of campaign cash to their preferred candidates.
I voted against SB 1466 because of its numerous loopholes that do little to address the very real need for meaningful campaign finance reform in Illinois. The reality is this bill does little to change the status quo. The people of Illinois want and deserve real reform, not more of the same. Unfortunately, the Speaker’s legislation comes up short on making key reforms and is littered with loopholes.
While this bill improves the campaign finance disclosure requirements we fought to have included, without placing limits on campaign funds controlled by legislative leaders and political parties – nothing really changes.
While SB 1466 limits party and caucus contributions to candidates during a primary election, it allows for unlimited contributions during a general election. In reality, political parties spend very little on primary campaigns. During general elections, parties and legislative leaders spend millions of dollars on campaigns that are often brutally negative in tone.
House Republicans filed an amendment to SB 1466 to make the limits on party and caucus contributions apply not only for the primary election, but for the general election as well. Democrats bottled up this proposal in the House Rules Committee.
Our amendment contains the real campaign finance reform this state needs. We must limit the influence that parties and political bosses exert over our election process. I believe strongly that the campaign finance bill passed today lacks teeth and will do little to change the current system skewed to benefit insiders and party leaders. I think we have all had enough of the harsh rhetoric and overly-partisan tone that defines so much of today’s politics.
Despite today’s setback, I will continue to be an advocate for meaningful reform in our political process. I will continue to keep you updated on further developments as they occur. As always, thank you for the honor and privilege of serving you.
Sandy Cole
State Representative - 62nd District
District 62 Survey Results 2009
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Click here to view the results.