Wilcox End of Session Newsletter Hits District 32 Mailboxes
Each year following the spring legislative session I create and distribute an End of Session report that highlights the activity of the legislature for the session year. The 2025 edition was recently mailed throughout the 32nd District.
In addition to information about legislation that passed, bad bills we successfully blocked, and some bills that are still pending, the report includes a link to an annual survey. The survey provides valuable information that helps me represent the interests and priorities of those I represent in the Senate. If you have not yet taken that survey I would invite you to do so. You can access the survey here.
If, by chance, you did not receive the report and would like a copy mailed to you, please contact my office at (815) 455-6330 or email us at Wilcox@ilsenategop.org.
Senator Wilcox Meets with Local Mayors and Managers at MCCOG Meeting
Last week it was my honor to meet with the Mayors and Managers from the McHenry County Council of Governments (MCCOG). Nearly every community in McHenry County had representation in attendance, and we had a very productive conversation about issues that are important in the county, including public transit and taxes. McHenry County residents are fortunate to have such dedicated leaders at the local level, and I appreciate the invitation to participate in the discussion. A special thank you goes out to Johnsburg Village President Ed Hettermann for hosting the event.
I am shown on the left in the photo above with (L-R): State Representative Tom Weber, McHenry County Board Chairman Mike Buehler, and State Representative Steve Reick.
Summer Events Continue in 32nd District
Following another very successful Conversations Untapped event in Antioch last week, my staff and I are looking ahead to several more outreach events across the 32nd District.
Next up on the calendar is a FREE document shredding event in Woodstock, where constituents can drive through and allow event volunteers to take up to two banker-sized boxes of sensitive documents to be fed into the paper shredding truck. I am partnering with State Representative Steve Reick for this event and we will also be collecting non-perishable food items to be donated to local food pantries.
Please make sure these events are on your calendar:
- August 16: Document Shredding Event and Food Drive, Office of State Rep. Steve Reick, 1072 Lake Avenue, Woodstock, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- August 21: Barks & Brews Pet Adoption Event, Kishwaukee Brewing, 1900 Dillard Court, Woodstock, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- August 28: Conversations Untapped, Harbor Viewing Company, 136 Cedar Avenue, Lake Villa, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- September 17: IPASS on Demand, Lake Villa District Library, 140 N. Munn Road, Lindenhurst, 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- October 14: Senior Resource Fair, Grand Oaks Recreation Center, 1401 IL-176, Crystal Lake, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
New events are added regularly, so please visit the Events page of my website regularly to be kept up to date about events taking place near you.
Illinois Faces Costly SNAP Penalties, Senate Republicans Call for Transparency
Republican lawmakers are calling for increased transparency after recent reports have emerged showing Illinois could owe the federal government over $700 million annually due to high error rates in its administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to help supplement their grocery budgets. However, Illinois has recently been found to have one of the highest error rates in the country, currently ranking worse than 38 other states in payment accuracy.
Federal law now requires states with error rates above 10 percent to repay 15 percent of total SNAP benefits. Illinois’ rate hit 11.56 percent in fiscal year 2024, one of the highest in the nation, according to USDA data.
We need increased transparency and urging the Administration to take immediate action to fix the errors and stop the fraud and abuse in the SNAP program.