ROCKFORD – The Illinois Chamber of Commerce today named State Representative Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, a “Champion of Free Enterprise” for his voting record during the 2017-2018 legislative session. The Illinois Chamber’s Legislative Ratings tracks votes important to the state’s business community and grades legislators based on their support of pro-business issues during the two-year legislative session.

Among bills included in the report are the 32% tax increase, proposed red tape for call center operators, an electricity rate increase, expensive regulations to internet website operators, a $15 an hour minimum wage, a gross receipts tax on investment management services, and fake workers’ compensation reform.  However, not all was bad.  The Chamber included votes on legislation that will bring Illinois to the forefront of 5G internet, state preemption of autonomous vehicles, comprehensive procurement reform, and renewing the state’s vital EDGE tax credit.

By Joe Sosnowski
State Representative, 69th District


The line between parental discretion and the heavy hand of government intrusion has grown increasingly blurred, as evidenced by the recent case reported on by the Chicago Tribune about a Wilmette mom who was investigated by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for letting her 8 year-old daughter walk the family dog around the block. Investigators interviewed the family pediatrician and interrogated the young girl herself before concluding no charges would be filed against the mom.

The Tribune has highlighted numerous other specific cases where routine day-to-day parenting decisions triggered inquiries by local police and/or DCFS investigations. The amount of time and taxpayer resources expended on these baseless and unwarranted inquiries is absurd. Legitimate fears about human trafficking and child abductions have heightened to the point where, among too many people, fear has overtaken common-sense when it comes to interfering with how a parent raises their child.

State Rep. Joe Sosnowski hosted a coffee talk with constituents at Ned's Diner in Belvidere on Thursday to discuss state issues and recap the spring legislative session and state budget.

Rep. Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford

SPRINGFIELD – Governor Bruce Rauner signed legislation on Monday to make achieving a high school diploma more attainable for students who are struggling academically or those who have truancy issues.  

Prior to the signing of this law, an Illinois school or school district could deny enrollment to a student 17 years of age or older for one semester for failure to meet minimum academic standards, under certain conditions.  The new law, Public Act 100-0825, removes those provisions from state law. The bill was introduced and sponsored by State Representative Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford.

The law also raises the standard for addressing students with school attendance issues by providing that a truant minor may not be expelled for nonattendance unless he or she has accrued 15 consecutive days of absences without valid cause and the student cannot be located by the school district; or the school district has located the student but cannot, after exhausting all available support services, compel the student to return to school.

BELVIDERE – Local residents with questions or concerns on issues impacting the State of Illinois are invited to attend an early morning “Coffee Talk with Joe” hosted by State Representative Joe Sosnowski in Belvidere on Thursday, August 16.  The coffee talk is open to the public. All are welcome. Coffee will be provided courtesy of Representative Sosnowski. Details for the coffee talk are as follows:  

Coffee Talk With Joe

Thursday, August 16, 2018

7:30 am to 8:30 am

Ned’s Restaurant

2132 Business Route 20

Belvidere, IL 61008

“Coffee talks are a valuable opportunity for me to have conversations with local residents one-on-one,” Representative Sosnowski said. “I encourage everyone who has questions, comments or concerns about state issues to come make their voice heard at my coffee talk in Belvidere.”

Constituents who are unable to attend the coffee talk but still wish to provide feedback to Representative Sosnowski can do so online by visiting www.joesosnowski.org and clicking “Contact” on the homepage menu, or by calling the District Office in Rockford at (815) 547-3436.

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Rep. Joe Sosnowski enjoys meeting constituents and local families at the annual Boone County Fair in Belvidere. Rep. Sosnowski and his staff have a booth in Exhibit Hall #1 open from 10am - 9pm each day of the Fair. Stop by and say hello to us!