SPRINGFIELD – State Representative Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, joined Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, and members of the House Republican Caucus in filing House Resolution 975 on Tuesday to state their opposition to a proposed progressive income tax on Illinois residents. 

“The General Assembly cannot continue spending money frivolously and expect Illinois taxpayers to pick up the tab with more tax increases like this progressive income tax proposal from the Democrat party,” Durkin said. “It is our constitutional duty to protect our constituents, and we will remain firm as a caucus on blocking any progressive tax measures.”

Sosnowski echoed Durkin’s remarks, adding, “These progressive income tax proposals would raise taxes on most Illinoisans, including the vast majority of people living in Boone and Winnebago Counties. By implementing a progressive income tax, we would be driving higher income earners out of Illinois and saddling middle class families with a huge tax increase, all without any spending reforms whatsoever. This is the wrong solution for Illinois.” 

I am very excited for the Indoor City Market. This will be a great addition to downtown Rockford and continue to breathe excitement into the central business district. Congratulations!

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State Rep. Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, and his staff participated in the 2018 Boone County Business Expo at the Community Building in Belvidere on Saturday, providing constituents with information and resources about state government. Thank you to everyone who stopped by!

SPRINGFIELD – State Representative Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, issued the following statement today in response to Governor Rauner’s State of the State address delivered to a joint session of the Illinois General Assembly:

"The fact is, Illinois’ economy is not growing the way Wisconsin and other neighboring states are. With a shrinking population following jobs and opportunity out of state, we need to put our priorities back in the right place with a new approach in 2018. This means passing budget reforms that will set Illinois back on a path toward growth and prosperity, such as real property tax relief, meaningful workers compensation reform and pension reform. We know that will not be easy with the current political dynamic in Springfield, but I am committed to doing my part to bring Republicans and Democrats together on issues where we can find common ground.”

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SPRINGFIELD – State Representative Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, has filed new legislation to allow working families with a child over age 12 to babysit younger children by lowering the minimum age at which a child can be home without supervision from 14 down to 12. Currently under state law, a child under the age of 14 who is left without supervision for “an unreasonable amount of time” is considered neglected; and a parent or other individual responsible for a child’s welfare can be charged with child abandonment for leaving a minor under the age of 13 without supervision by a responsible person over the age of 14 for a period of 24 hours or more.

“This bill to help protect single and working parents from a harsh state law under which they can be charged with neglect and lose custody of their kids for leaving a minor under the age of 14 home without supervision,” Representative Sosnowski said. “Illinois has by far the most restrictive law of its kind in the nation. My bill would reduce the threshold to children under the age of 12, recognizing that working parents who struggle to afford child care should not live under the fear of losing their kids simply for working hard to support their family.”