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October 2023
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Hello Neighbor!
The warm days of summer have turned into the shorter, cooler days of fall. As a Midwesterner, I’ve always loved fall. It is my favorite season! I love the turning of leaves, the crispness in the air, picking apples, and carving pumpkins. It’s also the promise of the holiday season to come. I don’t mind spending time knocking on doors in this weather.
This time of year also ushers in another round of indoor in-person activities! See below for my upcoming mobile office events and town halls as I continue keeping my commitment to stay engaged in my district and keep people informed of what’s happening in our State. Veto session is coming up; see below for more information about that. If there are issues that you care about regarding this upcoming veto session, be sure to let my office know.
Heading toward the future, I hope to enact legislation on eligibility for the senior property tax freeze exemption. Right now, seniors who make 65K or less can apply for a freeze on their property taxes. It is so important that people be able to age in their homes, especially lower-income seniors on fixed incomes. With the increase in social security payments, some seniors will not be eligible. I hope to raise the limit by 8% (equivalent to the increase) to mitigate this issue. If you or someone you know is affected by this, please reach out to my office and encourage other people you know to contact their state representatives.
Enjoy the last few days of warm weather and the holiday season of Halloween!
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DISTRICT OFFICE UPDATES
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Hello! I am excited to move into the role of District Director for Suzanne Ness in the 66th District. I have spent almost 20 years working and volunteering in either municipal government or not-for-profit opportunities. I live in the District and previously worked at a not-for-profit in the center of the District. I look forward to learning more about the Illinois State Government as a tool to assist with growth in the community. Representative Ness has put together a strong staff focusing on constituents’ needs, local policy, and state government. Look for us at local events and join us for Mobile Office hours and Town Halls. If you have questions and concerns or would like to chat over a cup of coffee- reach out to our office! Our wonderful team is here to work for you! I am looking forward to making a difference through public service.
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Regards,
Denise Wasserman Haugk
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Internet Safety for Seniors
October 18, 2023
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I am joining with State Senator Don DeWitte’s office and representatives from the Attorney General’s office to host an Internet Safety for Seniors informational event. Please plan to attend to learn the ways you can keep your information protected on the internet.
Contact Hannah at hseaver@sgop.ilga.gov to register or my office
at 224-484-8620 if you have any questions.
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3rd Annual Diaper Drive
October 30th through November 3rd
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I am excited to host my 3rd Annual Diaper Drive from October 30th – November 3rd. The community response last year was incredible! We collected over 5,000 diapers along with wipes, diaper creams, and other needed baby care supplies. This year, the donations will be shared with local hometown food pantries, including the D300 Food Pantry, Algonquin Lake in the Hills Food Pantry, and the Crystal Lake Food Pantry. Thank you to the businesses and organizations hosting our diaper drop boxes.
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
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September was another busy month here at the District Office! From attending community to legislative events- it was truly a productive month for my office and myself. One of my favorite aspects of my elected position is to go out to the community and learn more.
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Metra Rail Service Expansion
to Rockford from Chicago
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Metra will be expanding rail service from Chicago to Rockford via the Milwaukee District West Line, which currently ends in Elgin, adding additional stops between Rockford and Elgin. Those stops will be in Huntley and Belvidere. Service is projected to begin by late 2027. I am excited to be part of this. In the General Assembly I voted for the bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. The Rebuild Illinois capital program provided about $275 million for this much-needed Metra passenger rail service link between Chicago and Rockford. This expansion is expected to spur even more growth development in the far northwestern suburbs of Chicago and create long-lasting jobs. If you want to learn more about this exciting development, I encourage you to check out this website: www.chicagotorockfordrail.org.
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While constituent-walking towards the end of summer, I was asked:
“What’s veto session?”
There are two sessions in a single year, where State Representatives usually meet to discuss proposed bills. The first session, known as the “regular session,” typically runs from January to May. In regular session, proposed bills are considered and debated. Bills in this session only require a simple majority to pass. Once they pass through the House of Representatives and the Senate they are sent to the Governor’s desk. Most bills passed through the General Assembly get signed by the Governor, but there are exceptions. One of the powers given to the Governor is the veto power or an amendatory veto, where they can veto a bill if they do not like it. Here comes veto session.
Veto session is the second session of the year, typically running from October to November. Like the regular session, Representatives and Senators meet to discuss and debate bills, except that this time, the bills discussed were vetoed or amendatory vetoed by the Governor.
However, new bills can be introduced during this session. To pass a bill that was vetoed by the governor is harder; it requires a super-majority vote. If a vetoed bill passes the General Assembly, it becomes law, regardless of the Governor’s veto.
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I am continuing my Youth Advisory Council program until the end of this year, and it is exciting to have young people on board to share their perspectives and thoughts with me, along with opportunities for them to connect with our community. It is an exciting program my office offers to local high school students in my district. Feel free to share the word about this program. All interested students are encouraged to fill out this form by clicking the button below.
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AROUND THE TOWNS
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I recently hosted a roundtable discussion with Independent Contractors, business owners, and policy makers. We had a wonderfully productive conversation, and I will continue the dialogue. Thank you to my colleagues, Representative Marcus Evans and Representative Tom Weber, for joining.
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It was a true honor to participate with my colleagues, State Senators Linda Holmes, Cristina Castro, Laura Murphy, and State Representatives Anna Moeller, Maura Hirschauer, and Michelle Mussman, at the Elgin Community College Women in Politics Forum.
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I recently had the opportunity to volunteer as a docent at the 41st Elgin Historic House tour. It was a great time to showcase the Historic Houses of Elgin to visitors. Thank you to The Gifford Park Association and the Elgin Historic District for inviting me.
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See where else we could be found in September
(click on the links below)
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My office and the State Treasurer’s Office enjoyed being part of Heritage Fest, despite the rain.
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My colleagues and I spoke at the Fox Valley Credit Union
Annual Legislative breakfast.
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My staff and I had the opportunity to volunteer and tour the
Northern Illinois Food Bank.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Mobile Office Hours • November 14th • 10 am – Noon
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Town Hall • November 27th • 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
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Town Hall • November 28th • 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
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ADOPTABLE PET OF THE MONTH
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Courtesy of Hoof Woof & Meow
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Meet Bennu
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Bennu is a 7 lb. petite little darling who is quiet as a mouse! She can be shy with new people, but once comfortable she enjoys gentle pets and playing a game of wand chase. She is curious and loves to watch the activities in her foster home and sometimes tries to help sweep. She enjoys the company of her furry foster siblings (check out C. Cane if you are interested in two) and can often be found hanging out in the cat tree. Bennu’s birthdate is 2/28/2021.
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Meet Minna
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Are you looking for a great companion who enjoys walks and to be cuddled? Sweet Minna may be able to help. She’s a 2-4 year-old, 75 lb gorgeous brindle Terrier/Pit mix. She is housebroken and will let you know when she would like to be let outside. She currently is allowed to have the run of the house when her foster parents leave, and she has shown she is a good girl when her people are away. Minna does like to “relocate “items now and again, specifically your shoes, so you might have to search for just a bit. (It could just be a ploy to keep you at home so you can give her a little more attention.) Speaking of attention, did we mention that this girl loves to cuddle? It’s pretty much her favorite activity. Minna enjoys a good bed, dog or human, with or without anyone else and always a good snuggle. She identifies as a lap dog and if you want to give her a nice massage, she is grateful.
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TRICK-OR-TREATING
HOURS & EVENTS
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ALGONQUIN
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October 21, 2023 • 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
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Old Town Trick-or-Treat Trail – Madison St. to 62 with tons of Trick or Treat stops at businesses on Main St., as well as family-friendly activities, including Pumpkin Painting!
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October 31, 2023 • 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
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Algonquin Trick-or-Treat hours
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CARPENTERSVILLE
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October 31, 2023 • 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
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Carpentersville Trick-or-Treat hours
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CRYSTAL LAKE
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October 31, 2023 • 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
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Crystal Lake Trick-or-Treat hours
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DUNDEE TOWNSHIP
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October 20, 2023 • 6:00 pm
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Boo Thru @ Randall Oaks Park – Registration Required
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EAST DUNDEE
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October 31, 2023 • 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
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East Dundee Trick-or-Treat hours
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LAKE IN THE HILLS
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October 31, 2023 • 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
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LITH Police Department Safety Town Trick or Treat – 1109 Crystal Lake Road
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October 31, 2023 • 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm
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Lake in the Hills Trick-or-Treat hours
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WEST DUNDEE
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October 28, 2023 • Noon – 3:00 pm
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West Dundee Halloween Party – Grafelman Park 112 N. 5th Street West Dundee
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October 31, 2023 • 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
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West Dundee Trick-or-Treat hours
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RESOURCES
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Northern Illinois Food Bank
Mobile Market
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Upcoming Mobile Markets in October. Anyone needing help is welcome to join them to receive free groceries. No ID, documentation, or pre-approval is required.
All are welcome. Distribution is first-come, first-served, while supplies last.
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Safe Prescription Disposal
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On Saturday, October 28th, from 10 am to 2 pm, Police Departments throughout the district will be partnering with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to provide an opportunity for the public to rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Participating Police Departments include Algonquin, Carpentersville, Cary, Elgin, Huntley, and Lake in the Hills.
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