State Representative Chad Hays today announced that Vermilion and Champaign County residents will benefit from local road and mass transit improvements included in the state’s six-year transportation construction program.

“Our area is home to many aging bridges and miles of aging roadway that are in serious need of improvement for our families’ safety. A safe, modern infrastructure system is also crucial to help our communities compete for new employers that create jobs,” Rep. Hays said. “The inclusion of these local improvements in I-DOT’s long range plan is good news for East Central Illinois.” Continue reading »

State Representative Chad Hays today said he was very disappointed in Governor Quinn’s budget priorities, noting that the Governor wants to greatly expand Medicaid, while inflicting severe cuts to funding for our local schools and universities.

Rep. Hays (R-Catlin) said the Governor’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2014 spends $1.9 billion more than the current year’s budget framework.

“Just yesterday, the House passed resolutions setting our revenue estimate at $35.08 billion. That’s about one billion dollars higher than what we budgeted this year.  Rather than live within that figure, the Governor today proposed adding nearly two billion dollars in spending – almost double the additional revenue we’re expected to bring in. For me, that’s a non-starter,” Hays said.
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State Representative Chad Hays has garnered positions on key Illinois House committees this spring that will tackle critical issues ranging from jobs, to health care and Medicaid, to policy for colleges and universities. Hays (R-Catlin) says the new committee assignments are a perfect fit to address the concerns of local communities, and families across the state.

In the new 98th General Assembly, Representative Hays will serve as Republican Spokesperson on the House Health Care Availability and Access Committee, which will play a leading role in continuing Medicaid reform efforts, and creating guidelines for the state’s implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). Continue reading »

State Representative Chad Hays today warned that the Quinn Administration is once again “dragging its feet” on implementing crucial, bi-partisan Medicaid reforms enacted by the General Assembly. Hays (R-Catlin) and dozens of his House Republican colleagues have introduced legislation directing administration to move forward without delay to begin “scrubbing the rolls” of those ineligible to receive benefits and to enact other reform measures adopted over the past two spring legislative sessions to achieve millions in projected cost savings and protect low-income and disabled residents.

“Back in 2011 we passed several crucial measures, including common sense requirements that the Department of Healthcare and Family Services actually verify income and residency of those applying for assistance, that a year and a half later have still not been fully implemented. Now, DHS and the Quinn Administration are again dragging their feet on actually implementing bi-partisan reforms we passed this year that the Governor signed in the Spring! These contuined delays are inexcusable. They’re costing taxpayers hundreds of millions in lost savings, and they’re jeopardizing the availability of services for those truly in need,” Hays said. Continue reading »

State Representative Chad Hays has been named a “Guardian of Small Business” by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). The Guardian of Small Business award is the most prestigious honor that NFIB bestows on legislators in recognition of their efforts to help small businesses throughout Illinois thrive and create jobs. Representative Hays (R-Catlin) is being honored for his perfect voting record in support of Illinois’ small businesses.

“Most all elected officials like to talk about how important small business owners are to the state’s economic recovery, but only some of them actually take the tough votes to help Illinois’ job creators,” said Kim Clarke Maisch, NFIB/Illinois State Director. “We bestow our highest honor, the “Guardian of Small Business,” to those legislators who score 80 percent or better on our voting record. The list of Guardians are those who are truly working to help create an economy that allows small business owners to be successful and grow. Legislators such as Representative Hays understand it is going to take more than words – it is going to take good sound public policy – to help convince small businesses to start hiring again and turn our state around.” Continue reading »

State Representative Chad Hays today said that Governor Quinn’s veto today of a compromise gaming bill that included a license for a new job and revenue creating casino in Danville defies logic. Hays said he will continue to work with the other sponsors of the legislation for an override in the General Assembly’s upcoming veto session.

“Our local cities, counties, school districts and community colleges would all be huge winners under this compromise gaming plan. All would benefit from the new jobs and the new revenue,” Representative Hays stressed. “Our local schools alone could receive nearly $2 million in additional revenue each year…most of that is money now being spent across the border in Indiana. If the Governor is sincere about his desire to create jobs and provide more money for schools, vetoing this legislation that would help accomplish both of those goals makes absolutely no sense.” Continue reading »