Welcome!
I’m State Representative Jack D. Franks, and I want to welcome you to my Web site. I represent the 63rd District of the state of Illinois, which includes the North and Western part of McHenry County.
Since I took office more than a decade ago, the support of you, my constituents, has been invaluable. Together, we have accomplished much. From shining a bright light on corruption and government wrongdoing to voicing insightful ideas for smarter spending, your input has helped make a difference in how your government is run. But, there is still much to be done.
I am fighting to return control of state government to you, the people. We still need serious budget and ethics reforms in Illinois, and we must find a way for government to more efficiently function. In my next term, I will continue fighting for the things you and I both believe in: zero-based budgeting, government transparency, government accountability and more.
It is a privilege to represent the people of McHenry County in the General Assembly, and with your support I hope to keep fighting for your best interests. In this site, you will find information on policy issues, upcoming events and recent news. You can also follow me on Facebook and send us an email. Please let me know your ideas on how we can get Illinois back on track. Democracy works best when citizens participate in the process. I promise I hear you.
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LATEST NEWS
Franks on the FOX Business Network
July 29, 2010 - FOX NEWS 9 pm
Jack will be FOX Chicago's 9 pm News tonight to talk about his Employee Credit Privacy Act.
Franks on the FOX Business Network
July 26, 2010 - FOX NEWS Business Network
Watch for State Rep. Jack Franks on the FOX Business Network Monday, July 26, around 9:40 am (central time). Rep. Franks talks with Stuart Varney about the economic state of Illinois and the possible privatization of the Illinois lottery.
Franks does what's right for residents
July 11, 2010 - Daily Herald
Your June 5 editorial highlighted the fact that the only McHenry County legislator to support a sales tax holiday in Illinois was state Rep. Jack Franks. All the other area legislators voted against cutting taxes to stimulate the economy and give consumers a much-needed break. Rep. Franks has been working to get this law passed for years. The sales tax holiday will allow everyone to pay reduced taxes on clothing and school items from Friday, Aug. 6, to Sunday, Aug. 15... READ MORE
Credibility sunk by big raises for Quinn's staff
July 9, 2010 - Pantagraph
Gov. Pat Quinn talks a good game about the need for “shared sacrifice” to address the state’s woeful budget situation. But the raises Quinn gave to 35 of his staffers in the past 15 months calls into question what kind of “sacrifice” is being shared. The average increase was 11.4 percent — coming at a time when people in the private sector are taking pay cuts or being laid off, teachers are losing their jobs, bills are not being paid and on it goes... READ MORE
More Quinn logic that escapes us
July 9, 2010 - Daily Herald
We give Gov. Pat Quinn a hard time quite often, and we recognize that. Thing is, he makes it so easy. Here's another editorial idea he served up to us, big and delicious: At the same time he's been traveling Illinois bemoaning the state's huge debt, he's been giving raises that average 11.4 percent to 35 members of his staff, according to an Associated Press analysis reported Tuesday... READ MORE
Quinn's Lack of Leadership Continues to Hurt the People of Illinois
July 8, 2010 - The Huffington Post - by Jack Franks
July 1, Governor Pat Quinn proudly proclaimed that he made tough budget choices to move our state forward. Fresh from issuing $509 million in cuts made with his newly enhanced executive power, another $891 million held in reserve and an executive order aimed at cutting state employee expenses, Quinn acted as if he had stood the hard line on spending. But, like most vague declarations, the devil is in the details. Quinn failed to tell the public that his more than $1 billion in cuts was mostly smoke and mirrors. In reality, Quinn cut very little from the budget, which still carries a $13 billion deficit... READ MORE
Quinn’s staff gets big raises
July 7, 2010 - USA Today & Northwest Herald
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Pat Quinn handed out raises – some of more than 20 percent – to members of his staff while proclaiming a message of “shared sacrifice” and planning spending cuts of $1.4 billion because the state is awash in debt. The Democrat gave 43 salary increases averaging 11.4 percent to 35 staffers in the past 15 months, according to an Associated Press analysis of records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act... READ MORE
What's up (or down) with state spending
July 5, 2010 - Chicago Tribune
Gov. Pat Quinn crafted this year's state budget with nearly unfettered power to spend taxpayer money and cut programs as he saw fit. The unprecedented authority led Quinn and his aides to spend weeks deciding what to slice and what to spare, knowing that each move will be examined carefully under the magnifying glass of the governor campaign... READ MORE
Gov. Quinn: Veto the Budget, Bring General Assembly Back to Springfield
June 10, 2010 - The Huffington Post - by Jack Franks
I called on Governor Pat Quinn this week to veto the budget plan provided by the General Assembly and bring the legislature back to Springfield immediately to fulfill our constitutional obligation to pass a responsible, balanced budget. Just a few weeks ago, the General Assembly provided the Governor with a budget that is unbalanced and unconstitutional... READ MORE
Recall will be on Nov. Ballot
June 7, 2010 - Northwest Herald
SPRINGFIELD – After November, voters might be able to oust the governor. The power of recall will be the first state constitutional amendment on the Illinois ballot since 1998. If approved, the recall provision would be similar to the process used in California, said state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo. He began pushing for the amendment in 2008 after abuse-of-power allegations against then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich... READ MORE
In Blagojevich Corruption Trial, a Political Window
June 2, 2010 - The New York Times
CHICAGO — As jury selection in the corruption trial of Rod R. Blagojevich begins on Thursday, people here are less curious about what they may learn about the impeached former Illinois governor than they are about who else will be tainted in the proceedings .The trial may finally open a window into Mr. Blagojevich’s interactions with other politicians and political strategists, business and union leaders and others... READ MORE
House OKs Borrowing to Cover State Pensions
May 26, 2010 - The State Journal-Register
Pension borrowing — a major (and controversial) component of a state budget plan — finally won approval in the Illinois House on Tuesday after a series of rejections. The House voted 71-44 to borrow up to $4 billion to cover next year’s payments to the five state-funded pension systems. The bill needed a super-majority of 71 votes to pass, and two Republicans — Bill Black of Danville and Robert Biggins of Elmhurst — provided the needed margin... READ MORE
Illinois Lawmakers Adopt Plan to Borrow To Pay For Pensions
May 26, 2010 - FOX Chicago News
Springfield, Ill. - The Illinois House has approved key pieces of a Democratic budget plan that attempts to address the state's massive budget deficit. One measure would borrow $3.7 billion to make the state's annual contribution to government pension systems. Another would give Gov. Pat Quinn broad power to decide where to cut spending. Quinn would also be allowed to borrow from special government funds... READ MORE