Lawmaker: Quinn A ‘Coward’ For His Handling Of DCFS Investigation

January 28, 2012 - CBS2 Chicago

lawmaker is accusing Gov. Quinn of cowardice for the way his administration handled a scandal at the state’s child-welfare agency. State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, says Quinn knew in April that Erwin McEwen, then the head of the Department of Children and Family Services, was refusing to cooperate in a state inspector general’s investigation... READ MORE

State investigators say DCFS contract fraud could be worse than known

January 27, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

State ethics investigators say they may never know the full extent of an alleged contracting scheme that they say cost taxpayers at least $18 million and led to last year’s resignation of the head of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. The comments came during a legislative hearing Friday examining a probe that found numerous violations by George E. Smith, who held various state contracts across a number of agencies, including DCFS... READ MORE

State Rep. Franks blasts Quinn’s office on alleged misconduct by ex-DCFS chief

January 27, 2012 - Northwest Herald

An attorney for Gov. Pat Quinn faced blistering questioning by legislators Friday on why the governor didn’t quickly fire the head of the state’s child-welfare agency last year after a report of fraudulent billing under his watch. At a hearing in Chicago, Rep. Jack Franks called it “cowardice” on the part of Quinn’s office to ask for Erwin McEwen’s resignation from his post as chief of the Department of Children and Family Services rather than fire him. State inspectors had found that a friend of the former director collected millions of dollars for shoddy or non-existent work... READ MORE

Bill aimed at allowing voters to elect County Board chairman

January 10, 2012 - Northwest Herald

A new bill in the House seeks to reverse the McHenry County Board's decision to continue appointing the board chairman themselves. House Bill 3953, filed Friday by state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, would require counties with more than 300,000 residents to directly elect the county board chairman. McHenry County has 308,760 residents, according to the 2010 U.S. Census... READ MORE

State rep wants panel to review tax-break requests

December 22, 2011 - Crain's Chicago Business

A suburban legislator has introduced a bill to sharply cut Gov. Pat Quinn's power to hand out hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate tax breaks. Under a bill submitted this week by Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, Mr. Quinn no longer would be able to unilaterally approve payroll credits like those... READ MORE

State rep wants panel to review tax-break requests

December 22, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) filed a bill this week that would create a five-member committee to review the contracts between companies seeking tax credits and the state before they are finalized. As it stands, the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity reviews businesses' applications, negotiates and approves the deals... READ MORE

Bill seeks to ban those who owe child support from ballot

December 22, 2011 - Northwest Herald

A bill inspired by U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh’s child support issues would forbid people owing more than $10,000 in back child support from running for office in Illinois. House Bill 3932, filed Tuesday by state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, would require statements of candidacy to include a statement that the person running for office is not delinquent by $10,000 or more... READ MORE

Sears Considers Leaving Illinois For Better Tax Deal

December 2, 2011 - NPR

Thousands of jobs are on the line in a competition between states over the corporate headquarters of Sears. Several states are offering tax incentive packages to try to lure the company away from Illinois, including one bid from Ohio that's worth up to $400 million... READ MORE

Quinn Says Sears Help is ‘More Than Adequate’ to Keep Headquarters in Illinois

December 2, 2011 - FOX NEWS

Chicago - Governor Quinn said there's no reason to get into a bidding war with the state of Ohio to try to keep Sears Holdings Corp. from leaving Illinois. He said a bill that offers tax breaks to Sears -- and to CME Group -- already passed the state Senate with bi-partisan support... READ MORE

Kadner: Property tax bill defeated but fight isn’t over

November 11, 2011 - Southtown Star

Jack Franks (D-63rd) said Friday he will reintroduce legislation in January to give homeowners relief. His bill to freeze property tax levies in communities where assessed values decline was resoundingly defeated 73 to 34 in the Illinois House last... READ MORE

Franks: No more taxes when property values dip

November 3, 2011 - Daily Herald

State Rep. Jack Franks is pushing legislation that would prohibit local governments like school districts from asking for more property taxes in years when property values go down. Franks’ plan targets a 1990s law that now caps how much more tax money school districts, villages and others can ask for in an effort to keep tax bills from spiking in a given year... READ MORE

Legislature can refresh PTELL’s effect

October 28, 2011 - Northwest Herald

The total amount they can collect in property taxes to 5 percent or the rate of inflation whichever is less excluding new growth but given current circumstances that s a facet we can pretty...
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Rep. Jack Franks Pushes Property Tax Protection Bill

October 28, 2011 - FOX NEWS 9 pm

It has been a busy week in Springfield as lawmakers tackle everything from gambling to property taxes. Democratic State Rep Jack Franks joined us from Springfield to talk about his proposal to protect homeowners from soaring property taxes...
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Lobbyists fight Franks tax relief bill

October 28, 2011 - Northwest Herald

Local government lobbyists paid by your tax dollars are fighting hard to kill a bill aimed at limiting property tax increases in a declining housing market Interest groups representing...
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Quinn: Law barred me from disclosing DCFS trouble

October 18, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

Gov. Pat Quinn said Tuesday that an ethics law barred him from letting the public know seven weeks ago that he was dumping the director of the state's child-welfare agency over allegations of fraud and mismanagement. He said the law forced him to remain silent about the real reason for getting rid of Director Erwin McEwen until state inspectors finished their probe... READ MORE

Delay of casino gambling bill concerns some lawmakers

October 16, 2011 - Northwest Herald

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Local legislators weigh in on fall veto session

October 10, 2011 - Northwest Herald

The General Assembly has a lot on its agenda when it convenes this month for the fall veto session.
From Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto of ComEd rate increases to pay for a “smart grid” to the controversial gambling expansion bill – to say nothing of the $86 billion pension elephant in the chambers – legislators have a lot to address during the six-day session, which starts Oct. 25... READ MORE

Franks to run again for 63rd district

September 15, 2011 - Northwest Herald

There’s a right way to streamline Illinois’ unwieldy government, and there’s a wrong way. The wrong way is the approach apparently embraced by some state leaders: death by a thousand cuts. A few examples of the piecemeal approach: The action: Gov. Pat Quinn signs the state budget, but he cuts $11.3 million to pay regional superintendents’ salaries. The apparent goal: Eliminate regional offices of education... READ MORE

Legislative ethics? They're only suggestions.

August 27, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, put to rest any rumors of a congressional run Wednesday by announcing his intent to run for re-election to the 63rd District. First elected in November 1998, Franks said he intends to seek another two-year term in the Illinois House representing the district, which covers much of McHenry County. His decision to pursue another state term, rather than run in the newly redrawn 14th Congressional District, he said, came after a lot of thought... READ MORE

Illinois State Representative Jack Franks joins Don and Roma

July 20, 2011 - WLS 890AM

Illinois Representative Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) joins Don and Roma - 7/20/2011 Download this show Listen Don and Roma talk with Don's favorite Illinois Democrat, State Rep. Jack Franks. Franks talks about businesses that are allowed to hold state taxes from our paychecks--up to 10 years. How does Illinois attract more business without sweetheart deals?

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COLUMN-Paying taxes your employer keeps-David Cay Johnston

July 19, 2011 - Reuters

Painful as it feels to have a lot of hard-earned income taken from your paycheck for taxes, a new Illinois law does something Americans may find surprising. It lets some employers pocket taxes for 10 years. You read that right -- in Illinois the state income taxes withheld from your paycheck may be kept by your employer under a law that took effect in May... READ MORE

Gambling In Illinois

July 13, 2011 - WGN Radio 720

CHI Crime Commission VP Arthur Bilek and IL state reps Lou Lang & Jack Franks debate the expansion of gambling in Chicago and Illinois... LISTEN HERE

Streamline government

July 13, 2011 - Northwest Herald

There’s a right way to streamline Illinois’ unwieldy government, and there’s a wrong way. The wrong way is the approach apparently embraced by some state leaders: death by a thousand cuts. A few examples of the piecemeal approach: The action: Gov. Pat Quinn signs the state budget, but he cuts $11.3 million to pay regional superintendents’ salaries. The apparent goal: Eliminate regional offices of education... READ MORE

Tax cap law needs tweak

July 5, 2011 - Northwest Herald

Many homeowners this spring learned the hard way that Illinois’ “tax cap” law is not really a cap at all. The “tax cap,” or Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, as it officially is known, simply limits the amount that local taxing bodies can increase their tax levies each year to 5 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. When the rule was implemented in the collar counties, including McHenry County, in 1991, it rescued property owners from steep tax increases as their land grew in value... READ MORE

Bill aims to limit property taxes

June 30, 2011 - Northwest Herald

Many Illinois homeowners were shocked, disgusted, or both, when their 2010 property taxes stayed the same or increased despite sharp declines in their assessments. A bill filed in Springfield seeks to help make the tax cap the friend of the Illinois property owner that it was when values were on the rise. House Bill 3793 would forbid any taxing body whose total assessed value decreases from the previous year, excluding new construction, from collecting an increase... READ MORE

Lawmakers approve $18B spending bill

June 22, 2011 - ABC 7 News

(SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) (WLS) -- Illinois lawmakers avoided a possible shutdown of state construction projects by approving an $18 billion spending bill during a special session. Senate President John Cullerton introduced the stripped-down public works bill without explaining how it was different. "I would ask everyone to vote "aye." Be happy to answer any questions," Sen. Cullerton said... WATCH VIDEO AND READ MORE

Jack Franks - Illinois State Representative - joins Don and Roma

June 20, 2011 - WLS 890AM

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Wiggle room in Motorola Mobility's state tax break

June 19, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

The fine print in a contract between Illinois and Motorola Mobility indicates that the smartphone company can maintain a smaller workforce than the one it employs today and still qualify for more than $110 million in financial incentives designed to keep the company's workers in the state... READ MORE

Wrong way to support businesses

June 17, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

As a small-business owner, I know the impact of the corporate tax increase the state imposed. The tax rate of 9.5 percent is the fourth highest in the nation. I voted against that tax hike, along with the 67 percent personal income tax increase, because Illinois needs to stop spending beyond its means and passing the burden along to the taxpayers... READ MORE

Illinois Still Fighting for a Balanced Budget

June 7, 2011 - FOX NEWS Business Network

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State Rep. Jack Franks on the need for Illinois to cut spending.

Illinois Treasurer Calls to End State Borrowing

May 25, 2011 - FOX NEWS Business Network

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State Rep. Jack Franks says the state needs to stop borrowing money from the federal government.

Jack Franks - Illinois State Representative - joins Don and Roma

May 25, 2011 - WLS 890AM

Don and Roma talk with Illinois Representative Jack Franks. They talk about the budget battle in Springfield. Why won't Governor Quinn listen to spending cuts? What seems to be the problem in Springfield regarding balancing a budget? Why do we give so much money to private corporations to stay in Illinois? What has Rep. Franks done to try and cut spending... READ MORE

Illinois spending heavily to retain companies

May 17, 2011 - Chicago Tribune

Illinois in 2011 is on pace to provide much more money in financial incentive programs to businesses to retain and add jobs, with the total through early May exceeding $230 million pledged to 27 companies. That is nearly the amount pledged all of last year by Illinois to keep corporations from leaving the state or to attract businesses to relocate or expand here, the Tribune has learned... READ MORE

Legislators hoping Quinn to be more involved in budget

May 8, 2011- Galva News

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Pat Quinn notched a rare legislative victory last week, when his last-minute veto threat apparently played a role in the defeat of a proposal to allow people to carry concealed handguns in Illinois. Otherwise, however, observers say Quinn hasn’t been closely involved with General Assembly deliberations this spring – even on proposals Quinn himself initiated... READ MORE

State recoups $89K of $1 million after Blagojevich ‘mistake’

April 27, 2011 - Chicago Sun-Times

SPRINGFIELD — State efforts to recoup $1 million that impeached ex-Gov. Blagojevich said he errantly gave to Loop Lab School yielded Illinois taxpayers a paltry $89,000, Illinois Auditor General William Holland disclosed Thursday... READ MORE

House balks at budget

March 31, 2011 - Northwest Herald

SPRINGFIELD – Leaders of the Illinois House threw cold water on Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget Wednesday by pushing forward with a plan to cut his proposed spending and ignore his call to borrow billions of dollars. Local legislators see this as a step in the right direction, but say a sustainable budget still is a long way off... READ MORE

Illinois House Leaders Ignoring Quinn's Budget Plan

March 30, 2011 - FOX Chicago News

Springfield, Ill. - Illinois House leaders are pushing forward with a budget plan that would ignore many of the governor's spending proposals. The top Democrat and top Republican in the House said Wednesday they have settled on the amount of money available for major categories of state government. Now, House committees will decide which services get a piece of that money and which don't... READ MORE

Franks alleges fiscal abuse on Metra board

March 11, 2011 - Northwest Herald

State Rep. Jack Franks is taking aim at the expenses of the Metra Board’s chairwoman and treasurer in his effort to eliminate and consolidate all four Chicago mass transit boards. At a Thursday news conference in Springfield, Franks accused Chairwoman Carole Doris and Treasurer Jack Schaffer of fiscal improprieties at the expense of taxpayers. Schaffer is McHenry County’s representative on the 11-member board, which Franks said should resign... READ MORE

Franks wants Metra board cleared

March 11, 2011 - Daily Herald

SPRINGFIELD — Rep. Jack Franks said Wednesday that all of Metra’s board members should step down, saying they’ve been able to avoid paying certain taxes because of how their jobs are classified. At Springfield news conference, Franks said the board members shouldn’t be considered typical “employees” and therefore shouldn’t get out of paying taxes on their health benefits... READ MORE

Legislator: Metra board wasting money, should resign

March 11, 2011 - Chicago Sun-Times

SPRINGFIELD — The head of a House government oversight panel Thursday identified a pattern of “deliberate, deceitful” financial abuses by Metra board members and called for them to resign. State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo), chairman of the House State Government Administration Committee, zeroed in on Metra Chairman Carole Doris’ out-of-state travel and the free health care and dual government pensions that the board’s treasurer, former state Sen. Jack Schaffer, collects... READ MORE

Transit board seats give elected officials a second public paycheck

March 6, 2011 - Daily Herald

Nearly two dozen current and former suburban officials already collecting pay or pensions are among those costing taxpayers more than $1 million a year in salaries or health-care benefits for serving on transit boards. A Daily Herald analysis of payroll records from the Regional Transportation Authority, Metra, Pace and Illinois State Toll Highway Authority shows nearly half of the combined members of those appointed boards already draw a salary or pension from holding public office, in many cases from serving as a suburban mayor or village president... READ MORE

Franks is fiscal hawk

February 28, 2011 - Daily Herald

I read the Northwest Herald’s Jan. 22 assessment of the “Granny Tax” recently imposed by our tax hungry state legislature and agree that our state needs to explore other options to address our deficit. So much has gone wrong in Springfield, but our McHenry County legislators have been on the right side of the issues the entire time. Most importantly, State Rep. Jack Franks voted against the income tax, corporate tax and nursing home bed tax hikes... READ MORE

A starting point to cut state spending

January 25, 2011 - Daily Herald

We’ve said time and again that the income tax increase that’s going to take more money out of the pockets of Illinois taxpayers has to be accompanied by cuts, cuts and more cuts in state spending. We called for cuts during the long ramp-up to the 67 percent tax increase enacted this month — and not just the cuts to schools and social agencies that seemed calculated to raise a hue and cry in favor of a tax hike... READ MORE

Franks seeks elimination of tollway board pay

January 24, 2011 - Daily Herald

After taking aim at the benefits provided to the appointed boards of public transit agencies, state Rep. Jack Franks is going after the tollway board’s perks now. The Woodstock Democrat introduced legislation that would eliminate salaries, insurance benefits and pensions for the nine-member board of directors appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn... READ MORE