Thornton Township Property Tax Appeal

Sims named chair of Council of State Governments Midwest

SPRINGFIELD —The Council of State of Governments Midwest Leadership Conference, which includes lawmakers of 11 Midwestern states and four Canadian provinces, swore in State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. as chair during the weekend.

“Serving in this role is a tremendous honor as it allows me to represent Illinois while working with and on behalf of my legislative colleagues from across the Midwest and Canada,” said Sims, a Democrat from Chicago.

“This honor would not be possible without the support of the people of Illinois’ 17th District. Each day, I am inspired by them to do more to better serve my constituents and people throughout the state.”

Sims will succeed Indiana State Sen. Ed Charbonneau.

The Midwest Leadership Conference brings together the region’s policymakers to advance efforts that improve state government.

“I take pride in working with CSG. It challenges legislators to move past today’s partisan politics to produce policy outcomes that are in the best interest of the people we represent,” Sims said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, to find common ground and advance initiatives to help the people of communities throughout the Midwest and in Canada.”

Sims will host the 74th annual meeting July 21-24, 2019, in downtown Chicago.

Happy 200th birthday, Illinois!

This week marks Illinois’ bicentennial. To celebrate, I chose to highlight the Pullman Porters. They formed the first black union to successfully make a deal with a major corporation.

The Pullman Porters helped lay the foundation for the Civil Rights movement and the labor movement. I am incredibly proud to be from and represent the Pullman community that carries on their legacy through the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum.

Sims brings pro-business focus to budget transition committee

SPRINGFIELD—State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. (D-Chicago) released the following statement on joining governor-elect J.B. Pritzker’s budget and innovation transition committee:

“I look forward to helping to set priorities that will help J.B. and Juliana and the entire new administration to be successful by putting our state on a path to budgetary reform.

“The last governor caused a two-year budget impasse that led to the loss of jobs, services and the overall trust of Illinoisans. To date we have a backlog of nearly $7 billion. It is vital that we work together to pass balanced budgets and lower the state’s deficit. It is up to us to move this state forward and provide financial stability to the people of Illinois.”

Senator Sims serves the 17^th Senate District and sits on the Senate Appropriations I and Senate Appropriations II committees. Prior to his election to the Senate, he was the budget director for Illinois Senate Democrats under the leadership of retired Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr.