CHICAGO – A group of suburban legislators led by State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) unveiled a new initiative to address the state’s mounting unfunded pension liability on Thursday, calling for…

Giving speeches like this is difficult.  I do much better at policy.  You learn the facts and use logic and reason to make conclusions.  But when you are trying to…

Amazon Opens Fulfillment Center in Joliet The online retailing firm, which stockpiles and forwards much (but not all) of the goods sold on its website, has opened its first sorting and order…

By VIKAAS SHANKER – vshanker@shawmedia.com   JOLIET – Another attempt at organizing a debate with state Rep. Mark Batinick’s Democratic colleagues turned into another no-show by the five state legislators. Batinick,…

General Assembly Pay Freeze House Republicans unanimously co-sponsor a bill to block pay increase for FY16; General Assembly approves the measure. The automatic 2% “cost of living” pay increase was…

Throughout my first year as a State Representative, I have stated that it would be inappropriate for state legislators to collect pay while state employees do not during any extended…

Plainfield – State Representative Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) is pleased that the Illinois Senate will consider a new plan to provide almost $5 billion in federal funds to social services during…

PLAINFIELD – As July turns into August with the General Assembly yet to produce a budget, and with thousands at risk of losing access to state services, State Rep. Mark…

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House of Representatives on Tuesday voted 101-1 to reject the automatic two percent legislative pay raise scheduled to go into effect this month, passing a bill…