Kathy on the Issues

 Kathy is providing a strong voice and effective leadership for our community in Springfield. Here are some of her accomplishments and positions on issues that affect us all.

CREATING JOBS
Kathy recognizes the challenges facing Illinois' businesses and support initiatives to foster a strong economy and create quality jobs, and has earned the support of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. During my first term in office, Rep. Ryg:

Opposed over $300 million in tax and fee increases on businesses in order to help them stay competitive.

Consistently fought against efforts to balance the budget on the backs of our local businesses and individual taxpayers.

Partnered with chambers of commerce, local businesses and Lake County Partners/Team Lake County - an organization devoted to boosting economic development - to bring jobs to our area.
STRENGTHENING OUR SCHOOLS
Guaranteeing high-quality education for all students is one of Kathy's top priorities, and she has earned the endorsement of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the Lake County Federation of Teachers and the support of the Illinois Education Association. She is fighting for the state to increase its share of school funding and meet its obligation to provide at least 51% of the funding for our schools.

During her first term in office, Ryg was able to bring back over $2 million in additional funding for local schools despite the state's budget deficit.

This summer, Kathy hosted "Education 101," a forum to discuss ways to improve education funding.
KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE
Kathy sponsored laws imposing stiff penalties on child abusers, drug dealers and violent criminals and has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police and the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois.

Kathy supports law-abiding citizens' right to purchase weapons and believes we must take strong measures to keeps guns out of the hands of criminals and gang members.

She sponsored legislation to close the gun show loophole that allows criminals and gang members to purchase guns immediately without the background checks that licensed dealers must conduct. This will keep gang members and criminals from serving as "straw purchasers."

Kathy is working to keep our students safe in the classroom and after school. That's why she: Supports legislation that requires background checks on school employees

Formed the Lake County After School Summit to give kids healthy alternatives during after school hours.
PROVIDING REAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF
Skyrocketing property taxes throughout the region are placing an unreasonable burden on homeowners. That's why Kathy supports legislation that raises the General Homestead Exemption to $5,000 and raises the Senior Homestead Exemption to $3,000.

FIGHTING CONGESTION
Gridlock affects residents throughout the 59th District. We must move forward with projects that have community consensus and plan for long-term projects to meet future needs. During her first term, she introduced and passed legislation that increases community input into transportation projects, because residents deserve to have a strong voice in planning the shape of their communities.

Kathy kept critical project at both Route 22 and Route 45/Prairie Road on track by getting funding released; these improvements will increase safety and ease congestion.

She also helped secure funding for bike paths connecting Lake Forest, Lincolnshire and Mettawa.
PROTECTING A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE
Kathy believes that a woman's right to make decisions about her health must be protected and she has been endorsed by Personal Pac and the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council.

STANDING UP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Kathy is committed to keeping our air and water clean, preserving the open space we all value, and preventing sprawl. She earned a 100% voting record from the Illinois Environmental Council and has been endorsed by the Sierra Club and Citizen Action Illinois. Kathy supports efforts to protect our wetlands

She successfully protected funding to preserve open space

She introduced legislation to encourage the use of alternative energy sources.
Kathy champions initiatives to use technology that reduces mercury pollution in our air and water.
EXPANDING HEALTH CARE
Kathy is dedicated to expanding access to quality, affordable health care for all Illinoisans. In order to do that, we need to consider ways to combine private, employer-provided plans with public programs such as KidCare, Medicare, and Family Care to provide comprehensive coverage for all citizens. Kathy helped expand the state's health insurance programs for working families and children.

She supported the creation of the Illinois Prescription Drug Buying Club for seniors and persons with disabilities.

Kathy supported measures to address the long term care needs of seniors so that they can stay in their homes for as long as possible but have the option to receive quality, affordable residential care when appropriate. Community-based programs often provide the support seniors need and are cost-effective.

She also supports the Healthy Illinois Plan, which is designed to increase access to affordable health care for all Illinoisans by creating a pool of small business owners.
KEEPING GOOD DOCTORS IN ILLINOIS
Kathy is committed to making Illinois an affordable place for doctors to practice medicine and for patients to receive heath care by reining in frivolous litigation, enacting meaningful insurance reform to provide oversight of the insurance market, and protecting physicians' personal assets from lawsuits. That is why she is supported by the Illinois State Medical Society, the group representing Illinois doctors. Over the last several months she has worked closely with various groups to address this issue and find some resolution to the problem. Kathy is committed to continued negotiations to find an agreement and keep Illinois doctors in practice in Illinois.

She is concerned that the rising cost of malpractice insurance is forcing doctors to move out of state and reducing access to quality health care. Medical malpractice is a comprehensive problem that requires comprehensive reform. This past Spring Kathy supported legislation that would: Cap non-economic damages plaintiffs could receive in malpractice suits and in turn reduce the number of unwarranted and costly malpractice lawsuits that go to trial.

She supported amendments to Senate Bill 2241 that would limit non-economic damages to $750,000 for all plaintiffs filing claims against a hospital and to $500,000 for all plaintiffs filing claims against a physician and the physician's corporate entity. The bill also requires that medical malpractice verdicts specify the economic and non-economic awards.

House Bill 7299, which she sponsors, would require a plaintiff to prove that they have consulted with a physician before filing a suit, strengthens the requirements necessary to qualify as an expert witness, require a plaintiff to submit an affidavit of merit from a health care professional stating that there is a reasonable cause for filing, and would prevent physicians' assets from being used to pay jury awards.

Legislative Office:
50 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 114
Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061
Phone: 847.680.5909
Fax: 847.680.5960
Email: kathy@kathyryg.org