
Jason Heffley
A vision for a better Prairie State
By Jason Heffley
We live in one of the most politically dysfunctional states in the union. Our lawmakers in Springfield tax us too much, fritter away too much of our hard-earned money on wasteful spending, and devote most of their energies to serving their cronies in the political class instead of the people of Illinois.
If we want this situation to change, we have to make it happen. To make it happen, we need a vision of a better way, and a plan for how to get there.
The Prairie State Promise offers both. It is an agenda for change that can transform our state by eliminating barriers to opportunity and holding politicians and public officials accountable. And it addresses the issues that Illinoisans care most about.

Jason Heffley
It’s an agenda that offers practical, common-sense solutions to our greatest challenges, and empowers people — rather than politicians — to make decisions about the policies that affect our lives and our families’ well-being.
Health care and education
Let’s start with health care.
Our laws are replete with barriers that allow political insiders to restrict access to health care, including certificate-of-need laws, licensing requirements that block qualified health care practitioners from serving patients, and restrictions on telehealth.
You know better than politicians what health care plan works for you. The Prairie State Promise urges lawmakers to eliminate these barriers and stop the gradual government takeover of health care, and give Illinoisans a personal option that gives patients control over their care at prices they can afford.
Another issue near the top of every Illinois family’s agenda is education.
The key to success is allowing all students to gain access to the educational environment that best fits their unique needs. To achieve this, we need policies that allow families to choose among a variety of educational opportunities, whether a traditional public school, a public charter school, a private school, remote learning, homeschooling, or any other option that allows students to unlock their unlimited potential.
We also need systems that allow students to receive credit for learning wherever it occurs, because while the learning that takes place inside the traditional classroom is important, we know that students can learn through a diversity of approaches and from a variety of experiences.
Taxes and spending
Empowering parents matters, and so does empowering taxpayers.
Illinoisans are saddled with the highest combined state and local taxes in the nation. One reason is that the political class represents itself instead of the people.
One way to remedy this is to give every voter a voice in the issues that matter most. That means allowing voter referendums on reducing taxes.
While the people are weighing in on the question of taxes, the politicians should stop spending money we don’t have. State and local lawmakers need to face up to the pension crisis they created and stop making the problem worse. That means politicians should stop serving the political class and start serving the people who elected them.
If politicians refuse to deal with the problem, they should put pension reform to the voters in the form of a constitutional amendment.
Safe communities and second chances
We can keep our communities safe and give people reentering their communities a second chance.
Gaining and sustaining a job is one of the most critical factors in a person successfully reentering society after going through the criminal justice system. However, many occupational licenses create arbitrary restrictions to gaining a license for those with a criminal record. Illinois needs to follow the lead of other states and reform our occupational licensing schemes to reduce these unnecessary barriers.
Working hand-in-hand with that policy is the expunging of convictions for infractions that are no longer considered illegal.
There are far too many people in prison for far too long, particularly those convicted of low-level, nonviolent offenses. While in prison, the focus should be on rehabilitation, to help ensure they can reenter society and make a living.
Corporate welfare and political corruption
Corporate welfare and corruption go hand in hand. They feed off each other.
Corruption and corporate welfare divert public resources from the people who need them most to those who collude with the political class. They lead to higher taxes, diminished public services, and a destruction of the people’s trust in public institutions.
Illinois needs increased penalties for public corruption, more transparency in the legislature, and an end to corporate welfare at the state and local levels. Success in business should be determined by serving customers, not politicians.
We deserve elected officials who are open and honest with the public and provide solutions that empower the people of Illinois. That’s what the Prairie State Promise is about,
We’ll work with anyone who shares the vision of a Land of Lincoln that is also a land of opportunity for every citizen.
Jason Heffley is state director of Americans for Prosperity-Illinois. Americans for Prosperity is a national conservative political advocacy group founded in 2004.
Local News

Orland Park to add 7 names during Memorial Day ceremony
The Orland Park community is invited to join the village this Memorial Day in remembrance of those who have given their lives for our country. The ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 30, at the village’s memorial, Ara Pace – Place of Peace, located outside of Village Hall at 14700 S.…

Girls Soccer: De La Salle tops Bremen for program’s first regional title
By Steve Millar Correspondent De La Salle coach Carlos Nunez has seen his teams come up a bit short in the postseason repeatedly over the years. The Meteors had never won a regional championship in girls soccer. Until this year, that is. “I’ve been in every single one that we’ve lost in,” Nunez said. “We’ve…

Pro soccer report: Pugh tallies twice return in Red Stars’ win over Orlando
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Mallory Pugh gave a sample of what could be a big 2022 season when she scored four goals in the exhibition Challenge Cup series. But the Red Stars scoring threat missed the first two games of the NWSL season with an injury, and the team split decisions against Louisville and…

New ward map OKed
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By Jeff Vorva Staff writer The Sandburg baseball team has had more downs than ups this season. But the Eagles finished the regular season on a strong note with a run to second place at the Steven M. Bajenski Memorial Tournament, which wrapped up May 21 at Ozinga Field in Crestwood. To get to the…

Track Postseason Report: Sandburg boys 3200 relay records nation’s third-best time in 2022
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer How good was the competition in the boys track Class 3A Lockport Sectional in the 3200 meter relay? Sandburg’s relay team of Brock Rice, Declan Tunney, Trent Anderson and Sean Marquardt ran a time of 7:42.42, which tied for the third-best time in the nation in 2022. And that was…

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‘Small Island, Big Song’ workshops enrich classroom learning at MVCC
From staff reports Coming from some of the smallest islands in the world, performers from “Small Island, Big Song” talked about climate change, indigenous cultures and island history from their homelands to students in select sociology and geography classes at Moraine Valley Community College last month. The group performed their musical and spoken word endeavor…

Pathlights names new executive director
From staff reports Elaine Grande has been appointed Executive Director by Pathlights’ Board of Directors effective May 30. Grande brings more than 30 years of successful leadership experience and becomes only the third Executive Director in the Palos Heights nonprofit’s 46-year history. She currently leads all Pathlights program and services as Director of Program Development…
Neighbors

Orland Park to add 7 names during Memorial Day ceremony
The Orland Park community is invited to join the village this Memorial Day in remembrance of those who have given their lives for our country. The ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 30, at the village’s memorial, Ara Pace – Place of Peace, located outside of Village Hall at 14700 S.…

Girls Soccer: De La Salle tops Bremen for program’s first regional title
By Steve Millar Correspondent De La Salle coach Carlos Nunez has seen his teams come up a bit short in the postseason repeatedly over the years. The Meteors had never won a regional championship in girls soccer. Until this year, that is. “I’ve been in every single one that we’ve lost in,” Nunez said. “We’ve…

Pro soccer report: Pugh tallies twice return in Red Stars’ win over Orlando
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Mallory Pugh gave a sample of what could be a big 2022 season when she scored four goals in the exhibition Challenge Cup series. But the Red Stars scoring threat missed the first two games of the NWSL season with an injury, and the team split decisions against Louisville and…

New ward map OKed
Reflects Madigan’s power By Tim Hadac The City Council this week approved a new ward map that, among other things, will see all of Clearing and most of Garfield Ridge shifted to the 13th Ward. Midway International Airport also would shift from the 23rd Ward to the 13th. Monday’s 43-7 vote means the issue will…

Area Sports Roundup: Sandburg takes 2nd at Bajenski tourney
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer The Sandburg baseball team has had more downs than ups this season. But the Eagles finished the regular season on a strong note with a run to second place at the Steven M. Bajenski Memorial Tournament, which wrapped up May 21 at Ozinga Field in Crestwood. To get to the…

Track Postseason Report: Sandburg boys 3200 relay records nation’s third-best time in 2022
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer How good was the competition in the boys track Class 3A Lockport Sectional in the 3200 meter relay? Sandburg’s relay team of Brock Rice, Declan Tunney, Trent Anderson and Sean Marquardt ran a time of 7:42.42, which tied for the third-best time in the nation in 2022. And that was…

Pop’s to celebrate National Italian Beef Day with week of specials
Palos Heights-based Pop’s Italian Beef & Sausage is beefing up May this year with a week-long celebration of National Italian Beef Day at each of their locations. As part of the celebrations, Pop’s is hosting an interactive contest on their Facebook page during the week of National Italian Beef Day from Monday, May 23, through…

‘Small Island, Big Song’ workshops enrich classroom learning at MVCC
From staff reports Coming from some of the smallest islands in the world, performers from “Small Island, Big Song” talked about climate change, indigenous cultures and island history from their homelands to students in select sociology and geography classes at Moraine Valley Community College last month. The group performed their musical and spoken word endeavor…

Pathlights names new executive director
From staff reports Elaine Grande has been appointed Executive Director by Pathlights’ Board of Directors effective May 30. Grande brings more than 30 years of successful leadership experience and becomes only the third Executive Director in the Palos Heights nonprofit’s 46-year history. She currently leads all Pathlights program and services as Director of Program Development…