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Environment
Protecting the environment is a top priority for
Representative Nekritz. Her recent legislative
initiatives are aimed at reducing the use of potentially toxic chemicals and
promoting clean air. In 2006, Representative Nekritz passed a bill which
implemented a 10 minute limit on the amount of time certain diesel powered
vehicles can idle. The legislation
will reduce diesel emissions, which produce soot and have been linked to
asthma and lung cancer. Currently, Representative
Nekritz is the House sponsor of a comprehensive proposal to address global
warming. The legislation sets
aggressive goals for Illinois to reduce carbon emissions and establishes the
mechanisms to achieve those goals.
These include reducing automobile emissions, requiring energy
efficient appliances and calling for energy efficient buildings. She is also working on legislation to limit
lead and other toxic chemicals in children’s products while also requiring
manufacturers to disclose the use of chemicals in toys and other consumer
items intended for children. Since
taking office in 2003, the Illinois Environmental Council has recognized
Representative Nekritz each year for a 100% environmental voting record.
Education
 Representative
Nekritz wants to ensure that all students in the 57th District have access to
a quality education. During budget
negotiations, she has worked tirelessly to ensure suburban schools are funded
at appropriate levels. Representative
Nekritz supports increased funding for early childhood education and
recognizes that preschool education is critical to fostering a student’s
future success in school. She
continues to work on critical education issues that impact her district,
including special education funding and corporate property tax appeals.
Flooding
Representative Nekritz recognizes the impact flooding has on
residents of the 57th district. In
2004, Representative Nekritz sponsored legislation to create the Cook County Stormwater Management Commission to address the concerns
of residents living near the Des Plaines River. The Commission, under the authority of the
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, provides a unified approach to
combating flooding problems throughout the region.
In 2006, she worked closely with State Senator Susan Garrett
to obtain $6.3 million from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for
the completion of Levee 50. Located
near Miner Street in Des Plaines, Levee 50 already provides significant flood
protection and saved hundreds of homes during the August 2007 storms. Recently, she has been working with local,
state, and federal officials to expand the Buffalo Creek Reservoir in Lake
County. This expansion would allow the
United States Army Corps of Engineers to complete flood control projects in
Mount Prospect and Prospect Heights needed to defend thousands of homeowners
in the area.
Good Government
Corruption and scandals have been attached to politics for
too many years. Representative
Nekritz is working in Springfield to eliminate government waste and improve
efficiency statewide. To combat these
issues and restore credibility to state government, Representative Nekritz
sponsored legislation that eliminated appointments to state boards and
commissions by a governor during the final days of an elected term. She also
supported increasing penalties for state workers who perform political work
on public time.
Most recently, Representative Nekritz passed legislation to
eliminate an under utilized government entity supported by suburban Cook
County property tax dollars. The bill
dissolved the Suburban Cook County Tuberculosis Sanitarium District and
eliminated a property tax levy imposed on suburban homeowners. Representative Nekritz expects the bill
will save taxpayers money and improve public health services in Cook County,
through transferring tuberculosis care and treatment from the Suburban TB
District to the Cook County Bureau of Health.
Protecting Condominium Communities
In recent years, many condominium associations have been
victimized by unscrupulous managers.
Representative Nekritz sponsored legislation to establish minimum
standards for those working as condominium managers. This includes requiring a fidelity bond to
protect against the theft of condominium funds.
Representative Nekritz also co-sponsored legislation to
create the Condominium Advisory Council.
The Council is made up of experts on condominium issues who will hold
a series of public hearings in 2008 to identify issues facing condo owners
and condo associations. The Council
will ultimately make recommendations to the General Assembly on improving
condominium law.
Senior Citizens
Representative Nekritz is working in Springfield to advance
the rights of senior citizens.  During
her time in office, she has held numerous forums and seminars for
seniors. Topics have ranged from
Medicare Part D to senior safety. In
2007, Representative Nekritz supported a bill to expand property tax relief
for senior citizens. Legislation to
increase the senior citizen homestead exemption and expand eligibility for
the senior citizen assessment freeze was signed in law by the Governor.
Reducing Railroad Congestion
As Chair of the House Rail Safety Committee, Representative
Nekritz is fighting to relieve freight congestion by working with the
Legislature to provide funds to match $100 million dollars for Program CREATE
(Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency), which is
focused on protecting local jobs through more efficient rail service.
Representative Nekritz also worked to secure money to improve
frequencies on intercity passenger rail routes in Illinois. The increase in ridership
on the three state-sponsored Amtrak lines from Chicago to St. Louis, Quincy
and Carbondale in the first year of the new schedules is estimated at between
70% and 100%, clear evidence of the strong demand for passenger rail as fuel prices
continue to skyrocket.
Constituent Services
Since opening up her office in January of 2003,
Representative Nekritz has maintained a full time constituent service office.
She assists constituents with a wide range of matters, including prescription
drug assistance, question regarding the tollway,
and access to healthcare. She also
administers the General Assembly Scholarship program for students who attend
a public university in Illinois and reside in the 57th District.
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