Bill Text: IL HR1387 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates Rep. Kent Gaffney on his time in the General Assembly.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Passed) 2013-01-08 - Resolution Adopted [HR1387 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-HR1387-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are pleased to congratulate our friend and
colleague, Illinois State Representative Kent Gaffney, on the
occasion of his retirement and thank him for his service to the
people of the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Representative Gaffney has been married to his
wife, Elizabeth for 15 years after first meeting her while they
both worked at the Capitol on legislative issues, and they are
now the proud parents of 2 wonderful boys, Adam and Alexander;
and
WHEREAS, Representative Gaffney graduated from
Williamsville High School prior to attending and graduating
from Purdue University with a bachelor of arts degree in
political science; and
WHEREAS, Representative Gaffney began his career in public
service in 1988, working for the Illinois Senate during college
summers and working in the private sector before coming back to
public service in 1997 by taking a position on the House
Republican Staff; there he worked on major issues and pieces of
legislation including the deregulation of the utility industry
and the funding and construction of the new Chicago Bears

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stadium; and
WHEREAS, After years of hard work and dedicated service, he
became the Director of Appropriations for the House Republican
Caucus in January 2001, and as Director of Appropriations,
Representative Gaffney was the "go-to" person for all issues
regarding Illinois appropriations; as a leadership staff
member, he aided in developing policy positions for the caucus
and spent over a decade negotiating the State's budget with 3
Governors and the legislative leaders of the other caucuses,
always advocating for fiscally responsible and balanced
budgets; and
WHEREAS, Representative Gaffney was appointed to serve as
State Representative for the 52nd District on July, 4, 2011,
after the untimely death of his long-time friend and colleague
Representative Mark Beaubien; and
WHEREAS, As State Representative, Kent Gaffney sponsored
numerous pieces of legislation, including PA 97-0565, which
helps to relieve local merchants of government regulations
regarding caustic substances, and PA 97-0982, which helps
relieve the cost on local government when a State's Attorney is
absent; and
WHEREAS, Representative Gaffney served as an advocate for

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many causes, such as the abolishment of legislative
scholarships, pension reform, and the victims' bill of rights;
and he continued budget policy work and was appointed by the
Governor to be the only House Republican member to serve on the
Budgeting for Results Commission; and
WHEREAS, Representative Gaffney was very active in the
local community, he served as host to several town hall forums,
including those in Island Lake, Lake in the Hills, and Crystal
Lake, and recognized and congratulated the Prairie Ridge
football team for winning the CLASS 6A football championship,
the Cary-Grove volleyball team for taking 2nd place at the 4A
State Championship, and mourning the death of local leader
Lester Macko, former fire chief of the Cary Fire District; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of his clear commitment to public
service and his belief in working towards bi-partisan
solutions, Representative Gaffney was nominated and selected
to be one of 40 members of the 2012 Inaugural Class of the
Edgar Fellows Program; and
WHEREAS, Representative Gaffney serves as a model of hard
work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of
Illinois; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE

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NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we congratulate our friend and colleague, Illinois State
Representative Kent Gaffney, on the occasion of his retirement,
thank him for his service to the people of the State, and wish
him continued success and happiness in the future; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Representative Kent Gaffney as a symbol of our
esteem and respect.