Rep. Meier Earns Award for Conservative Voting Record in the House of Representatives
State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) has one of the best conservative voting records in the Illinois House of Representatives which is why he received the ‘Conservative Achievement’ award for the 2021 session of the House of Representatives. The conservative award was recently presented to Rep. Meier by the American Conservative Union Foundation.
“I am honored to earn the ‘Conservative Achievement’ award for having one of the most conservative voting records at the State House. My constituents can count on me to be their conservative voice in the Illinois legislature.” said Rep. Meier. “The Democrat-controlled legislature has gone too far with their liberal agenda that has led to record inflation, high gasoline prices and high electricity and natural gas prices. I won’t stop defending our conservative values in the legislature.”
Continue reading
Rep. Meier Announces Re-election for State Representative
State Representative Charlie Meier announced he will seek re-election to the Illinois House of Representatives. Rep. Meier, a Republican says he will continue in his capacity as state representative to “protect southern Illinois values while fighting for our freedom and public safety.”
According to Rep. Charlie Meier, “Now more than ever, we need common-sense conservative leadership that will stand up to the liberal Chicago agenda at the State House. This past year is arguably the most liberal legislature in the history of our state. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have seen the legislature go soft on crime by passing laws to put criminals back on the streets much faster, including the elimination of cash bail. The liberal legislature tried to diminish our Second Amendment rights, they removed parental notification for a minor to receive an abortion, and they continue to make it difficult for our small businesses to operate during tough economic times. I won’t back down as I continue to defend our conservative values in Springfield.”
Continue reading
Meier named Champion of Free Enterprise by Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Illinois State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) has been named a Champion of Free Enterprise, an award given by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce to legislators who have made special contributions to the defense of free enterprise, and the furtherance of economic opportunities for Illinoisans. Meier was one of three State Representatives to earn a 100% pro-jobs rating from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.
“Advocating for more jobs and economic development in my district is a top priority,” said Rep. Meier. “I’m honored to be recognized by the business community for my pro-jobs voting record. We have to work that much harder to keep and attract businesses in the region due to our proximity to Missouri. I will continue to promote our region as the best location for businesses to call home and to expand their business.”
Continue reading
Meier: Emergency Session Ends with Pay Raise for Lawmakers, Unbalanced Budget and No Plan to Reopen
State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) was disappointed with the Illinois General Assembly’s action following the emergency session which ended after midnight on May 24th in Springfield. The legislative session ended with lawmakers receiving a pay raise, a budget which spent billions the state doesn’t have and they skipped town without a vote to safely reopen Illinois earlier than Governor Pritzker’s ‘Restore Illinois’ plan.
“With less revenue for state government and record unemployment, it makes zero sense for the legislature to give themselves a pay raise and spend money the state doesn’t have,” said Rep. Meier. “I voted against the state budget because it makes promises the state can’t afford to keep. With billions in debt and less revenue for the state, now more than ever must our state government tighten its belt and stop digging ourselves deeper into debt.”
The State of Illinois owes more than $7.4 billion in unpaid bills, with 74,064 invoices waiting to be paid. Illinois’ estimated revenue for Fiscal Year 2021 which begins July 1, 2020, and ends July 1, 2021 is $36.8 billion. Yet, the Democrat-controlled legislature approved a $42.8 billion budget which included borrowing $5 billion. The legislature anticipates Governor Pritzker will sign the budget very soon.
Continue reading
Rep. Meier: Childcare Centers Can Reopen May 29
Childcare centers are allowed to reopen Friday, May 29 thanks to child care advocates, State Rep. Margo McDermed (R-Mokena), and State Rep. Charlie Meier (R-Okawville). More childcare centers will now be allowed to reopen in Phase 3 of Governor Pritzker’s plan as more families head back to work.
According to Rep. Meier, “With Missouri already reopened and barbers, salons, retail, and manufacturing reopening on May 29, it’s good to know people returning to work in Illinois will have more access to child care.”
Last week Rep. Meier and 27 other House Republican members sent a letter to Governor Pritzker, urging him to allow all Illinois child care providers to reopen as regions move to Phase 3. The reopening of childcare centers was previously listed as a Phase 4 item in Pritzker’s “Restore Illinois” plan. Today the Governor announced that all 5,500 of Illinois’ child care centers that were not deemed as “essential” may indeed reopen on May 29 when all four regions of the state move to Phase 3.
“As childcare owners are mostly women, and women would be the ones forced to stay home if they can’t find sufficient childcare when trying to return to work, Governor Pritzker’s plan as originally proposed, left women all over the state high and dry,” Rep. McDermed said.
Newly reopened providers will have reduced capacity, of no more than 10 children per classroom, for the first 4 weeks. Once they have provided care safely for four weeks and have followed the new health, social distancing, and sanitation routines and guidelines, they will be able to expand to larger group sizes, though not their full licensed capacity.
Rep. Meier files bill to reject pay raise for lawmakers
State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) filed legislation for Illinois lawmakers to reject the 2.6% pay raise scheduled to take effect July 1, 2020 and also take away the 2.4% pay raise given to lawmakers last year. According to state law, each year lawmakers are scheduled to receive a ‘pay raise’ unless they vote to reject the annual cost of living adjustment.
“With record unemployment and less of revenue for the state, it makes no sense for the legislature to give themselves a pay raise,” said Rep. Meier. “The state will need to tighten its belt and squeeze every penny it can get for the fiscal year 2021 budget. There is no way the legislature can justify giving themselves a pay raise.”
State Rep. Charlie Meier filed House Bill 5777 to reject the annual pay raise for Illinois senators and representatives. If the House and Senate do not vote to reject the pay raise during session this week, then lawmakers will receive the $1,805 pay raise on July 1. If enacted, Meier’s legislation would reduce lawmaker salaries totaling $3,433.
Rep. Meier added, “When lawmakers received a pay raise last year, I donated the raise to five nonprofits serving southern Illinois. If this year’s pay raise is not rejected by the legislature, then I will donate this year’s raise again to local nonprofits.”
Rep. Meier on KMOV Channel 4 St. Louis discussing opposition to Pritzker’s emergency rule to put mom and pop business owners in jail
Watch Meier’s interview on KMOV St. Louis here.
According to Rep. Meier, “I find it disgusting this Governor will try to lock up mom and pop business owners just trying to feed their families and pay their bills while his family travels around the country and he continues to let rapists and murderers out of jail! Who would have thought he was planning on using those cells for people paying taxes.”
Rep. Meier and Congressman Shimkus Host Telephone Town Hall April 23
Join Rep. Charlie Meier and Congressman John Shimkus for a special Telephone Town Hall “COVID-19 Edition” on Thursday, April 23 beginning at 6:00 p.m.
If you do not receive a call from us and you would like to participate and ask questions, call 888-652-0386 by 6:00 p.m.
Meier: Greenhouses, Garden Centers, and Nurseries Can Remain Open
I want to address the confusion concerning greenhouses, garden centers, and nurseries. Yes, you can remain open provided adequate social distancing is in effect. It is clear these essential businesses can stay open according to Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order 2020-10 and is reaffirmed under DCEO’s Essential Businesses & Operations Frequently Asked Questions UPDATED on 4/9/20 which reads as follows, “Our original guidance provided that stores that sell supplies that assist with either (a) agriculture; or (b) products for landscaping can continue to sell those products to the public, provided adequate social distancing is complied with. This guidance remains valid.”
For centuries our forefathers have provided for their families with large gardens. In the twenty-first century, we have community and urban gardens that provide fresh healthy food for a large portion of our population who can’t afford it. Healthy diets help with overall health which helps fight COVID-19. These essential agriculture businesses must remain open as we enter the season when family gardens, community gardens, and urban gardens need to be planted now – not May, June, or July. These plants will not survive in the containers they are in or have time to mature if not planted now. Our health and well-being depend on this essential agriculture industry.
Meier Calls for Passage of Bills to Reduce Cost and Regulations for Law Abiding Gun Owners
State Representatives Charlie Meier (R-Okawville), Mike Marron (R-Fithian), and Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) held a press conference in Springfield Wednesday alongside fellow Republican legislators and 2nd Amendment supporters to discuss solutions to end delays in FOID card processing, and discussed their shared 2nd Amendment focused legislative agenda. The lawmakers expressed their concerns that fund sweeps of $28 million from the Illinois State Police fund have led to delays in processing FOID card applications and renewals. Meier said when he first took office in 2013, there was a slight delay in FOID processing, but the delay has gotten much worse.
“My office receives anywhere from 3 to 5 e-mails and calls a day from constituents that are affected by the delay in FOID renewal,” said Rep. Meier. “The fund sweeps have led to long delays for gun owners to get their FOID cards renewed. The FOID program has been used as a piggy bank to fund other programs. If the State is going to require the fee, and require the FOID, then we owe it to our citizens to run an efficient and effective program. If we can’t do that, the program should be eliminated.”
Continue reading