Safeguard Suggested by Local Commuter

Yorkville…A new law sponsored by State Representative Kay Hatcher will help ensure passenger safety on commuter trains. Hatcher’s legislation signed by the governor requires METRA to develop written protocols to deal with medical emergencies on their trains.

“Thousands of commuters ride these trains every day. With that many people, it’s inevitable that an emergency will arise; someone will become ill or need some type of help and METRA crews need to know exactly what to do – quickly,” Hatcher said.

Hatcher noted that while Metra does have an emergency plan, there are no procedures in writing for employees to follow. House Bill 2296 requires that the Metra Board develop written protocols to respond to medical and sanitation emergencies and other safety hazards. The measure was suggested by a Metra commuter in Representative Hatcher’s district. Continue reading »

State Representative Kay Hatcher has announced the opening of a second convenient office for 50th District residents.

The office will open Wednesday, August 5, in the Batavia City Hall at 100 North Island Avenue. District Director Tracy McDonnell will be available each Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. to aid constituents and coordinate one-on-one meetings with Hatcher.

“I’m pleased we are able to increase our District accessibility,” noted Hatcher. “The Fox Valley is a diverse region, and we’re constantly searching for new ways to connect with our residents. An important part of that initiative is to offer extended evening hours to make access easier for those with traditional work schedules.”

The 50th District includes twenty-one townships, fifteen villages and five cities. The Kane County portion includes Sugar Grove, Big Rock, Blackberry, Kaneville, Virgil and Campton townships, plus parts of Geneva, Batavia, Aurora, North Aurora and Montgomery. The District serves almost all of Kendall County, excluding the northeastern portion of Oswego. Northville, Mission and Miller townships in LaSalle County are also part of the 50th District.

For more information or to schedule appointments residents are encouraged to call 630-553-3223.

Yorkville… State Representative Kay Hatcher is teaming up with the Kane County Department of Employment and Education (KCDEE) to get teens and young adults in Kendall County signed-up to take advantage of summer job opportunities in our area. Hatcher (R-Yorkville) is hosting an open house on Monday, June 29th to allow local youth to meet with a KCDEE representative and fill out applications for a variety of summer jobs.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for young people in Kendall County to get connected with a good summer job that will not only provide a pay check, but will also provide them work skills and valuable experience that will help them in school and in their future work endeavors,” Hatcher said.

The summer jobs open house will run from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on June 29th at Representative Hatcher’s district office, 608 E. Veterans Parkway in Yorkville.

The Kane County Department of Employment and Education has received federal stimulus dollars to implement a Summer Youth Employment Program within the communities that they serve – Kane, Kendall and DeKalb Counties. Hatcher said while the Department has received many applications from Kane and DeKalb Counties, few Kendall County youth have applied. Continue reading »

Yorkville… Chairwoman Jeanne Harms, Nancy Aschauer, Connie Emery, Paula Mueller and Lyle Rolf of State Representative Kay Hatcher’s Scholarship Committee are pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s General Assembly Scholarship. Eight students from throughout the 50th district were chosen to receive a full-year’s tuition waiver for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Selections were based on a detailed set of criteria which included academic achievement, community involvement and financial need. “The quality of the applicants was amazing; the recipients are arguably some of the brightest and most brilliant individuals in the district,” Harms said.

The 2009 General Assembly Scholarship recipients are as follows: Continue reading »

Springfield… State Representative Kay Hatcher Sunday said “NO” to Democrat plans to saddle working families in Illinois with a 50% income tax increase. Hatcher (R-Yorkville) stressed that in tough economic times, state government needs to live within its means.

“Families in our area are struggling. They have been forced to tighten their belts to make ends meet. Government must do the same,” Hatcher said.

Hatcher stressed that the 50% state tax increase proposed would also impact businesses who have already been forced to cut jobs to keep afloat.

“Our state unemployment rate hit 9.4% in April. We how have 620,000 people out of work. How could we even think about increasing taxes on families and businesses already hard-hit by our slumping economy to bail out a state government that has not spent our tax dollars wisely?” Continue reading »

Springfield… Refusing to take “no” for an answer on needed good government reforms, State Representative Kay Hatcher (R-Yorkville) joined her House Republican colleagues Friday to force discussion of ethics reform proposals denied a hearing in the Illinois House.

At a special “open caucus meeting” organized by House Republicans, a bi-partisan group of lawmakers from the House and Senate had the opportunity to discuss reforms proposed by the Illinois Reform Commission with the commission’s chairman, Patrick Collins.

“With one former governor in prison and another likely on the way, the need to clean up state government couldn’t be any more urgent,” said Representative Hatcher. “Chairman Collins and his commission have put together a comprehensive list of reform proposals ranging from providing more transparency in how state government operates to capping campaign contributions for elected officials. Each and every proposal deserves open, public debate and a vote in the Illinois House.” Continue reading »

Many 50th District students attend Elgin Community College.  Their Board of Directors stopped in to Kay’s Springfield office recently to update her on college programs.

Sugar Grove…State Representative Kay Hatcher is teaming up with the Area Agency on Aging to test local seniors’ spelling skills. Hatcher (R-Yorkville) today announced that she along with the Agency will co- host a Senior Spelling Bee on June 6th.

“Kids aren’t the only ones who should be able to show off their spelling talents,” said Representative Hatcher. “Our spelling bee will provide a forum for mature adults to show off their abilities, keep their spelling skills sharp, and also to have some fun.”

Hatcher said the local Senior Spelling Bee is open to everyone 50 or older who lives in the 50th House District which includes parts of Kane, Kendall and La Salle Counties. The event will begin at 10:00am on Saturday, June 6th in the community room of the Sugar Grove Fire Department headquarters located at 25 Municipal Drive in Sugar Grove. Those wishing to participate need to register with her office by June 2nd. Continue reading »

Springfield… Republican lawmakers from the Fox Valley today called for members of the Illinois House to lead by example in solving the state’s budget woes by officially rejecting a 2.8% pay raise scheduled to take effect in the coming fiscal year.

Representatives Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and Kay Hatcher (R-Yorkville) Wednesday introduced and called for immediate consideration of House Bill 4438, which would ensure the pay raises for lawmakers and other state elected officials would not be funded in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget.

House Republicans urged the Democratic majority to consider the legislation on Wednesday, but that was not allowed.

“With record unemployment numbers and families everywhere struggling to make ends meet, the governor and our Democrat colleagues have introduced numerous proposals that ask these very families to open their wallets to pay more in taxes and fees to bail out the state budget. I say we as legislators need to start by rejecting this inappropriate pay increase,” Hatcher said. Continue reading »

Legislation Advances in the General Assembly

Springfield…Citing the need to ensure passenger safety, State Representative Kay Hatcher this week won Illinois House approval of legislation requiring the development of written protocols to deal with medical emergencies on Metra commuter trains.

“Thousands of commuters ride these trains every day. With that many people, it’s inevitable that an emergency will arise; someone will become ill or need some type of assistance while they’re on the train,” Hatcher said. “While Metra does have an emergency plan, there are no procedures in writing for employees to follow. It’s just makes good sense that there is a written plan in place so all Metra employees know exactly what to do to help.”

House Bill 2296 requires that the Metra Board develop written protocols to respond to medical and sanitation emergencies and other safety hazards. The measure, suggested by a Metra commuter in Representative Hatcher’s district, now awaits concurrence in the Senate. Continue reading »