Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Another day, another court ruling: Refusing vaccination is not a fundamental right
Next Post: The hospitalization trend is unfriendly
Posted in:
* Not a surprise…
State Representative Mike Murphy (R-Springfield) will step down from his position representing the 99th House District in the Illinois House of Representatives effective 11:59 p.m. today, following his final constituent services event later this evening. Below is a farewell message from Murphy to the citizens of the district:
It is with a heavy heart that I write this farewell message. When I entered the Illinois House of Representatives, I could not have imagined the impact the last few years would have on my life.
I said from the beginning that my goal was to get things done and do what’s right for the people of the 99th District. To me, that’s always meant standing up to bad policy when I had to, but also finding ways to work across the aisle when there was an opportunity to benefit the constituents I was elected to serve. This mentality is why I voted for the 2019 capital bill and 2019 state budget.
Besides the obvious need for infrastructure improvements in the 99th District and statewide, the 2019 capital bill has been a catalyst for the $360 million rail relocation project in Springfield to move the tracks from 3rd Street to 10th Street. More than $100 million was included in the capital bill for this project, and once completed in 2025, it will have a transformational impact on Springfield and Sangamon County. Not only will it improve traffic and congestion issues, but it will finally allow the medical district to expand and grow jobs.
Similarly, the 2019 state budget contained a series of compromise provisions to support our businesses, small and large, and help spur job creation. To this day, I carry around the list of the major priorities we achieved: the Blue Collar Jobs Act, data center incentives, eliminating the franchise tax, reinstating the Manufacturer’s Purchase Credit, preserving Invest in Kids, stopping a cap on the retailer’s discount, putting a hold on the Livestock Management Facilities Act, stopping the trade-in cap, stopping the tripling of the real estate transfer tax, and stopping several other taxes. I’m also proud I was able to work on a change to our sales tax structure for brick and mortar businesses to provide a level playing field for them to compete with online retail giants like Amazon.
Doing what’s right for our communities also means promoting career readiness for the next generation. I’m honored I was able to serve as the lead sponsor of legislation to change Illinois’ high school math requirement to give our students the opportunity to take courses for integrated, applied, interdisciplinary, or career and technical education that prepares them for a career readiness path.
While getting things done in the legislature is often measured by legislation passed, I hope residents will remember my office for the work we did to serve constituents. First and foremost, my duty as a Representative was to serve, and this was made even more pressing when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit. Working alongside the Illinois Treasurer’s Office, we were able to institute a low-interest bridge loan program to help small businesses stay afloat as the shutdown began.
After the unprecedented surge in natural gas prices last winter threatened many central Illinois communities, we worked with the Governor and the Illinois Finance Authority to help. The resulting relief program assisted impacted municipalities by allowing them to spread the payments across a more manageable timeframe without placing an overwhelming burden on residents or businesses.
The true credit for constituent services goes to my dedicated staff – my District Director, Ryan Melchin, and my Legislative Aide, Courtney Ausmus. If you’ve ever called my office, you have likely spoken to one, or both, of them. Whether helping constituents through the IDES process, FOID card renewal, coordinating constituent service events, and many other issues, I cannot thank them enough for all their work. Likewise, I have to thank my Communications Director, Joel Sikes, and the entire House Republican Staff. In all my years, I have never been more impressed by the hard work and dedication of these people. They have all worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help me serve the people of the 99th District.
As with everything in life, thank you to my family – my loving wife Cindy, along with my children and their families. I cannot thank them enough for their unwavering love and support.
Finally, I must thank the citizens of the 99th District for trusting and allowing me to serve as your State Representative. This has been the best experience of my life and I sincerely thank you for this opportunity.
With Sincere Thanks,
Mike MurphyP.S. Feel free to stop by and help us pack up!
He was mapped into the same district as fellow GOP Rep. Avery Bourne, so this takes care of another remap problem for the HGOPs. Still, I hate to see him go. Good guy.
…Adding… Makes sense…
Keep an eye on who applies for this vacancy as there's overlap btwn Murphy's district and the new #IL48 Senate district held by Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield. There's been some talk that a Republican could use the seat as a springboard to challenge Turner next year. We'll see. https://t.co/gdMkq51s5x
— Brenden Moore (@brendenmoore13) November 30, 2021
…Adding… Lots of inexperienced legislators these days…
Rep. Murphy's fairly short tenure in the House doesn't effect this chart too much. But, if I tracked the number of times members of the General Assembly had biked across Iowa, we'd see a big drop. The Top Legislator Cyclist title is up for grabs, people! https://t.co/1Ce6ZmVtKi pic.twitter.com/vZFDM7uTha
— John Amdor (@JohnAmdor) November 30, 2021
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 12:00 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Another day, another court ruling: Refusing vaccination is not a fundamental right
Next Post: The hospitalization trend is unfriendly
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
Classy throughout. A down-to-earth, humble, thoughtful, practical guy trying to make Springfield a better place. He’ll be a wonderful leader at the Springfield Chamber.
Comment by Mark Biel Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 12:06 pm
Murphy was a surprisingly good legislator.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 12:07 pm
Seeing that chart John made, term limits certainly are not needed.
Comment by low level Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 12:35 pm
I’m seeing a pattern. Republicans I like and proud they are in our party, are quitting. I see bad getting worse for the short remainder of my life.
Comment by Lurker Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 12:44 pm
John Amdor don’t forget former Senator Ed Maloney once biked to SPR from Chicago !
Comment by Siriously Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 12:49 pm
Why is he resigning and just not running? I get the remap and all but why leave midsession why not just ride it out?
Comment by Frank talks Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 1:03 pm
Let me add I understand he’s got the Chamber job is he unable to do both? Should have added that as well to first post.
Comment by Frank talks Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 1:05 pm
Is Chuck Redpath in that district! Maybe he can avenge his primary loss to Sam Cahnman (as a Republican).
Comment by FIREDup! Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 1:17 pm
Good guy, decent lawmaker. Still wound up more partisan that I would have liked. The Chamber needs the leadership right now. Hope he does it well.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 2:01 pm
A good and decent human being. He is exactly what the Springfield Chamber needs. Glad to be a Chamber member!
Comment by Joe Schmoe Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 2:04 pm
Nothing agains nice guy Murphy, but much classier was how Majority Leader Greg Harris did it yesterday. You were elected to do the job for 2 years…serve out your term! We already have way too many appointed member in the House and Senate.
Comment by watchdog Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 2:46 pm
==Maybe he can avenge his primary loss to Sam Cahnman (as a Republican).==
Sam lives in the 96th District in both the current and new maps. Maybe instead he could avenge his 2012 primary loss to Scherer?
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 3:11 pm
Nice man who cares. He will be missed.
Comment by Because I Said So.... Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 4:35 pm
Amdor’s chart has a missed opportunity by not referring to average years served as “mean years served”. Who is the curmudgeonest of all?
Comment by thechampaignlife Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 5:01 pm
A job as good as running the Springfield Chamber, when you are from Springfield, doesn’t come along every day. Easy to say he should serve out the term but if it means passing up that gig and its potential community influence (and likely good salary) that seems like a hard sell.
Comment by You gotta figure Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 5:33 pm
What a great guy. He gets it, and he will be missed.
Comment by Old Lobster Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 7:23 pm
When you take a job where you must answer to a Board or Directors, it makes perfect sense that they would want him to step aside from his legislative position. The Springfield Chamber is the second largest in the state and has a diverse membership from both sides of the aisle. They don’t want to have to answer for the votes he would have to take next year.
He was a good Representative and will be missed.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 30, 21 @ 8:08 pm