Good afternoon!
Ethics reform continues to be top-of-mind for many Illinois legislators. In my last e-newsletter, we discussed the multiple ethics scandals that have broken this summer. Speaker Welch’s response was to create a working group on sexual harassment in the workplace. Well, I say that’s just not enough. We need action and reform now! More on this below.
We wrapped up my 2026 Summer Tour this month with a Town Hall event in Paw Paw. Thank you again to the constituents who came out to speak with me and the businesses and organizations that hosted us all summer. I am already looking forward to next year’s tour and hope to see everyone come out again in 2027!
As always, please feel free to reach out to my office at any time. You can reach us by email at [email protected] or by phone at 815-561-3690.
More Agency Mismanagement Under Pritzker Administration
Agency mismanagement under the Pritzker administration comes at a high cost to Illinois taxpayers. A recent audit found that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency paid a Kansas-based staffing contractor $78.5 million for time its employees spent on standby rather than actually working.
This is totally unacceptable. The chronic mismanagement of state agencies needs to end now.
Read more here.
Speaker Welch Forms Working Group: Dems Decline
Speaker Chris Welch is forming a new Workplace Culture and Accountability Working Group. Working groups in Springfield notoriously lead to little, if any, tangible actions to correct the problem. Unfortunately, that means this working group is likely more political theater and not a real solution to a concerning trend coming from the Speaker’s Office.
This sentiment is shared across the aisle, as we have already seen two Democrat lawmakers decline to participate in this working group.
Representative Kelly Cassidy said she doesn’t “have the confidence” that the group will be “credible and effective”. Representative Gregg Johnson said that he never officially agreed to the working group and was “uncomfortable” participating with members who had publicly “defended Welch’s handling of complaints”.
It’s time for transparency, not more private working groups. If Speaker Welch was serious about reform, he would support the dozens of reforms proposed by House Republicans to strengthen ethics regulations and protect the integrity of the General Assembly.
Closure of Tyson Foods in Quad Cities
Quad-Cities-area legislators shared an update about their continued efforts to assist impacted employees, mitigate industry interruptions, and spur plant repurposing following the Tyson Beef processing plant closure in Joslin, Illinois.
Illinois State Representatives Ryan Spain, Gregg Johnson, Dan Swanson, and Brad Fritts organized a bipartisan planning call on Tuesday with state agencies, including the Governor’s Office, Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL), Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), and other stakeholders.
“Workers, farmers, truck drivers, small businesses, and more,” said Representative Brad Fritts (R-Dixon). “You just cannot overstate the impacts this closure will have on Illinois’ economy. It is critically important to get these stakeholders all working in the same direction to mobilize resources and strategies to try to rebound the industry as quickly as possible.”
Read more here.
Employers Wanted for Job Fair at Vibrant Arena
Businesses across the Quad Cities are being asked to step up and help more than 2,500 Tyson Joslin workers left without a job.
The American Job Center in Rock Island and IowaWorks are partnering to host a job fair for skilled workers from 12:00-4:00 PM on September 2nd at Vibrant Arena at The Mark in Moline.
Employers who want to attend should fill out this form.
If you are actively hiring, please contact the director of the American Job Center, Teresa Cherry, at [email protected].
Community Outreach
My office attended the ribbon-cutting for Driftwood Pizza, now open inside Shinny’s in Dixon! Driftwood Pizza is a great new addition to Shinny’s, where visitors can already enjoy golf simulators, arcade games, and more. Congratulations to everyone involved!
Thank you to everyone who stopped by the final event of my 2026 Summer Tour at our Paw Paw Town Hall! I had a great summer speaking directly with constituents about what has been happening in Springfield and listening to their comments, questions, and concerns.
My office joined the Rochelle Chamber to welcome Responsive Roofing LLC as one of its newest members. While they’re not new to the community, we’re glad to see another local business getting involved with the Chamber and connecting with the Rochelle business community!
My office attended the ribbon-cutting for a new Shell gas station in Rochelle. This is the family’s second location in town, and I’m glad to see a local family business continuing to grow and invest in the community!
I had the opportunity to speak with the staff at Sterling Public Schools as they kicked off the new school year. I’ve been fortunate to visit every school in Sterling as I continue my effort to visit every school in the 74th. These visits have allowed me to see firsthand the work these educators do for their students. I enjoyed having the chance to thank them for their work and wish them a great year ahead!
Love’s Travel Stop in Rock Falls recently joined the Rock Falls and Sauk Valley Area Chambers of Commerce. We’re glad to have them as part of the local business community and wish them continued success in Rock Falls!
My office joined the Rock Falls Chamber to celebrate the ribbon-cutting for Sauk Valley Speech Therapy. Their play-based approach brings speech therapy directly into families’ homes, which will make this healthcare more accessible in our community. Congratulations to the team on this exciting new chapter!
We had great turnout at our Coffee & Conversation event at Ziggie’s Family Restaurant in Mendota! I always appreciate the opportunity to speak directly with my constituents, provide updates from Springfield, and answer questions. A big thank you to everyone who came out and the amazing team at Ziggie’s for hosting!
My office was glad to attend Gramma Bonnie’s School Supply Giveaway and Resource Fair at the Elevate Youth Center in Sterling. Our community came together to show up for students and families as they get ready for the new school year!
Museum Pass
Are you looking to visit one of the incredible museums across the Chicagoland area? Utilize my office’s FREE museum pass, which allows admission to any participating museum for up to four people.
Reservations are required and must be made by completing our request form, which can be completed by clicking here.
Talk to you soon,
State Representative Bradley J. Fritts