Current Office: Representative
First Elected: 11/03/1998
Next Election: 2012
Party: Democratic

General

Gender: Male
Family: Wife: Deborah; 2 Children: Sam and Henry
Birth date: 10/02/1963
Birthplace: Belvidere, IL
Home City: Marengo IL
Religion: Jewish

Profession

Attorney, Law Firm of Franks, Gerkin and McKenna

Education

JD, American University, 1989 BA, International Relations and Political Science, University of Wisconsin, 1985 Attended, London School of Economics

Committees

Aging
Bio-Technology
International Trade and Commerce
Investigative
Public Utilities
State Government Administration
Veterans Affairs

HB 3782 Prohibits Employers from Asking for Internet Login Information
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 4083 Internet Dating Site Requirements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 5531 Limits Tuition Waivers for State University Employees
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Amendment No. 4 Requires Physicians to Provide Information About Side Effects of Erectile Dysfunction Drugs
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: -

HB 3782 Prohibits Employers from Asking for Internet Login Information
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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HB 3782 Prohibits Employers from Asking for Internet Login Information
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 4083 Internet Dating Site Requirements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 5531 Limits Tuition Waivers for State University Employees
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Amendment No. 4 Requires Physicians to Provide Information About Side Effects of Erectile Dysfunction Drugs
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: -

HB 3782 Prohibits Employers from Asking for Internet Login Information
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 5531 Limits Tuition Waivers for State University Employees
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 3782 Prohibits Employers from Asking for Internet Login Information
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 4083 Internet Dating Site Requirements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 5789 Establishes State Park Fees
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 3944 Authorizing the Recording of Police
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

HB 3810 Eliminates General Assembly Scholarships
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

HB 3944 Authorizing the Recording of Police
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

HB 3810 Eliminates General Assembly Scholarships
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

HB 3944 Authorizing the Recording of Police
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

HB 5099 Prohibits the Use of Cell Phones Near Emergency Scenes
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

HB 1310 Authorizes Certain Businesses to Permit Smoking
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 400 Amends State Income Tax
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

SB 397 Tax Code Amendments
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HB 1883 Property Tax Amendments
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

SB 2147 Paying Regional Superintendents
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 2147 Paying Regional Superintendents
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 965 Authorizing Speed Cameras in Certain Cities
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 2147 Paying Regional Superintendents
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 2147 Paying Regional Superintendents
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 2147 Paying Regional Superintendents
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 2147 Paying Regional Superintendents
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 965 Authorizing Speed Cameras in Certain Cities
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 1701 Legal Immunity for Individuals Seeking Treatment for Drug Overdose
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Yea

HB 1490 Regulating Full-Contact Martial Arts Events
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 1698 Workers Comp Reform
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 1723 Amending The Illinois Nuclear Safety Preparedness Act
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 1698 Workers Comp Reform
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

SB 744 Gambling and Gaming Bill
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 2185 Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 1652 Smart Grid Technology
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 744 Gambling and Gaming Bill
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 145 Nursing Home Infection Control
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 2185 Establishes the DREAM Fund Commission
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 145 Nursing Home Infection Control
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HB 1091 Public-Private Transportation Partnership
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 1600 Artificial Trans Fat Restriction Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 203 Limit on Sale of Firearms Within a Certain Time Period
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 1600 Artificial Trans Fat Restriction Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 3499 Firearm Waiting Period Exemptions
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 161 Electronic Benefits Transfer Card Photograph Requirement
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 2505 Amends Property Tax Code
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 3644 Labor Law Amendments
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

SB 3539 Abolishing the Death Penalty
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 1381 Legalize Medical Marijuana
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 3976 Rules to Govern the Redistricting Process
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 1716 Authorizing Civil Unions
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HB 4927 Video Gaming Law Amendments
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 859 2010-2011 Budget
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

SB 3660 Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 3514 Amending State Pension Laws and Limiting Pension Appropriations
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 3660 Emergency Budget Act of Fiscal Year 2011
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 3514 Amending State Pension Laws and Limiting Pension Appropriations
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 3739 Establishing a Foreclosure Prevention Program
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: -

SB 1118 Business Loan Interest Rates
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

SB 3739 Establishing a Foreclosure Prevention Program
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: -

SB 3658 Temporary Sales Tax Holiday
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

SB 642 Public University Borrowing
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 3658 Temporary Sales Tax Holiday
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

SB 642 Public University Borrowing
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 3658 Temporary Sales Tax Holiday
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

SJR 121 Redistricting Process Modifications
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 615 Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 5109 Prohibiting Public Funding of Portraits of Governors Removed From Office
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 4886 Authorizing 4-Day School Week
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 5428 Limiting Adoption Records Disclosure Restrictions for Adoptees
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 4685 Eliminating General Assembly Scholarship Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 2360 Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Plan
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 4685 Eliminating General Assembly Scholarship Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 2360 Homeowner's Emergency Assistance Plan
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 4654 Limiting Free Mass Transit for Seniors
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 1188 Increasing Cemetery Regulations
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

SB 315 Teacher Evaluation Amendments
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

SB 1216 2009-2010 Budget
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 1292 Issuing of Bonds for Revenue
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 2252 Temporary Income Tax Increase and Tax Credit for Green Businesses
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HB 7 Campaign Contribution Limits
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HJRCA 31 Authorizing Governor Recall Elections
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 1682 Pre-need Funeral Funds Amendments
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HB 255 Video Gambling in Various Establishments
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 71 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 71 Prohibiting Text Messaging While Driving
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 72 Cell Phone Ban in School Speed Zones and Construction Zones
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 442 Expanding Red-Light Traffic Camera Enforcement
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HR 5 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HR 1671 Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 4201 Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 4201 Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 5285 Extending Parental Health Insurance to Unmarried Dependents
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 2310 Truancy, Information Sharing, and Fines
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 2052 Taxes for Levee Repair
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 4758 Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 2052 Taxes for Levee Repair
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 4758 Fairgrounds Racetrack Authority
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HJR 132 Legislative Salaries
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 4139 Peace Officer Firearms
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 5278 Limiting County Clerk and Election Board Members' Endorsements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 5191 Parental Responsibility for Gun Accessibility
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HJRCA 28 Recall Elections
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 4232 State Board of Education Selection Process
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 4180 Allowing Teachers to Conduct a Silent Reflection
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 656 Providing Free Public Transportation for Senior Citizens
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 656 Transportation Act
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 1685 National Popular Vote Act
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

SB 307 Regional Transportation Authority Funding
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 1463 Silent Reflection and Student Prayer
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Nay

SB 540 Truck Speed Limit Increase
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Nay

HB 664 Homeowner Tax Exemption
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Yea

HB 3866 2007-2008 Budget
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

SB 1592 Electricity Relief and Regulation
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HB 2055 State Lottery Privatization
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HR 25 State Constitutional Convention Awareness
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

SB 4 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 858 Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1727 Internet Screening in Public Libraries
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 500 Smoke Free Illinois Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1798 Wrongful Death Damages
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 317 Abortion Notification Bill
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 414 Community College Student Housing
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 1769 Smoking Ban in Vehicles
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 414 Community College Student Housing
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 1769 Smoking Ban in Vehicles
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 1100 Driver's Certificates for Non-Citizens
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 138 Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 408 Mandating New Driver Signs For Minors
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 1714 Competitive Electric Utilities
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

SB 1520 2006-2007 Budget
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

SB 2872 Local Government Facility Lease Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 1445 Election Code Revisions
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1918 Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Casinos in Chicago
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 3086 Eminent Domain – Blight
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1917 Support Horseracing Through Riverboat Gambling
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

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