093_HR0311

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 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The members of the House of  Representatives  of
 3    the   State  of  Illinois  would  like  to  congratulate  our
 4    long-time colleague, Charles A. "Chuck" Hartke, as he retires
 5    from his position  as  State  Representative  for  the  108th
 6    Legislative District; and

 7        WHEREAS,  Representative Hartke served in the legislature
 8    since his appointment in 1985 and served in leadership during
 9    part of  his  years  in  office;  he  is  retiring  from  the
10    legislature to serve as the Director of Agriculture; and

11        WHEREAS,  Throughout his tenure in office, Representative
12    Hartke has made  agricultural  legislation  one  of  his  top
13    priorities;  he  sponsored  legislation  to improve "mega hog
14    farm"  standards,  open  additional  markets   for   Illinois
15    agricultural  products,  and promote value-added products; he
16    co-sponsored legislation to create  the  AgFirst  Development
17    Program  that will provide counseling, grants, education, and
18    technical  assistance  to   farmers   experiencing   economic
19    difficulties;  he also co-sponsored several measures aimed at
20    increasing ethanol usage as an alternative fuel; and

21        WHEREAS, Representative Hartke  promoted  all  issues  in
22    agriculture,  even  when the subject matter brought questions
23    and jokes from this body; one example  was  during  the  88th
24    General  Assembly  when  Representative  Hartke brought House
25    Bill 904 before this body; this ground  breaking  legislation
26    provided  an  occupation  and  use  tax  exemption  for those
27    businesses in Illinois that deal in Bull Semen; he  weathered
28    the  expected  jokes,  and  successfully provided these small
29    business owners the seed they needed to grow their  industry;
30    and

31        WHEREAS,  Representative  Hartke has shown dedication and
32    commitment to education; he has been  successful  in  helping
 
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 1    his  district  secure much needed school construction grants;
 2    he has focused  on  finding  an  equitable  and  fair  school
 3    funding  formula  for  his Southern Illinois District and has
 4    continued   to   provide   students   with   state-of-the-art
 5    educational equipment; and

 6        WHEREAS, Representative Hartke has worked consistently to
 7    reduce the tax burden on  homeowners,  senior  citizens,  and
 8    lower  income  working  families,  by supporting the Illinois
 9    Earned Income Tax  Credit,  Circuit  Breaker  expansion,  and
10    property tax rebates; and

11        WHEREAS, Chuck has been active in public service for most
12    of  his  life,  first by valiantly serving his country in the
13    U.S. Army from 1966 until 1968, including a tour in Viet Nam;
14    he served on the Effingham County Board from  1971  to  1974,
15    was  elected Secretary of the Democratic Central Committee in
16    1976, and was elected as Effingham County DCC  Chairman  from
17    1978 to 1985; and

18        WHEREAS,  Chuck  and  his wife, Kathy, have two children,
19    Chris Hartke and Kim Deters, along with  five  grandchildren;
20    Chuck  is  active  throughout  his  community in a variety of
21    roles; he is a member of St. Francis Parish, the  Knights  of
22    Columbus-Teutopolis  2874, the American Legion-Dieterich, the
23    40 et 8-Effingham, the VFW-Altamont, AARP, the  Farm  Bureau,
24    and the Farmers Union; therefore, be it

25        RESOLVED,   BY   THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE
26    NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,  that
27    we  congratulate  Representative Charles A. "Chuck" Hartke on
28    the occasion of his retirement from the legislature,  and  we
29    commend  him  for his dedication to the citizens of the 108th
30    Legislative District; and be it further

31        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
32    presented to Chuck as an expression of our respect and esteem
 
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 1    and  with best wishes for and utmost confidence in his future
 2    as the Director of Agriculture.