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| Rep. Patti Bellock |
SPRINGFIELD
– State Representative Patti Bellock (R-Hinsdale) was sworn into office for a
new two-year term serving the 47th District on Wednesday, citing her
eagerness to work with both Democrats and Republicans to reform Illinois’ budget
and spending policies and strengthen the state’s safety net for vulnerable
families. All 118 members of the House
of Representatives took the oath of office for the inaugural of the historic 100th
General Assembly at the University of Illinois-Springfield’s Sangamon
Auditorium in a noon-time ceremony.
A
recognized expert on state budget, Medicaid and disability issues, Rep. Bellock
shared her priorities for the coming year, emphasizing the opportunity for
bipartisan action in 2017.
“Our
most immediate priority must be end the state budget impasse and protect the
well-being of our state’s most vulnerable families; especially children,
seniors and the disabled,” Bellock said. “We have a clear choice: maintain the
status quo, raise taxes without reforms and force greater fiscal crisis, or go
in a new direction and work together on changes that create jobs, strengthen
schools, lower property taxes and ensure that a strong safety net remains in
place.”
Rep. Bellock also serves as Chief Budget Negotiator for House Republicans and as Minority Spokesperson on the Human Services Appropriations Committee. Her landmark legislation –the Smart Act reforming Illinois’ Medicaid system and bills requiring mental health parity, MRSA infection control, improving the Amber Alert system and strengthening child support in Illinois have been recognized on a national level.
Rep. Bellock’s 47th District includes portions
of Elmhurst, Hinsdale, Westmont, Clarendon Hills, Darien, Downers Grove, Oak
Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, Burr Ridge and Western Springs.
A native of
River Forest, Rep. Bellock graduated from Saint Norbert College, where she
received a bachelor’s degree in History and American Government. She taught
school in both Fairbanks, Alaska, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and served as vice
president of a sports investment firm in the private sector. She and her family
have lived in Hinsdale, Illinois for over 40 years.
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