Chris Lauzen
Encyclopedia
Christopher J. Lauzen is a Republican
member of the Illinois State Senate
. Lauzen was first elected in 1992, has been re-elected to the State Senate in 1996, 2000, 2002, 2006, and 2010, and ran for Illinois Comptroller in 1998 and Congress in 2008. Based on his voting record, he is a fiscal and social conservative.
State Senators called the "Fab Five
". As a member of the Fab Five, along with Dave Syverson
, Steve Rauschenberger
, Patrick O'Malley, and Peter Fitzgerald, Senator Lauzen consistently voted to limit the size of government, protect individual freedoms, expose corruption in both parties, and introduce fair accounting rules to the Illinois State Budget.
Currently, Lauzen serves on several committees, including the Property Tax Reform Committee, Appropriations I, II, and III, and the Revenue Committee, where he is the ranking Republican spokesman. In recognition of his work on these committees and his consistent, pro-employment voting record, Senator Lauzen was honored by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce with the "Champion of Free Enterprise" award and the NFIB with the "Guardian of Small Business" award.
Throughout his service, Lauzen has championed the Second Amendment
, pro-life, and so called pro-traditional family legislation. To promote business growth and lower taxes, Senator Lauzen sponsored the largest employment tax decrease in the past fifteen years, which has kept more than $250 million of excess unemployment insurance premiums in the Illinois economy. He co-sponsored the original property tax assessment freeze for homeowners over 65 years old with income less than $35,000. He worked to reduce property taxes on VFW and American Legion veterans’ posts by 85% and placed a cap on future increases. Lauzen also started “Illinois Porkbusters,” which seeks to cut $5,000,000 in waste each year from the state budget.
As a supporter of effective public education, Lauzen has seen state funding for education in his senate district more than double, helped secure over $48,000,000 for school construction grants, sponsored education license plates for future teachers’ scholarships, and was the only Senator to speak against and vote “No” on providing 2/3 tuition discounts to illegal immigrants at public universities.
To counter the rising costs of medical care, Lauzen launched a Prescription Medication Pilot Program that saved participants an average of 50% on the cost of drugs at no expense to the taxpayer. He was also the original lead sponsor of the Breast Cancer Research voluntary check-off on the state personal income tax return. This check-off has raised more than $6,500,000 from voluntary contributions for breast cancer research in Illinois.
While in the State Senate, Lauzen has also sponsored a ban on partial-birth abortion, has supported term limits for State Legislators, has tried to limit spending in the Illinois General Assembly
, and has worked to reduce deficit spending
in Illinois.
to replace retiring Republican Comptroller Loleta Didrickson
. The Comptroller acts as the Chief Accountant for the State. As a graduate of Harvard Business School and a personally successful accountant, Senator Lauzen campaigned on a platform of experience and a need for greater financial accountability in the State of Illinois. Chris Lauzen won the Republican Primary Election defeating Harry J. Seigle of East Dundee
, but lost in the General Election to Democrat
Dan Hynes, the son of Tom Hynes who was the former Cook County assessor, Illinois Senate President, and a member of the Democratic National Committee.
, who retired mid-term.
Although Lauzen received endorsements from The Beacon News in Aurora, the Kane County Chronicle and the Daily Chronicle
in DeKalb County, and the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, he lost the Congressional campaign. Lauzen received 44% of the Republican vote to Jim Oberweis' 56%.
Although the district is solidly Republican, Jim Oberweis lost to Bill Foster
, a Democrat, in the General Election.
After Harvard Business School, Lauzen returned to Aurora and worked as the President of Comprehensive Accounting Corporation where he helped teach over 300 accountants how to go into business for themselves. During his five years as President, the number of franchise offices tripled to 450 nationwide, pre-tax profit doubled, and the network of accountants served over 22,000 small business owners. He and his wife, Sarah, later purchased a Comprehensive Accounting franchise in Geneva, IL. In less than four and a half years, Lauzen was managing the books and tax preparation for more than 200 small businesses in the local area.
Chris and his wife, Sarah, have four boys: Ted, Elliot, Hans, and Robbie. Ted graduated with High Honors from Duke University in 2007, married Sarah Burris of Delaware in 2010, and is now a pilot in the United States Marine Corps. Elliot graduated with Honors from Harvard University in 2009, completed his Masters in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California in 2011, and is currently working for an investment banking firm in Chicago, IL. Hans graduated with Honors from the University of Southern California, was commissioned into the United States Navy in 2011, and is presently deployed on a Navy Destroyer. And, Robbie graduated from West Aurora High School as the Valedictorian and now plays football for Darthmouth College in Hanover, NH.
Lauzen's grandparents emigrated from Romania
to the United States in the early 20th century. On July 28, 2006, Romanian President
Traian Băsescu
awarded Lauzen the Order of the Star of Romania
Medal, Commander Rank (the highest commendation granted to a foreign citizen by Romania), in recognition of his work to "build bridges of friendship and commerce between the people of Romania and the United States."
Media articles
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Illinois State Senate
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
. Lauzen was first elected in 1992, has been re-elected to the State Senate in 1996, 2000, 2002, 2006, and 2010, and ran for Illinois Comptroller in 1998 and Congress in 2008. Based on his voting record, he is a fiscal and social conservative.
State Senate
Senator Chris Lauzen was first elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1992 with the promise to "work hard, stay honest, and use common sense." He joined a group of newly elected conservativeConservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
State Senators called the "Fab Five
Fab Five
Fab Five may refer to:* Fab Five , the 1991 University of Michigan men's basketball freshman recruiting class* The Fab Five, a 2011 documentary on the above group.* Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal, a 2008 movie...
". As a member of the Fab Five, along with Dave Syverson
Dave Syverson
Dave Syverson is a Republican member of the Illinois Senate representing the 34th district since 1993.-Early life, education and career:He was born June 29, 1957, in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Rockford in his early childhood...
, Steve Rauschenberger
Steve Rauschenberger
Steve Rauschenberger served as a Republican member of the Illinois State Senate from 1993 to 2007. He was first elected to the state Senate in 1992...
, Patrick O'Malley, and Peter Fitzgerald, Senator Lauzen consistently voted to limit the size of government, protect individual freedoms, expose corruption in both parties, and introduce fair accounting rules to the Illinois State Budget.
Currently, Lauzen serves on several committees, including the Property Tax Reform Committee, Appropriations I, II, and III, and the Revenue Committee, where he is the ranking Republican spokesman. In recognition of his work on these committees and his consistent, pro-employment voting record, Senator Lauzen was honored by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce with the "Champion of Free Enterprise" award and the NFIB with the "Guardian of Small Business" award.
Throughout his service, Lauzen has championed the Second Amendment
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights.In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second...
, pro-life, and so called pro-traditional family legislation. To promote business growth and lower taxes, Senator Lauzen sponsored the largest employment tax decrease in the past fifteen years, which has kept more than $250 million of excess unemployment insurance premiums in the Illinois economy. He co-sponsored the original property tax assessment freeze for homeowners over 65 years old with income less than $35,000. He worked to reduce property taxes on VFW and American Legion veterans’ posts by 85% and placed a cap on future increases. Lauzen also started “Illinois Porkbusters,” which seeks to cut $5,000,000 in waste each year from the state budget.
As a supporter of effective public education, Lauzen has seen state funding for education in his senate district more than double, helped secure over $48,000,000 for school construction grants, sponsored education license plates for future teachers’ scholarships, and was the only Senator to speak against and vote “No” on providing 2/3 tuition discounts to illegal immigrants at public universities.
To counter the rising costs of medical care, Lauzen launched a Prescription Medication Pilot Program that saved participants an average of 50% on the cost of drugs at no expense to the taxpayer. He was also the original lead sponsor of the Breast Cancer Research voluntary check-off on the state personal income tax return. This check-off has raised more than $6,500,000 from voluntary contributions for breast cancer research in Illinois.
While in the State Senate, Lauzen has also sponsored a ban on partial-birth abortion, has supported term limits for State Legislators, has tried to limit spending in the Illinois General Assembly
Illinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois and comprises the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two...
, and has worked to reduce deficit spending
Deficit spending
Deficit spending is the amount by which a government, private company, or individual's spending exceeds income over a particular period of time, also called simply "deficit," or "budget deficit," the opposite of budget surplus....
in Illinois.
State Comptroller Campaign
In 1998, Senator Lauzen ran for Illinois State ComptrollerComptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
to replace retiring Republican Comptroller Loleta Didrickson
Loleta Didrickson
Loleta A. Didrickson is the former Illinois Comptroller, and the highest ranking female Republican elected official in that state's history.Didrickson was elected Comptroller in 1994, succeeding Democrat Dawn Clark Netsch, who was the Democratic nominee for Governor. Her Democratic opponent was...
. The Comptroller acts as the Chief Accountant for the State. As a graduate of Harvard Business School and a personally successful accountant, Senator Lauzen campaigned on a platform of experience and a need for greater financial accountability in the State of Illinois. Chris Lauzen won the Republican Primary Election defeating Harry J. Seigle of East Dundee
East Dundee, Illinois
East Dundee is a village in Kane County with a small section in Cook County. The population was 2,955 at the 2000 census.-Geography:East Dundee is located at ....
, but lost in the General Election to Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Dan Hynes, the son of Tom Hynes who was the former Cook County assessor, Illinois Senate President, and a member of the Democratic National Committee.
Congressional Campaign
Chris Lauzen officially began his campaign for congress in Illinois's 14th congressional district on September 19, 2007. Lauzen ran to replace Dennis HastertDennis Hastert
John Dennis "Denny" Hastert was the 59th Speaker of the House serving from 1999 to 2007. He represented as a Republican for twenty years, 1987 to 2007.He is the longest-serving Republican Speaker in history...
, who retired mid-term.
Although Lauzen received endorsements from The Beacon News in Aurora, the Kane County Chronicle and the Daily Chronicle
Daily Chronicle (Illinois)
The Daily Chronicle is a newspaper which covers DeKalb County in northern Illinois. Its newsroom and press are located in DeKalb, Illinois, a city about 60 miles west of Chicago along Interstate 88. The paper has a daily circulation of 9,968 and a Sunday circulation of 10,719, as of September 30,...
in DeKalb County, and the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, he lost the Congressional campaign. Lauzen received 44% of the Republican vote to Jim Oberweis' 56%.
Although the district is solidly Republican, Jim Oberweis lost to Bill Foster
Bill Foster (Illinois politician)
George William "Bill" Foster is a physicist and businessman, and the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2008 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life and education:...
, a Democrat, in the General Election.
Personal life
Born and raised in Aurora, Illinois, Senator Lauzen earned his B.S., with Honors, from Duke University in 1974, an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1978, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).After Harvard Business School, Lauzen returned to Aurora and worked as the President of Comprehensive Accounting Corporation where he helped teach over 300 accountants how to go into business for themselves. During his five years as President, the number of franchise offices tripled to 450 nationwide, pre-tax profit doubled, and the network of accountants served over 22,000 small business owners. He and his wife, Sarah, later purchased a Comprehensive Accounting franchise in Geneva, IL. In less than four and a half years, Lauzen was managing the books and tax preparation for more than 200 small businesses in the local area.
Chris and his wife, Sarah, have four boys: Ted, Elliot, Hans, and Robbie. Ted graduated with High Honors from Duke University in 2007, married Sarah Burris of Delaware in 2010, and is now a pilot in the United States Marine Corps. Elliot graduated with Honors from Harvard University in 2009, completed his Masters in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California in 2011, and is currently working for an investment banking firm in Chicago, IL. Hans graduated with Honors from the University of Southern California, was commissioned into the United States Navy in 2011, and is presently deployed on a Navy Destroyer. And, Robbie graduated from West Aurora High School as the Valedictorian and now plays football for Darthmouth College in Hanover, NH.
Lauzen's grandparents emigrated from Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
to the United States in the early 20th century. On July 28, 2006, Romanian President
President of Romania
The President of Romania is the head of state of Romania. The President is directly elected by a two-round system for a five-year term . An individual may serve two terms...
Traian Băsescu
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
awarded Lauzen the Order of the Star of Romania
Order of the Star of Romania
The Order of the Star of Romania is Romania's highest civil order. It is awarded by the President of Romania...
Medal, Commander Rank (the highest commendation granted to a foreign citizen by Romania), in recognition of his work to "build bridges of friendship and commerce between the people of Romania and the United States."
Electoral history
- 2010 Race for Illinois 25th Senate District
- (R) Chris Lauzen 69.3%
- (D) Leslie Juby 30.7%
- 2008 Race for Illinois 14th Congressional Primary — Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
- Chris Lauzen 41%
- Jim Oberweis 56%
- Michael Dilger 2%
- 2006 Race for Illinois 25th Senate District
- (R) Chris Lauzen 65.0%
- (D) Frank Craig 35.0%
- 2002 Race for Illinois 25th Senate District
- (R) Chris Lauzen 100.0%
- 2000 Race for Illinois 21st Senate District
- (R) Chris Lauzen 64.9%
- (D) Stephanie Downs Hughes 35.1%
- 1998 Race for Comptroller
- (D) Dan Hynes 58.6%
- (R) Chris Lauzen 39.6%
- McIntosh Sadler II 1.7%
External links
- Illinois General Assembly - Senator Chris Lauzen (R) 25th District — official Illinois Senate website
- State Senator Lauzen — official website
- Senator Chris Lauzen — official GOP website
- Lauzen for Congress — official campaign website
Media articles
- Illinois 14: New Lauzen Poll Shows Dead Heat, Stuart Rothenberg, The Rothenberg Political Report , November 6, 2007
- "I Should Have Known", Senator Chris Lauzen, Aurora Beacon News, November 16, 2004