Maggie Crotty
Encyclopedia
Maggie Crotty is a Democratic
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...

 member of the Illinois 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...

, representing the 19th district since 2002. She is Chairperson of the Elections Committee, Vice-Chairperson of the Local Government Committee, and a member of the Higher Education, Labor, and Revenue Committees.

Illinois State Senate

Crotty's legislative priorities include health issues and education. She has passed legislation to expand state reading assistance grants to grades 7 through 12. Another legislative goal is to increase the state reimbursement rate to school districts for providing special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...

. She was a co-sponsor of a Bill
Bill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....

 to create a state administered prescription drug discount buying group for seniors. Beginning in January 2004, seniors were able to save up to 50% on the cost of prescription drugs.

As a supporter of children with special needs Crotty helped secure a bill that appropriates $10,200,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Human Services. The funds will be allocated for a grant to the Autism Program for an Autism Diagnosis Education Program for young children.

Crotty also is advocate supporter of better living for all citizens, in 2009 she helped pass a bill which Appropriates $64,200,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department on Aging for vendors of homemaker, chore, and housekeeping services to increase the wages paid to employees who provide homemaker, chore, and housekeeping services and to provide health insurance coverage to those employees and their dependents. This bill allowed individuals involved to have an opportunity to receive insurance based upon the additional pay increase.

Crotty has sponsored many important initiatives to boost the state’s share of education funding. She played a major role in passing a “Silver Alert” system for Illinois. Based on the “AMBER Alert” system that warns expressway and interstate motorists of missing or abducted children, Crotty’s initiative permits law enforcement to provide alerts for missing and endangered seniors and the disabled.

Illinois House of Representatives

Crotty served three terms as an Illinois State Representative
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...

, first elected in 1996. Prior to joining 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...

, she worked for the Southwest Cook County Cooperative for Special Education.

Community efforts

Throughout Crotty’s professional career she has maintained memberships to various organizations such as: Metropolitan Services Community Advisory Board, present Member, Oak Forest Lions Club, present Chair, School District 228 Education Foundation, present Member, South Star Services Advisory Board, present Member, South Suburban College History Round Table, present Honorary Member, United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago Board of Directors, present Board Member, Crisis Center of South Suburbia, 2002-2006 Past President, Oak Forest Kiwanis Club, 1990-1992 Member/Past President, Oak Forest High School Football Booster Club Past Member/Secretary, Oak Forest Civil Service Commission. Crotty continues to be active in the community by volunteering for many not-for-profit organizations and boards.

Awards

Senator Crotty has received the following awards:
  • General Excellence Award;
  • Illinois State Crime Commission, 2000;
  • Legislator of the Year;
  • Illinois Association of Park Districts, 2000;
  • Friend of Taxpayers Award;
  • Nation Taxpayers United of Illinois, 1999;
  • Outstanding Freshman Legislator; and
  • Illinois Health Care Association


Personal life

Maggie Crotty was born in Chicago, IL and was a graduate of Mercy High School. Her hometown is Oak Forest, IL. During her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family. She has three children Kevin, Keith, Mark and is the grandmother of four.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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