Illinois is in the midst of a healthcare crisis as doctors throughout the state are leaving due to skyrocketing medical malpractice reforms. We have all heard the stories, from the lack of neurosurgeons in southern Illinois, doctors leaving the Rockford area, ob/gyns moving on to other specialties causing a shortage in prenatal care and baby deliveries, and so on, all due to skyrocketing medical malpractice insurance premiums. The lack of qualified physicians in communities throughout Illinois also has had a devastating effect on local economies.

There is only one way to truly reduce premiums and that is by capping non-economic damages. Empirical evidence shows that doctors who practice in states with caps pay lower medical malpractice premiums. This is the primary reason that doctors are leaving Illinois to practice in border states with caps such as Wisconsin, Indiana, and Missouri. Last spring, House Republicans initiated an ambitious and comprehensive medical reform package known as "Code Blue." This package will ensure that our seniors, pregnant mothers, and all users of our health care system will have access to quality affordable health care.

During the past several years, House Republicans led the fight in Illinois to improve public education. Under the direction of House Republican Leader Tom Cross, important and meaningful school reforms such as increasing education funding, academic accountability, expanding charter schools, and reforming the State Board of Education to ensure that it has a clear mission to assist our school in providing a top notch education for our students.

Increasing education funding and expanding the highly successful school construction program is, and will continue to be, the top priority for the House Republican caucus. In a time of severe fiscal crisis, House Republicans made the necessary cuts and reallocated spending priorities to ensure that education funding was increased. Not only was education funding increased over the last two years, but we also ensured that it was spent in a manner that benefited all regions in Illinois.

The responsibility of a democracy is participation. You can make a difference by getting involved with candidates and issues that affect you in your local, state and national elections this November. Get involved, get informed, and vote!

House Republicans remain committed to providing an economic foundation that will create jobs and further economic growth. This past year, the House Republican caucus outlined two economic development programs entitled "Destination: Illinois Jobs" and "Hope for the Heartland" that provide aggressive strategies to ensure that we protect against further job loss and unemployment while creating an attractive business climate for companies.

The House Republican JOBS program has four major goals that it wants to achieve with the package:

• Economic help for downstate, the collar counties and the inner cities;
• No new or increased taxes or fees on business activity;
• No growth in state government share of the total Illinois economy;
• Positive, forward-looking solutions to Illinois economic challenges.