CORRUPTION/ETHICS: The Ammons Family: A Pattern of Corruption
In the span of just over a month, three members of a Champaign County family have been indicted on Federal charges including pandemic/unemployment fraud, wire fraud, making a false statement, and obstruction charges. On Tuesday, July 7, Federal criminal indictments were filed against Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons, a former drug dealer, and his wife, State Representative Carol Ammons, on a series of criminal charges. She has served as Democrat State Representative of the 103rd District since 2015. The indictments include wire fraud, making a false statement to the FBI, obstruction charges, and receiving alleged personal cash kickbacks.
Despite many, recent corruption cases, Democrats have not passed meaningful ethics reform, necessary to stop the grift in Illinois politics and restore trust in Government. Since Michael Madigan was removed as Speaker, Democrats have allowed only one ethics-related bill to pass. However, this bill actually made it harder to investigate corruption.
Republicans have served up bills to empower the Legislative Inspector General; improve lobbying regulation; enforce conflict of interest rules; prevent campaign funds from being used for criminal defense. House Republicans are moving forward with a Special Investigating Committee, to ensure no elected official is above accountability and that the people of Illinois can have confidence in their Government.”
2ND AMENDMENT: “I support the Second Amendment and the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners! The Seventh Circuit’s decision to uphold Illinois’ ‘assault weapons’ ban is deeply disappointing. This law punishes responsible gun owners instead of focusing on criminals, and it raises serious constitutional concerns. I remain hopeful the U. S. Supreme Court will take up this issue and reaffirm that the Second Amendment is not a second-class right. Illinois families deserve laws that target violent criminals, not policies that restrict the rights of responsible citizens.”
FAMILIES: Illinois Department of Early Childhood Officially launched July 1, 2026, as New State Agency
The Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) officially begins operations as Illinois’ first agency focused entirely on early childhood programs and services. The agency joins together programs previously administered by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), and the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD.)
IDEC was created through legislation signed by Governor JB Pritzker in June 2024. It is part of a broader effort to streamline services, improve coordination, and strengthen early learning systems Statewide. These programs now operate within a single Department dedicated to supporting families with children, especially those prenatal through age five, the provides, and workforces that serve them.
IDEC begins operations with 385 employees, including 340 from transferring agencies, and assumes the responsibility for administering over $4.3 billion in grants and direct services dedicated to supporting children and families across the State. Key priorities include improving access to early childhood programs, reducing administrative complexity and burden, advancing equity, and strengthening partnerships with providers and communities.