The Tooling & Manufacturing Association (TMA), an organization of 1,250 precision manufacturers in the Chicago area, announced its legislative ratings for the 94th Illinois General Assembly on October 13.

"The TMA prides itself in working with all 177 members of the General Assembly to create and preserve good-paying manufacturing jobs here in Illinois," said TMA president Bruce Braker. "However, we are especially appreciative of the 37 state representatives and senators who scored 80 percent or better on key votes in support of manufacturing, with a special 'thank you' to the dozen legislators with a perfect 100 percent."

The TMA legislative ratings were based on votes on 10 key bills in the House and in the Senate. The bills addressed issues including property tax fairness, health insurance costs, medical malpractice reform and preserving property rights.

  The bills considered, with the TMA's position, included:

  HOUSE                           SENATE

  HB 4202 - Oppose                SB 6 - Oppose
  HB 500 - Support                SB 11 - Oppose
  HB 566 - Support                SB 475 - Support
  HB 1079 - Oppose                SB 761 - Oppose
  HB 2137 - Support               SB 3086 - Support
  HB 4604 - Support               SB 2691 - Oppose
  HB 4756 - Support               HB 566 - Support
  SB 475 - Support                HB 1079 - Oppose
  SB 2350 - Oppose                HB 4202 - Oppose
  SB 3086 - Support               HB 2137 Support

The 37 legislators rating 80 percent or better on these bills included 23 representatives and 14 Senators:

  Illinois House Ratings

  Suzanne Bassi (R/Palatine)                          80
  Mark Beaubien (R/Barrington Hills)                 100
  Patricia Bellock (R/Hinsdale)                       90
  Bob Biggins (R/Elmhurst)                           100
  Linda Chapa LaVia (D/Aurora)                        80
  Tom Cross (R/Yorkville)                            100
  Shane Cultra (R/Onarga)                            100
  Lisa Dugan (D/Bourbonnais)                          85
  Joe Dunn (R/Naperville)                            100
  Brent Hassert (R/Lemont)                           100
  Randy Hultgren (R/Wheaton)                          90
  Renee Kosel (R/New Lenox)                           95
  Patricia Reid Lindner (R/Sugar Grove)               80
  Sidney Mathias (R/Buffalo Grove)                    80
  Frank Mautino (D/Spring Valley)                     85
  James H. Meyer (R/Bolingbrook)                      90
  JoAnn Osmond (R/Antioch)                            90
  Jim Sacia (R/Pecatonica)                           100
  Tim Schmitz (R/Batavia)                            100
  Ed Sullivan, Jr. (R/Mundelein)                     100
  Mike Tryon (R/Crystal Lake)                         90
  Ronald Wait (R/Belvidere)                           90
  Dave Winters (R/Rockford)                           90


  Illinois Senate Ratings

  Pamela Althoff (R/Crystal Lake)                     90
  J. Bradley Burzynski (R/Sycamore)                  100
  Dan Cronin (R/Elmhurst)                             85
  Gary Dahl (R/Peru)                                  85
  Wendell Jones (R/Palatine)                          85
  Chris Lauzen (R/Geneva)                             95
  Carol Pankau (R/Bloomingdale)                       80
  Bill Peterson (R/Long Grove)                        80
  Ed Petka (R/Plainfield)                             85
  Christine Radogno (R/LaGrange)                      95
  Peter Roskam (R/Glen Ellyn)                         85
  Dan Rutherford (R/Pontiac)                         100
  Todd Sieben (R/Geneseo)                             85
  Dave Syverson (R/Rockford)                         100

TMA ratings for all members of the Illinois General Assembly and a complete description of the bills and votes used to determine those ratings are at http://www.tmanet.com/.

TMA members companies employ nearly 60,000 workers in precision, value-added manufacturing, including tool & die and mold making, metal stamping and machining, and forging and die-casting. The TMA supports these industries by providing educational and training opportunities, industry representation and other service to foster member company global competitiveness.