Senator Hultgren is joining the American Heart Association in encouraging residents of the 48^th District to learn CPR. As summer approaches and more people become active, now is an appropriate time to spread this life-saving message.

The sad truth is most people don't survive a cardiac arrest. Getting people to act quickly in an emergency is critical to a victim's survival because time is not on their side.

  Please visit www.cprweek.org where you can learn about Hands-Only CPR, play Be the Beat to learn the correct rate of CPR compressions or record CPR & AED training.

Hands can do incredible things, but nothing compares to using them to help save a life. If you don't know Hands-only CPR, please learn and encourage others today to learn.

Cantankerous was the word that sunk Doris Baittie on Wednesday.

But cantankerous she was not, describing the senior spelling bee in Naperville as "lots of fun."

Baittie, 74, of Aurora, was the runner-up at the word war after being bested in the bee by Eric Easterberg, 51, of Naperville.

The event was sponsored by state Rep. Darlene Senger, a Naperville Republican, and state Sen. Randy Hultgren, a Winfield Republican.

Hultgren said the spelling bee was a chance to bring people together for a competition most remember from their grade school days.

"It brings back terror to some of us but also good memories and that's what's fun - building new friendships, tapping into a wonderful resource, our seniors, and just making connections with them and for them to make connections with each other," he said.

State Senator Randy Hultgren (R-Winfield), the Minority Spokesperson for the Senate Telecommunications and Information Technology Committee, sponsored legislation that will “re-write” Illinois telecommunications laws.

Thursday, May 6, Senate Bill 107 passed both chambers of the General Assembly and now heads to Governor Quinn’s desk for approval. If the Governor signs the bill into law, customers will see an opportunity to lower rates.

  “Republicans, Democrats, business, labor, Chicago, the suburbs, and downstate all worked together to craft this measure,” Hultgren said. “SB 107 is a great example of what can be accomplished when all parties come to an agreement that is in the best interest of the State of Illinois.”

Legislation that creates a commission to study the efficiency of the executive branch of Illinois passed the Senate on Tuesday, April 27. The bill, House Bill 4836, which was sponsored by State Senator Randy Hultgren (R-Winfield) looks to cut cost by eliminating duplicative and unnecessary programs.

“Everyone has heard about the tough financial situation facing the State of Illinois. Every dollar counts; this bill helps expose where those dollars are going.” Hultgren said. “We need a real accounting of spending and the Sunshine Commission is a positive step towards that goal.”