Macon Reporter

State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) is hosting a Pizza, Petition & Politics party on Feb. 16 at Florinda’s Pizza Ristorante Italiano in Taylorville.

“As the 2022 Primary campaign season kicks off please join us for Pizza, Petition & Politics Party,” Halbrook posted on his website. “Several Countywide Office Holders & candidates will be in attendance to meet & talk with you. We'll discuss the good, bad & ugly of current and future policies in and around the county, state & national level. We will discuss ways make things better.”

Halbrook asked attendees to RSVP for the event that will be free of charge, though contributions will be accepted.  

“Join us and bring a friend,” Halbrook posted.

Florinda's is at 114 S. Main St., the event will run from 6 to 8 p.m.

The Chambana Sun reports Halbrook recently declared his candidacy in the newly drawn 107th District. Now holding the seat in the 102nd District after initially being elected to serve in the 110th District, Halbrook said his work in Springfield is far from finished.

“There are many challenges facing our state right now,” Halbrook posted on Facebook. “We have not addressed pensions. We have done nothing to provide Illinois residents with any kind of meaningful tax relief. Spending is out of control, and we have failed to root out the culture of corruption in Illinois. We need a new approach and that can only happen if reform-minded candidates run for the statehouse and win. I am running to continue to keep fighting to turn our state around.

Halbrook has also spoken out against President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan, weighing in on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s decision to travel to Washington to witness the signing of the new $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan.

“[Chicago] Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Gov. J.B. Pritzker were among 200 guests invited to President Biden’s Monday White House large singing (sic) ceremony for the $1 trillion infrastructure bill (not to be confused with the ‘Build Back Better’ (BBB), an additional $1.75 trillion legislative proposal currently stalled in Congress.),” read a post that Halbrook shared on Facebook. “No Republicans will vote for the BBB measure because it contains major Biden agenda items – climate change, expansion of health care, child care, and immigration with provisions Republicans find objectionable. . . too expensive. There is also disagreement among moderate and progressive Democrats over the BBB legislation.”

Following the recent armed carjacking of state Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Chicago), Halbrook has also lobbied for bipartisan effort on gun control.  Lightford’s husband shot at the perpetrators after they separated the couple, prompting Lightfoot to praise his right to conceal and carry.

“This incident is a clear illustration of why we have concealed carry laws in the first place,” Halbrook told the East Central Reporter. “There is no question the fact that Sen. Lightford’s husband had a legally concealed firearm saved their lives. Every honest person deserves the same rights to protect themselves the way Lightford and her husband were protected.”

Halbrook said he is now hoping Lightford will reconsider her opposition to concealed carry laws.

“I would hope she would rethink some of her views on lawful gun ownership,” he said.

Lightford voted against the Illinois Concealed Carry Law in 2013 when it went up for a vote.

“Certainly, the criminals are carrying firearms without permits,” Halbrook said. “The problem with violent crime is not honest gun owners. More laws are not going to solve this problem. Instead of creating new laws – we need to enforce the laws we have and keep criminals off the streets. We need to review the laws we have and craft policies that are workable and enforceable and above all we need to get to the root cause of violent behavior. If we want to stop the rise of violent crime – we need to look at what is causing people to commit violent acts. Targeting gun ownership is not a solution.”

In 2021, data shows there were 834 murders committed in Chicago, the most in nearly three decades and 299 more than in 2019.