AARON'S STORY(CONTINUED)

RUNNING FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE

It was a challenge that required Schock to sell his business in order to devote his energies toward winning the election. Just a few years earlier, Aaron’s aim was to pursue his goals in business as an entrepreneur. Now he found a more important cause in helping to create a positive economic environment in Illinois and reforming education policy. He wanted to grow in the business world but could not ignore a necessary challenge that others were not willing to take on.

That 2004 election for state representative became Illinois’ most expensive house race in history. Aaron Schock was outspent by over $200,000 but he won in spite of the financial disadvantage. His opponent was funded by Speaker Madigan and her campaign was run by his Chicago operatives. Schock faced a brutal negative barrage of attack ads on television that wildly distorted his positions. He kept his cool, stayed positive, made his case to the voters, again knocked on thousands of doors and was victorious once more.

After being sworn in as State Representative, his colleagues expected this very young representative to do what all freshman legislators do, no matter their age—sit back and be overwhelmed by being in the House of Representatives while they take a couple years to learn the ropes.

Aaron Schock skipped that step. He studiously learned House procedure in a week and began authoring substantive legislation. He worked to pass 11 of his bills in his first five months in office. In his first three years he has sponsored 18 bills that he was able to work through to passage. These bills dealt with a series of education reforms, several child protection initiatives, prescription drug savings, veterans’ assistance, road construction, and a bill to combat high-tech identity theft, the first of its kind in the nation.

Aaron Schock was a forceful advocate against Rod Blagojevich’s ruinous economic policies of massive borrowing, spending, and taxing employers. Schock spoke on the House Floor, in Committee, throughout his district and in speeches around the state, where Aaron made front page headlines disputing Blagojevich’s proposals. In the summer of 2007, Schock was part of the coalition in the House that defeated the Governor’s proposed Gross Receipts Tax and his employer tax, which would have caused an exodus of employers from Illinois. Blagojevich had also proposed the largest spending increase in Illinois history and the coalition stopped that too.

Representative Schock, fully engaged, worked hard in representing his district. He attended community events and meetings on a regular basis. He has been exceptionally engaged with neighborhood associations and non-profit organizations to assist in the job they do. When asked by leaders of these organizations for legislative help or funding, Representative Schock went to bat for them in Springfield. Many long-time leaders from these organizations continue to say they have never seen such an engaged representative on their behalf.