Cast

:: Cast : Senator Steven J. Rauschenberger

Senator Steven J. Rauschenberger was a furniture retailer before he was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1992. Now the assistant minority leader, he specializes in tax relief and welfare reform.

As the first freshman legislator ever appointed chairman of the appropriations committee, Senator Rauschenberger negotiated multi-billion-dollar budgets that provided funds to schools, senior citizen services, infrastructure improvements and other vital programs - all without a tax increase.

An advocate for taxpayers, Senator Rauschenberger has supported tax caps and increasing the income tax exemption. He also has been the Senate negotiator of KidCare, the state health insurance program for children in low-income, working families.

The senator has been honored with more than 60 awards and certificates for his legislative work by groups as varied as Easter Seals, Illinois Fire Fighters, chambers of commerce, human service groups and educators. He is a 1978 graduate of the College of William & Mary with a BBA in accounting. He lives in Elgin, Ill., with his wife and two sons.

Senator Rauschenberger is the co-chair of NCSL's Executive Committee Task Force on State and Local Taxation of Telecommunications and Electronic Commerce.