Week of April 21, 2008

      There was no session last week as lawmakers spent the week back in their legislative districts to get feed back from constituents on a variety if issues facing them during the next few weeks. The General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn at the end of May. That scheduled adjournment, of course, depends on whether or not a budget for FY09 is finalized.

      With serious financial problems facing the state and the FY08 Budget facing funding problems, many doubt that the scheduled adjournment date will be met.

      I have heard from hundreds of 4-H supporters fearful that the governor’s decision to hold University of Illinois extension funding could result in the complete shutdown of one of the state’s most successful programs. Soil and Water Conservation Districts continue to await funding that was promised in FY08 and is months behind schedule and one nursing home in Jacksonville has closed while others wonder how long they can stay open due to the fact that state reimbursements are often seven months or more behind.

      Last week, schools throughout Illinois received word that their 23rd and 24th state aid payments are in jeopardy and that the fourth quarterly payments to reimburse them for special education and transportation costs might not be paid in time.

      It is not totally apparent how much of the funding holds have to do with the governor’s desire to spend around $500 million on health care expansion. Many accuse the governor of holding programs hostage in order to pressure lawmakers into voting for another round of dedicated fund sweeps. These sweeps include a new raid of the retired teacher’s health insurance fund plus hundreds of other equally disgusting thefts from these funds which are statutorily promised to certain causes.

      To believe that the lack of payments of these funds promised to 4-H kids and others has nothing to do with the governor’s attempt to pressure lawmakers into voting for these disgusting raids, one would have to trust the governor. With only around a thirteen percent approval rating, very few are willing to pledge that trust.

      However, Senate President Jone’s apparently is among the thirteen percent in the governor’s corner. He has successfully passed the fund raid bill out of the Senate and is now holding a proposed Constitutional Amendment (HJRCA28) from being voted on in the Senate. HJRCA28 would allow for the recall of all Executive Officers in Illinois plus any member of the General Assembly. I voted in favor of this Amendment.

      There is a May 4th deadline for this and any other proposed Constitutional Amendment to be passed by both the House and Senate in order for the proposal to appear on the November 4th ballot. Besides the Recall Amendment, a few others will need action this week in order to be on the ballot in November.

      HJRCA 44 changes the way Illinois draws district boundaries for lawmakers in order to eliminate the practice in which one party gets complete control through luck of the draw. As an end result, I am hopeful that it also addresses some of the other map problems in Illinois.

      HJRCA 42, the proposal that doubles the state income tax on those making more than $250,000 a year is on life-support. The House defeated the amendment, but another vote could be taken if the sponsor is able to find some additional votes. However, time is running very short.

      Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 92 allows the General Assembly to impose a graduated income tax. The state constitution now stipulates only a flat income tax (currently 3%). The Senate sponsor will call the Amendment for a vote this week. It is likely that the House will vote on it later in the week. I welcome your input regarding this issue.

      Finally, last week, several lawmakers began to openly discuss the possibility of Impeachment of the governor. This renewed Impeachment talk came after a new allegation of pay to play was made against the governor at the trail of indicted Blagojevich fund raiser Tony Rezko. Ali Ata testified that he made a $25,000 campaign donation to the governor understanding that it would result in some type of state employment. Later Ata was named the head of the Illinois Finance Authority, a job that pays $127,000 annually.

      Over the weekend, the Chicago Tribune revealed that there have been 235 donations of exactly $25,000 made to Blagojevich which total nearly $6 million. Of those 235 donors, three out of four received either some type of employment or state contract. The response from Doug Scofield, campaign fund raiser for Blagojevich, is as follows: "We believe the thousands of contributors to Gov. Blagojevich's campaign believe in the things he is fighting for, like making health care more affordable for working families and working to stimulate the economy by passing a jobs bill.” For comparison purposes, during George Ryan’s time as Governor, he received fourteen donations of $25,000.

      I am interested to hear from you regarding these issues. It is going to be an interesting and historic time in the Illinois General Assembly and I am there to represent you. Your input is vital, please either phone me at 618-563-4128 or 217-558-1040, write to me at Box 125, Hutsonville, IL 62433, or e-mail me at reddyunit1@aol.com, or keep informed by checking the website at www.peopleforeddy.com