I am mad as hell!! After two
short days of being called back to
Springfield,
we have passed one bill and one resolution dealing with
Taiwan…
What didn’t happen was doing what
was necessary to save the thousands of the most vulnerable citizens who are
left dangling with concerns about their jobs, families, homes and general well
being. There is no excuse for this cruelty.
The Senate Republicans held a
press conference to unveil the proposal which Senate Republican Leader
Christine Radogno offered to the majority leaders and governor. This plan
will act as a bridge budget, allowing us to avoid a shut down in state
government and—most importantly—avoid the draconian budget cuts from human
services. The appropriations from the 2008 fiscal year would be applied
to state services across the board. This way, the state can still run
effectively while budget negotiations continue.
After showing our budget option
to the majority, what was their response? The Senate President gaveled the
Senate out and we were sent home!
We have a great opportunity and
valid option to save our state and its citizens from falling through the
cracks. Let’s hope the leaders decide to take it!
Thought you might find this interesting…
June 24, 2009
We are back in
Springfield this week in anattempt to complete the unfinished budget that was
left behind last month. Tuesday, the Illinois Senate convened for about 30
minutes only to take up no major action…
As you may know, budget debates
are becoming intense! The majority leaders along with the Governor are
making their position clear, and in doing so are playing shameful games of
toying with people’s lives and emotions. Instilling fear and panic to
some of the most vulnerable citizens of this state is wrong. Political power
games need to be put aside;
Illinois
citizens should not be treated like this!
Governor Quinn attended our
Senate Republican caucus Tuesday evening. He was unwavering in his outlook that
a tax hike is the only way possible to balance the budget. He made it very
clear that he would not have it any other way.
As things develop, I will let you
know. Stay tuned!
Thought you might find this interesting…
May 28, 2009
The message of change has been
chanted throughout the country and
Illinois
for the past six months with the transitions of our nation’s president,
Illinois Governor and new Senate President. However, as we enter the last
scheduled days of the spring session we are still waiting for our
drastic change.
To avoid going into overtime, the
General Assembly would need to pass a budget and with the shape of our state, should pass an ethics reform and the
second part of the statewide construction plan in a mere 3 days; not an
undoable feat, but the fighting and tension within the majority party makes
this goal seem very unlikely.
According to a news source, the
Senate Democrats held a four hour caucus Wednesday evening only to discover
they had only five votes out of 37 members for the Governor’s latest budget!
The Republican Senators feel that the Majority ignored our suggestions and
ideas for six years—the six years that dug this hole. We offered alternatives to tax increases, like cutting spending and
instituting money-saving reforms, which were never instituted. Now the state’s
Democrat leaders have a far bigger mess to clean up.
The light at-the- end –of- the
tunnel appears further out of reach. We’ll see where today takes us!
Thought you might find this interesting…
May 26, 2009
While last week may have been a
rush of bill passage and floor action, this week hasn’t started on the same
foot. The Illinois Senate spent much of the day in committees, hearing
amendments. So far, we have seen very little floor action…
Maybe it felt too much like
summer, but the weekend did not help the attitude from Democratic colleagues.
It seems that many of the Democrats are a little more edgy this week than last!
Needless to say, things are not moving as smoothly as hoped.
Do you have a specific question
about what is going on in
Springfield?
Maybe you’d like to hear firsthand what is really going on here. Tune in
tonight to watch a live televised town hall meeting hosted by myself and Rep. Franco
Coladipietro (R- Bloomingdale), State Rep. Randy Ramey (R-West Chicago), and
State Sen. John Millner (R-Bloomingdale).
Residents will be able to either view or listen to the town
hall meeting from the comfort of their own homes by linking to the General
Assembly Web page at http://www.ilga.gov/house/audvid.asp
and clicking on “Watch Live Committee Room 114 Video”.
In addition, residents who do not have access to the
internet or who would like to ask a question of the legislators can meet with
other residents at the Bloomingdale Golf Club. The meeting will be projected on
a large screen and free refreshments will be provided.
The event will take place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday,
May 26th, at the Bloomingdale Golf Club, 181 Glen Ellyn Rd,
Bloomingdale,
IL.
If you have time this evening,
check it out!
Only five more days till
scheduled adjournment... Stay tuned to what might happen next!
Thought you might find this interesting…
May 22, 2009
The madness begins! We’ve had a
nonstop week here in the Illinois Senate and it is not over yet! We’ve had some
really important legislation pass this week. I’ll break down some of the key
points that may interest you:
Statewide Construction Plan: This
is the first time
Illinois
has had one of these in 10 years! Essentially, it is a statewide plan to boost
construction, and ultimately provide more jobs. It’s all about jobs, jobs,
jobs! It also means that local colleges and schools will receive much-needed
construction funds for updating and repairing buildings.
ElmhurstCollege, as well as Carol Stream
District 93 and Villa Park District 45 schools will all be receiving funds.
The statewide construction plan
will also bring many new road improvements for our area! There is money
allotted for: the Western Access to O’Hare to meet the federal match, the
widening of
Rohlwing Rd
(Old 53) from
Devon to
St. Charles Rd, and funds for Lake Street
Scissors Project.
These construction projects will
begin next year in 2010. Look for a lot of new construction in
DuPageCounty!
Ethics and Campaign
Contributions: We are also working on new ethics legislation. As you all
know, we must put an end to the corruption that has infiltrated the Statehouse
for years. Passing sufficient campaign contributions laws is crucial. The
Senate Republicans have filed bills which reflect the recommendations of the
Patrick Collins’s Illinois Reform Commission. Through parliamentary procedure,
these were not allowed to be heard in Executive Committee. Patrick Collins was
in attendance to testify, obviously he is being schunkered. We’ll have to wait
and see what happens.
Six more session days till the
end, will we make it or not? Wishing all of you a happy and safe Memorial Day
weekend!
Wheeling trustees have decided that a $7.5 million promise to developer Mark Smith is worth keeping. Smith has developed Prairie Park, a high-end condo project on North Wolf Road in Wheeling.
The Senate Republicans held a
press conference to unveil the proposal which Senate Republican Leader
Christine Radogno offered to the majority leaders and governor. This plan
will act as a bridge budget, allowing us to avoid a shut down in state
government and—most importantly—avoid the draconian budget cuts from human
services. The appropriations from the 2008 fiscal year would be applied
to state services across the board. This way, the state can still run
effectively while budget negotiations continue.
To avoid going into overtime, the
General Assembly would need to pass a budget and with the shape of our state, should pass an ethics reform and the
second part of the statewide construction plan in a mere 3 days; not an
undoable feat, but the fighting and tension within the majority party makes
this goal seem very unlikely. 
The statewide construction plan
will also bring many new road improvements for our area! There is money
allotted for: the Western Access to O’Hare to meet the federal match, the
widening of
