Week of April 21, 2008
Last week, action in Springfield was intense with lines being drawn in the sand on several issues by the Governor and legislative leaders in the Democrat party. The recall amendment I detailed in previous articles was brought up for debate in front of the Senate’s Executive Committee. I stated from the beginning that the recall amendment had no chance of passage in the Senate, even withstanding the legislation’s overwhelming passage through the House. The sponsor of the amendment, Rep. Jack Franks (D – Woodstock) and a key proponent, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn were called before the committee to testify on the bill. What ensued was a shameful display of intra-party bickering and personal insults that was described by committee chairman Ira Silverstein as a “circus”.
State Sen. Donne Trotter, the Senate sponsor of the amendment was suspected of hijacking sponsorship of the legislation for the purpose of preventing its passage through the Senate. In the end, this is exactly what he did. Following a public berating of Rep. Franks and Lt. Gov. Quinn by Senate President Jones and members of his caucus, Sen. Trotter decided that he would not even call the bill for a vote in front of the committee. As I have stated many times before, my belief is that the people of Illinois should have the opportunity to vote the recall amendment up or down on the November 4th ballot. The actions taken last week by the Senate Executive Committee will no doubt keep this from happening.
The atmosphere of distrust and the high level of negative tension between Governor Blagojevich, Speaker Madigan, and Senate President Jones has everyone in Springfield fearful of another long and bitter overtime fight. One of the biggest concerns that I have is the misalignment of priorities displayed by Gov. Blagojevich in withholding funding for several important programs. The Governor wants universal health care for all Illinoisans but the state is facing a deficit of at least $750 million. In order to free up money for his proposals he has delayed Medicaid payment cycles from 3 to 6 months for nursing homes and pharmacies, cut 100% of the University of Illinois Extension money, and stopped payment on 78% of the funds promised to Illinois’ Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Working families, students, and health care providers across Illinois have and will continue to be severely effected by these cuts. Even funds for 4-H programs are being held hostage by the governor in order to attempt to get his way.
Several gun control bills have already been defeated in the House this year.
HB 758, sponsored by Chicago Rep. Harry Osterman, would have required individual background checks between private citizens before a person-to-person gun sale could take place. The bill would have required an individual transfer of a firearm to be subject to the same rules that currently must be followed by an individual purchasing a firearm at a gun show. Needing sixty votes for passage, the bill was defeated 58-58. Another attempt to ban “assault weapons” will come before the House soon as well.
I plan to oppose any and all measures that come before the House that seek to limit a law-abiding citizen’s right to keep and bear firearms. If called for a vote, I do plan to support HB 228, a bill that would lower the record keeping requirement on firearm transfers from the current 10 years down to 5 years. Also, if presented, I plan to support HB 1304, a bill that would allow private citizens the right to carry concealed weapons following completion of a course in handgun use, safety, and marksmanship.
Another big issue in Springfield deals with the downstate teachers’ retirement health insurance fund. The fund is one of many at risk of being swept by Governor Blagojevich following a recent plan unveiled by Senate President Jones and the Gov. to sweep over $500 million from specially dedicated state funds in order to close the budget deficit and pay for new spending. I recently signed on to sponsor HB 6333 that would protect the downstate teachers’ health insurance fund. The legislature must demand responsible fiscal behavior in the face of our budget crisis. With Illinois’ pension liabilities growing exponentially every year, we simply cannot tolerate the misuse of any more of these funds.
There is no session scheduled next week, but the action in Springfield will pick back up again with a fury upon our return the following week. Action is expected to be taken on a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow Illinois to institute a graduated income tax. This proposal is much different than the attempt to create two income tax levels that was defeated by the House. This plan would change the Constitution to allow for the General Assembly to pass legislation establishing the progressive rate structure. Many states already have a progressive income tax structure. Illinois flat rate is now 3 percent.
Of course, a major obstacle continues to be any agreement on a budget for FY09 as well as any Capitol plan for the state. We desperately need to pass a capitol plan in order to provide for the repair of roads and bridges as well as school construction and maintenance and other public safety projects.
Don’t forget to keep up with legislation at www.ilga.gov and let me know what you think by contacting me at reddyunit1@aol.com or phone my offices at 217-558-1040 or 618-563-4128. I will also have updates on my website, www.peopleforeddy.com