Week of October 19th, 2009

The first week of the 2009 Fall Veto Session has been completed. The final three days are scheduled for October 28th through the 30th. Unless there are special session dates added, those three days will be the final legislative days for 2009.

Going into the first week of the fall session, there were really two major issues that were brewing. The first one dealt with the Monetary Award Program (MAP). This scholarship provides funding for our most needy college students. When a budget was finally passed in July, the General Assembly passed legislation that provided the Governor with extra-ordinary flexibility related to appropriations. It is true that the amount available for appropriations was short of funding all budget line items from last year at one hundred percent. However, the Governor was told not to expect more funding and that along with the flexibility that he requested, he would have to make some very tough choices.

The Governor chose to allow a fifty percent funding level to stand in the MAP line item appropriation. Then he spent about a month and a half trying to rally support for a cigarette tax increase in order to provide about $220 million more in state revenue to fund MAP after he shorted the appropriation. The idea of another one dollar per pack tax on cigarettes never gained much momentum. But, going into the fall session there was speculation about whether or not the Governor might try to force a vote on a cigarette increase. That did not happen.
In the meantime, State Representative Bob Pritchard from DeKalb was joined by several other House Republicans (including myself) in proposing a tax amnesty plan that, according to estimates, would have netted the state at least about $105 million. The state last ran this type of amnesty plan in 2003. At that time, the plan netted several hundred million dollars. Many believed that the estimate of $105 million was low and we thought it was a good idea to a tax increase.

The proposal by Representative Pritchard was never called for a vote on the House floor. A spokesperson for the Speaker called the plan “assistance for deadbeats” even though this exact type of plan was run in 2003 and promoted by the Speaker. Although an attempt to force a vote was made through motions to have the measure brought to the floor for vote, the proposal never even was heard. It is a real shame that the will of one person (the Speaker) can determine whether or not an idea like this could even get an up or down vote on the House floor. But, that is the way it is in 2009. Our state has become subject to the will and rule of one man.

So, instead of allowing real revenue to be added to the state’s coffers by allowing a vote on the tax amnesty plan, the way the MAP funding issue was solved was simply to increase the line item appropriation in the budget to reflect a higher amount. This provides for the full appropriation in the MAP line item. The general Assembly simply changed the number. Simple fix………..right?

Well it is not really that simple. By changing the appropriation amount without providing any funding, the Governor will now be forced to fund the program and something else will have to be shorted. We forced the MAP as the priority and now the Governor will get to cut other spending to the tune of about $220 million. Irresponsible? It is absolutely irresponsible. You shouldn’t be surprised though. If you have been following the budget making process for the past seven years, this is nothing new. A little more smoke, a few more mirrors, some dogs, couple ponies and you have the continuing saga of Illinois budgeting. The good news is that the students who are funded by MAP will get their scholarships during the second semester. The bad news is that Illinois is another $220 million in debt and vendors will have to wait even longer for their money.

The other issue that drew a lot of attention going into the veto session was the veto of the campaign finance bill that was passed last spring. That was a terribly weak bill and really did nothing to place limits on campaigns. When the weak bill was vetoed, all four legislative leaders vowed to pass a better version of campaign finance reform during the fall veto session. That has not happened because the Speaker once again refuses to allow any real reform measures to advance for a vote. Money is power and Speaker Madigan does not want to limit the way he can rake in campaign cash because it will affect the power he has over his caucus.

Every major newspaper in the state has criticized his latest proposal and called it the sham it is. What the latest version does actually limits campaign cash for everyone else by making the leaders even more powerful by not placing limits to contributions to political parties. Believe it or not, he is proposing a plan that would make him even more powerful.
I still hope that enough pressure is brought to bear on the Speaker that we are able to pass something meaningful during the second week of the fall session. The fever for reform was high last spring right after Blagojevich was Impeached and removed from office. We passed legislation to provide transparency, new Freedom of Information Act reforms and some new measure to make the procurement process better. But, we have not passed real reform that is aimed at the General Assembly and the negative effects of unlimited campaign contributions. The Speaker is stopping that from happening, plain and simple.

There were other bills dealt with last week. A bill was passed to enhance penalties for gang members in possession of firearms. I supported the legislation and applaud Chicago Representative Ed Acevedo for understanding that we need more crime control and not more gun laws. Another Bill that would have lowered the Cook County sales tax back to 9 percent and erased a one percent increase that was passed last year was narrowly defeated. I voted against the bill because I think that it is the duty of those elected locally who raised the tax to lower it themselves. I did vote for a measure that would allow for a three-fifths vote by the Cook County Commissioners to override the Cook County President rather than a four-fifths majority which is current law. Seems like three-fifths is more democratic and that would allow for another vote to lower the tax by those on the local board with the new standard of three-fifths.

Don’t forget, you can follow legislation and watch live House action during the final week of Veto Session by going to www.ilga.gov and following the links for live audio and video. I will have more for you next week. You can write me at: P.O. Box 125, Hutsonville, IL 62433 or e-mail me at reddyunit1@aol.com. You can also read more on my web site: www.peopleforeddy.com or and follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RepEddy and www.tweetillinois.org.