Roger Eddy Article Week of December 24, 2007
After all of the hype, scheduled sessions and committee
hearings regarding legislation to expand gambling, create a major capitol program
and offer some type of resolution to the Chicago and suburban area transit mess,
absolutely nothing happened last week. That is, unless you count finger
pointing and playing the blame game as something happening. The scheduled session
dates for the week of December 17th were scrapped after Governor Blagojevich’s
top campaign fundraiser and close friend Chris Kelly was indicted by the feds
for using business funds to pay off a gambling debt. Kelly was also the
governor’s designated advisor on gaming. The indictment likely had
something to do with the cancellation of the scheduled session. However,
there are still major points related to gaming, a capital bill and the CTA bailout
that have not been worked out. AT this point, the Governor has indicated
that he will call the legislature back in on January 2nd to deal with these issues.
I appreciate all of the e-mails, calls and letters that I received regarding these proposals. Constituents in the 109th District accurately point out several problems related to gaming. Concerns with addictive gambling, people spending money on gambling instead of meeting family needs and the potential for crime were mentioned. The overwhelming feeling of those who wrote regarding the possibility of a capital bill was that there must be safeguards in any capital proposal that would ensure that the projects would be released by the governor. Most people questioned how this could be achieved. As expected, 109th Districts residents recognized the need for mass transit in the Chicago land area but did not see the crisis as something that the rest of the state should be expected to assist with.
With the New Year approaching, I want to make sure that everyone takes a few minutes to review new laws related to teenagers and driving. The General Assembly passed very substantial legislation that will affect teenagers in Illinois Among the new laws that parents and teenagers should know: Effective January 1, 2008, parents may view their teen's (under age 18) driving record free through the Secretary of State’s Web site. Several security features will protect the teen's privacy and ensure that only the parents/legal guardians are granted access to the teen's driving record; Effective January 1, 2008, a person under age 21 will receive a three-month driver's license suspension for any court supervision for possession, consumption, purchase or receipt of alcohol; Also effective January 1, 2008, driving privileges will be revoked for any person convicted of street racing, and law enforcement may immediately impound the vehicle for up to five days. There are numerous other new rules and restrictions including new curfew hours and additional requirements for practice driving. To view the entire list go to www.cyberdriveillinois.com and click on the link at the bottom of the page entitled “Teen Driver Safety”.
Another piece of legislation that is causing some concern and confusion deals with the new law that reduces the tax burden on certain tracts of wooded land. Due to an Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) directive and policy change in 2004 to county assessors, certain tracts of wooded land had begun to be re-assessed at residential rates in many Illinois Counties. These tracts received the farmland assessment designation until the directive was made by IDOR. With that new designation as “residential” these wooded lands were being taxed out of sight.
I sponsored a resolution two years ago to set up a task force to address this increase. Last year, the task force recommended a legislative fix that I co-sponsored which created the “Conservation Stewardship Program” in Illinois. This program allows for a land owner to classify certain wooded tracts in a Conservation Management Plan via an application that is available on the Department of Natural Resources website- www.dnr.state.il.us
Simply go to the site and click on the link for the Conservation Stewardship Program under “what’s new.” Directions, emergency rules and both an online and mail-in application are located there. If you have a tract of land that is not 51% agricultural use, is over 5 acres and not enrolled in another type of program that designates the land in a conservation program, it is important that you fill the application out and send a copy to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and to your county assessor. It is not necessary to have the plan filled out by a forester at this point. Wooded lands (tracts) that have an application submitted will be valued at 5% of its fair cash value according to the new law and the emergency rules enacted by the DNR. It is important to note that without the application, the land could be reassessed as residential. However, if the tract is 51% or more for agricultural use, then nothing should be done and that tract will continue to be assessed at the agricultural rate. If you have questions contact the DNR at 217-782-6302. If you do not have access to the Internet to get an application online, you can likely get one from the county assessor or we can send you a copy if you contact us. If this new law effects your wooded land, you only have a short period of time to act.
If there are new developments on gaming or capitol,
I will keep you informed. I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year. After the first of the year, I will provide you with
a preview of issues facing us in the new session set to start January 9th as
well as provide you with information regarding legislation that I will sponsor
in 1008. E-mail me (reddyunit1@aol.com)
or call us at either 618-563-4128 or 217-558-1040. More details are available
at www.ilga.gov or keep up with
important issues at my web site (now with audio clips) www.peopleforeddy.com
E-mail me at (reddyunit1@aol.com); write
to me at Box 125, Hutsonville, IL 62433 or call us at 618-563-4128. You
can also keep up with important issues at my web site (now with audio clips)
- www.peopleforeddy.com