Illinois Should Be Proud of Ethics Reform ] ]

SENATE PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER OF the HOUSE CALL JOINT SESSION to address the budget

SPRINGFIELD, IL -   Demonstrating their continued commitment to resolving the state budget crisis, Senate President John Cullerton and House Speaker Michael Madigan are calling a Joint Session of the General Assembly. 

According to the joint proclamation released today:

“The purposes of the Special Session shall be (i) to take action on any vetoes, amendatory vetoes, or reduction vetoes by the Governor of legislation related to the budget for Fiscal Year 2010 and (ii) to consider any legislation, pending or otherwise, related in any way to the budget for Fiscal Year 2010, including but not limited to appropriation, budget implementation, or additional revenue resources.

The Special Session will convene at 2:00 pm on July 14, 2009 at the State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois."


Welcome ] ]
Sandoval and Sullivan urge an end to politicizing Capital Bill

With 10% Unemployment, Governor’s Signature Can Begin to Create Thousands of Jobs Now

Springfield, IL – State Senators Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) and John Sullivan (D-Rushville) stood today with members of organized labor and other concerned citizens to urge the Governor to end his refusal to sign the job-creating capital construction package that legislators passed in May. The measure received bipartisan support in both chambers in the General Assembly.

“Putting people to work should not be a political football,” said Sandoval. “It’s shameful that the Governor’s rhetoric has changed so drastically that he is now willing to withhold his signature on a bipartisan piece of legislation that will put hundreds of thousands of people to work.”

The legislators claim that the Governor has slid backward on his commitment to put a capital construction plan in place to create jobs and jump-start the Illinois economy. Recent comments by the Governor show that he is reluctant to sign the measure until an agreement is reached on the state’s operating budget.

“This bill has been 10 years in the making,” Sullivan added. “It is now June and these projects need to start. Our state needs these construction jobs too badly to wait.”

Members of organized labor and other groups have also been caught in the limbo this bill is currently facing. Believing they had finally reached an agreement on this comprehensive measure after a decade, the rhetoric of the Governor to link this issue to others has them concerned to say the least.

“Right now, unemployment is over ten percent in Illinois and in the construction industry it’s even higher,” said Sean Stott, Government Affairs Director of the Laborers International Union. “We have to put people to work and the Jobs Package passed by legislators earlier this year will do just that – right now. We’re asking the governor to commit to signing the job-creation construction plan immediately.”

Special concerns addressed in the plan carry a dramatic effect for those impacted by the Governor’s inaction. Benld Elementary School is awaiting funds to rebuild the school after it collapsed due to mine subsidence. Students spent the past year in mobile classrooms while a solution was sought. This inaction may cause the students to endure another school year in this temporary setting.

“The capital bill is critical for us to be able to do anything for our children,” said Gillespie High School Principal Joe Tieman, where displaced elementary students are now attending classes on a split schedule. “Without the funds included in this package, all of our students in District 7 will be negatively affected and unable to have a reasonable education experience. They should not be caught in this political posturing.”

No Is Not A Solution

Senate Democrats Urge All Caucuses to Lead with Solutions
Senate President: “No” Is Not A Solution

Senate President John J. Cullerton joined members of his Democratic caucus today to address the issues specified in Governor Quinn’s Special Session Proclamation. Topping the Senate Democrats agenda was the balanced budget solution that they passed in May. Additionally the Senate President reiterated the leadership taken by Democrats on passing a capital bill and sweeping ethics reforms. 

“In all of the areas outlined in the Special Session Proclamation, Senate Democrats have already taken decisive steps to pass legislative solutions,” said President Cullerton. “What we need now is for Senate Republicans and members of the House to find the courage needed to make the similar tough choices that will preserve vital services in the state.”

While Governor Patrick Quinn called a Special Session for this week, there are no clear signs that support for his income tax plan has increased since May 31.

The only plan that is showing signs of life is House Bill 174. The measure is a balanced budget solution that included responsible cuts, increased revenue and fundamental school funding reform. The bill forces $2 billion in spending cuts and helps to eliminate our $7 billion deficit by bringing the state income tax to 5 percent.

Senate passage of House Bill 174 marked the first time in over a decade that a chamber in the Illinois General Assembly has passed legislation to address school funding reform that comes with property tax relief for Illinois families.  This tax increase would also ensure that programs for senior and essential services such as health care, foster care, and programs for the developmentally disabled are not cut due to a lack of funds. The bill has not been called for a vote in the House.

While HB 174 was the only successful revenue bill in the General Assembly, President Cullerton stopped short of promoting the bill as the only option to be considered to fix the state’s fiscal problems. Throughout the session, he engaged Senate Republicans to address the state’s budget deficit. The Senate established a bi-partisan committee to address the budget deficit consisting of equal representation – five Republicans and five Democrats. Members of the committee agreed that cutting spending was necessary to address the deficit, but insufficient to completely make up for the shortfall.

However, during an entire legislative session, the Republicans did not offer legislation to balance the state budget through cost savings or revenue development. Instead, they opposed the revenue generating proposals.

“Simply saying ‘no’ to revenue ideas is not a real solution,” said President Cullerton. “The people of Illinois are tired of legislators simply being opposed to ideas.  They want legislators who provide reasonable solutions for the devastating cuts that their communities are facing.”

Other issues that legislators will face during the special session include: government reform, recall, the state pension system, and the capital bill.

Democrats also did the heavy lifting when it came to moving forward on the most sweeping ethics and government reform issues in state history.  Key reforms included campaign contribution limitations, transparency in state contracts and procurement, as well as crackdowns on the insider deals that have plagued Illinois boards and commissions. The bills are now on the Governor’s desk.

With Senate leadership, the legislature passed a $31 billion capital construction and jobs plan.  With unemployment reaching double digits throughout the state, it is the intention of the Senate to pass technical fixes for the bill and urge Governor Quinn to sign the plan.
Special Session Proclamation
Senate Democrats Have Done Their Job
"No" is not a Solution

News from the 94th General Assembly Illinois Senate Democrats
 04 July 2009 Welcome to the Senate Democrats Website:  
 Illinois State Senate Democrats News   
SENATE PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE CALL joinT SESSION TO ADDRESS THE BUDGET
Senate President John J. Cullerton News
01 July 2009
By: Cullerton Staff
SENATE PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE CALL joinT SESSION TO ADDRESS THE BUDGET SPRINGFIELD, IL - Demonstrating their continued commitment to resolving the state budget crisis, Senate President John Cullerton and House Speaker Michael Madigan are calling a Joint Session of the General Assembly. According to the joint proclamation released today: “The purposes of the Special Session shall be (i) to take action on any vetoes, amendatory vetoes, or reduction vetoes by the Governor of legislation related ....
[More]
FORBY’S UNEMPLOYMENT BILL BECOMES LAW
Senator Gary Forby News
01 July 2009
By: Forby Staff
FORBY’S UNEMPLOYMENT BILL BECOMES LAW SPRINGFIELD, IL- State Sen. Gary Forby has successfully changed Illinois’ unemployment law to capture $200 million in federal funds. The new money will allow the state to extend unemployment benefits by 20 weeks. “The unemployment rate is high, and in some parts of the state it continues to rise,” said Forby. “Extending unemployment benefits by 20 weeks will help give the victims of the economic crisis the time they need to find new ....
[More]
FORBY’S SCHOOL FUNDING BILL SIGNED INTO LAW
Senator Gary Forby News
29 June 2009
By: Forby Staff
FORBY’S SCHOOL FUNDING BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

SPRINGFIELD, IL- State Sen. Gary Forby’s efforts to ensure all Illinois schools receive at least as much money for special education as they did last year has paid off. Today the governor signed House Bill 314 into law, extending the state’s “hold harmless” rule for another year. Hold harmless guarantees that no school in the state will receive less money for special education services than it did last year. The legislation ....

[More]
DELGADO: HOUSE BILL 174 IS A BALANCED BUDGET SOLUTION
Senator William Delgado News
26 June 2009
By: Delgado Staff
DELGADO: HOUSE BILL 174 IS A BALANCED BUDGET SOLUTIONSPRINGFIELD, Illinois – In an effort to address the state of Illinois’ historic revenue shortfalls, State Senator William Delgado (D-Chicago) is urging the House to pass House Bill 174 which is both a short-term and long-term solution to our state’s ongoing budget crisis. “We are currently experiencing a fiscal crisis and there are not enough cuts we can make to fix the problem,” said Senator Delgado. “We have tried to work with ....
[More]
To the Editor: Let’s be Honest About the State’s Budget Crisis
Senator Jaqueline Y. Collins News - 25 June 2009 By: administrator
To the Editor: Let’s be Honest About the State’s Budget Crisis Last week thousands of individuals rallied for a fair and responsible solution to address the state’s budget woes. Many were misled to believe state government couldn’t find revenues necessary to fund critical areas; however, the sad reality is that politics based on fear and not fiscal responsibility were the source of mass hysteria. Amidst the rhetoric and horror over doomsday budgets and draconian cuts, I’d like to remind people that ....
[More]
ILLINOISANS SHOULD BE PROUD OF ETHICS REFORM
Senate President John J. Cullerton News - 25 June 2009 By: Cullerton Staff
ILLINOISANS SHOULD BE PROUD OF ETHICS REFORMIllinoisans won big with ethics reform this year. Still, a variety of critics have complained that the General Assembly has not done enough to root out corruption at its source, or to enact “game changing” legislation. Let’s look at what action lawmakers took to root out corruption at its known source, and let the chips fall where they may. Even before the Illinois Reform Commission entered the scene in late January ....
[More]
SANDOVAL AND SULLIVAN URGE AN END TO POLITICIZING CAPITAL BILL
Senator Deanna Demuzio News - 24 June 2009 By: Demuzio Staff
SANDOVAL AND SULLIVAN URGE AN END TO POLITICIZING CAPITAL BILL With 10% Unemployment, Governor’s Signature Can Begin to Create Thousands of Jobs Now and help Benld School Students and Parents get back to a normal school schedule - Springfield, IL – State Senators Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) and John Sullivan (D-Rushville) stood today with members of organized labor and other concerned citizens to urge the Governor to end his refusal to sign the job-creating capital construction package that legislators passed in ....
[More]
SANDOVAL AND SULLIVAN URGE AN END TO POLITICIZING CAPITAL BILL
Senator Martin A. Sandoval News - 24 June 2009 By: Sandoval Staff
SANDOVAL AND SULLIVAN URGE AN END TO POLITICIZING CAPITAL BILLWith 10% Unemployment, Governor’s Signature Can Begin to Create Thousands of Jobs Now -Springfield, IL – State Senators Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) and John Sullivan (D-Rushville) stood today with members of organized labor and other concerned citizens to urge the Governor to end his refusal to sign the job-creating capital construction package that legislators passed in May. The measure received bipartisan support in both chambers in the General Assembly. ....
[More]
More Current News
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From the Statehouse - A weekly update on issues from Illinois State Senator Gary Forby
Op-Ed – Sen. Hutchinson – Political Courage – The Time Is Now
Legislators / higher education leaders attend regional summit
From the Statehouse - A weekly update on issues from Illinois State Senator Gary Forby
HUTCHINSON, ALTHOFF FORM COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUNDING TASK FORCE

   
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