Written by Senator Heather Steans Friday, 19 March 2010 15:23
Returning the primary to the second Tuesday in March (this bill was also signed by the Governor into law this week); (Senate Bill 355) Enabling the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to run as a ticket beginning with the nominating process (Senate Bill 377/ House Bill 5820); and Requiring the State's proposed budget to be posted online at a publicly accessible website for 4 days before the General Assembly can pass it. (Senate Bill 3622) More information and full text of these bills is available at I also encourage you to look in your mail for the U.S. Census form - if you haven't received it already you should shortly. Please complete this quick, ten question form and return it as soon as possible. A complete census count is critical to our community by maximizing the federal funds that we receive and ensuring we are fully represented in our local, state and federal legislative districts. According to information from 2010.census.gov, "the 2010 Census will help communities receive more than $400 billion in federal funds each year for things like: * Hospitals * Job training centers * Schools * Senior centers * Bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects * Emergency services The data collected by the census also help determine the number of seats your state has in the U.S. House of Representatives." For more information on the census, visit 2010.census.gov. Next week I will provide an update on the State's budget - what the Governor is recommending and my thoughts on where we are in the process.
Some highlights of bills that passed the Senate this week are:
Senator Steans Menu
7th District
Years served: Appointed February 2008 - Present
Committee assignments: Human Services; Appropriations II; Public Health; Education (Vice-Chairperson); Environment (Vice-Chairperson); Committee of the Whole; Subcommittee on Amendments (Sub-Chairperson); Deficit Reduction; Subcomm.Medicaid &Provider Rate Ref; Subcommittee on Special Issues.
Biography: Born May 8, 1963, in Lake Forest, IL; B.A. in Urban Studies from Princeton; M.A. in Public Policy from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government; former budget director, WI Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations and former strategic planner, Chicago Public Schools; married (husband, Leo Smith) with three children.