Springfield, IL – State Senator Ed Maloney (D-Chicago) believes that the Illinois General Assembly had a productive day in Springfield during summer session. They reauthorized spending on the State’s capital construction plan, passed an election law reform bill, cut their own pay, and dealt with several other lingering issues.

Because the legislators returned on their own and not in response to a call from the governor, the cost of Wednesday’s session was minimal, and legislators did not receive per diem payments to pay for travel and lodging.

State Senator Ed Maloney (D-Chicago) noted the conclusion of the General Assembly’s 97th spring session by looking at the Senate’s accomplishments as well as his individual achievements.

“I am pleased we were able to pass the budget this year effectively, using our ‘budgeting for results’ approach rather than a lump sum spending bill as we have in the past,” Maloney said. “Having heard testimony in Appropriations Committee hearings from all key state agencies and then funding those agencies with both results and revenue in mind gives us a far more comprehensive budget plan than in previous years, with realistic spending cuts incorporated.”

Senator Maloney also noted the workers’ compensation system reform that passed with bipartisan support in the Senate then passed on a second vote in the House, observing that the negotiations and compromises achieved could mean more reform is still possible in fall veto session.

While Senator Maloney wrapped us spring session this week passing bills on expanding renewable energy and pressurized oxygen safety, the bulk of his work this session focused on education. Maloney served on the bipartisan Education Reform Committee that successfully produced this year’s historic reforms that will mean better qualified teachers in classrooms and potentially less distracting teachers’ union bargaining rights regarding strikes.

Other key education measures led by Senator Maloney this spring included performance-based funding for higher education institutions, expanding access to college planning programs for students who may not be familiar with the college admission or financial aid process. Another measure increases safety on college campuses by requiring sex offenders who are students or employees are registered with campus security as well as local law enforcement.

As chair of the Senate’s Higher Education Committee, Maloney has also called for a special subject-matter hearing over the summer break regarding some troubling audit findings for Chicago State University.

“CSU President Dr. Wayne Watson has indicated his willingness to attend such a hearing,” Maloney said. “His tenure began during the audit process, and his administration has made progress in responding to and correcting several of the findings. He wants an opportunity to demonstrate that progress and address any remaining issues and I look forward to getting this resolved.”

Senator Maloney chairs the Senate’s Higher Education Committee, and is a former school administrator and teacher. He has been engaged in a number of education legislation efforts regarding access, completion, performance-based funding, tuition, and scholarship programs in Illinois since he joined the Illinois Senate in 2003.

The serious financial problems our state is facing today were not created over night. We’re not going to be able to cut our way out of this hole in a matter of weeks, or even months; it’s going to take some time. We have a major problem and every state agency and department is going to be faced with some cuts, but it is essential that we best ensure those cuts are made responsibly and fairly.

To the Editor:

Over the next month, there will be no other issue on the minds of people working at the state capitol than finding ways to help fill the state’s budget hole. During times like these, it is essential that every penny of taxpayer money is looked at closely to ensure it is being spent wisely and efficiently. But as an audit recently found out, that’s a pretty daunting task when state agencies are using hundreds of different non-interfacing accounting systems to accomplish this goal.

The Senate has reached the mid-point of session with the deadline for getting substantive bills out of committee passing about a week ago. This week, I thought I would take time to discuss the committees I am a part of and why they are an important part of the legislative process. During these hearings, my colleagues and I debate the pros and cons of bills before a measure is taken to the floor for a vote. Agencies and individuals that support a proposal are allowed to give testimony, and opponents are allowed to defend their positions as well. This type of discussion is vital to the legislative process and coming up with responsible, sensible solutions.

The resolution establishes an estimate of $34.282 billion in total general revenue; this differs from estimates by the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget and the House of Representatives. It more closely resembles that of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability because the Senate used many of the same assumptions. COGFA is a bipartisan commission with equal representation from both chambers of the General Assembly and both political parties.

This estimate will be used by the Senate Appropriations Committees as they apply our “budgeting for results” commitment. Senator Dan Kotowski, author of the budgeting for results bill passed in Senate Bill 3660, presented this resolution with colleagues Senators Heather Steans, Pam Althoff and Matt Murphy.

Discussion on the floor during debate pointed out that this is a snapshot and as changes in the economy occur during the next several weeks, these projections may need to be adjusted to reflect changes. Because of differences in the content of the House and Senate versions, SJR 29 will require House approval for adoption. The resolution may be taken up in the House as soon as the next session week beginning March 29.

Here are the differences between the Senate’s estimates and those of the House, GOMB and COGFA:

• GOMB and the House assume a shorter period of lag time in revenue collection from the January tax increase than COGFA and the Senate, meaning that in their estimates there will be more revenue in FY 2011 and less in FY 2012.
• GOMB and the House used a pessimistic growth rate, while COGFA and the Senate used a baseline growth rate, resulting in a higher revenue estimate for the Senate and COGFA.
• COGFA and the Senate used a 17.5% corporate refund rate (which has been in place since FY 2009) while GOMB and the House used an older 12.5% rate.
• The House and the Senate assumed no change in statute.  GOMB and COGFA assumed that the state will decouple from a federal change in bonus depreciation for investments in machinery, which would require legislative action.

Springfield, IL – State Senator Ed Maloney (D-Chicago) passed a bill through the Higher Education Committee Tuesday that would have public universities, community colleges and other state education agencies develop performance-based metrics designed to promote and measure student success in degree and certificate completion which would determine their funding. Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon testified in favor of Senate Bill 1773 during the hearing. The bill passed by a unanimous vote of 11-0-0.