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Senate committees, spokesman posts announced Senate
Republican Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, has asked me to
continue my responsibilities as Republican spokesman for the Senate
Pensions and Investments Committee and as Republican spokesman for
the Senate Insurance Committee, as well as serve on two other Senate
committees.
The Pensions and Investments Committee considers legislation
affecting the five state pension systems for public employees and
local government pension funds. The Insurance Committee examines
legislation affecting the insurance industry and policy holders.
Having served for four years as spokesman for these committees, I
have worked to protect consumers, public employees and taxpayers.
The issues are complex and diverse, but affect us all.
I will also serve as a member of the Revenue Committee, which
considers legislation involving the Illinois tax code and
tax-related issues, and the Public Health Committee, which examines
bills relating to public health, health care facilities and health
care access issues.
The Senate's 24 standing committees analyze legislation dealing
with specific subject areas, such as education, agriculture and
transportation. Committees screen legislation introduced by all
members. Usually, only those bills approved by a committee may be
considered by the entire Senate.
Municipalities will get federal assistance for ice storm
Federal assistance has been approved for 18 Illinois counties --
including six counties in the 44th District -- affected by heavy ice
during the winter storm Nov. 30-Dec. 1.
The federal assistance will help local governments, municipally
owned utilities and electric power cooperatives recover 75 percent
of storm recovery costs. Counties in the federal disaster
declaration include Christian, DeWitt, Logan, Macon, McLean and
Sangamon.
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Cash-strapped local municipalities will get help paying bills
associated with the crippling ice storm a few months ago. The extra
hours that crews had to work to restore electricity and clean up
fallen trees resulted in unexpected and burdensome costs for
governments with limited resources. In a letter sent by the
governor requesting a federal disaster declaration for counties
severely affected by the ice storm, storm-related expenses to
governmental bodies, municipally owned utilities and electric power
cooperatives were estimated at $19.5 million.
A state request for federal assistance for 26 counties hit by
exceptionally heavy snowfalls from the Nov. 30-Dec. 1 storm was also
approved on Dec. 29, 2006.
Reminder – "state of state" meetings scheduled for next week
I will be traveling to McLean County and DeWitt County next week
to address challenges facing Illinois during a series of "state of
the state" meetings. Call for reservations now!
Upcoming meetings are set for:
McLean County -- Feb. 21, 7 a.m., at the Interstate Center,
2301 West Market St. in Bloomington. The meeting will be hosted by
the McLean County Farm Bureau. Reservations and payment are
requested prior to the breakfast and can be made by contacting the
McLean County Farm Bureau at 309-663-6497. The cost of the breakfast
is $10.
DeWitt County -- Feb. 22, 7:30 a.m., at the Clinton Country
Club, Route 51 South in Clinton. The meeting will be co-hosted by
the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce and the DeWitt County Farm
Bureau. Reservations are needed and can be made by contacting either
Steve Vandiver at Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce, 217-935-3364, or
Ken Bjelland at DeWitt County Farm Bureau, 217-935-2126. The cost of
the breakfast is $12 per person and can be paid at the door.
(Text copied from file received from
Sen. Bill Brady) |
