 On Wednesday, a record was set for longest legislative overtime.
It's a record of which none of us should be proud!The governor
continues to convene multiple "special sessions" in response to the
continued budget impasse. The cost for special sessions is estimated
at $42,000 per day.
Utility rate settlement
A $1 billion utility rate settlement approved Thursday by the
General Assembly will not provide the kind of relief needed by
Illinois consumers hard-hit by skyrocketing utility rates.
As part of Senate Bill 1592, Ameren and ComEd will provide $1
billion in credits over three years for utility customers who have
been waiting since January for relief from significantly higher
power costs.
I did not vote for this legislation because this is not real rate
relief. This plan provides only $1 billion over three years, when we
are allowing the power generating companies more than $6 billion in
windfall profits.
Illinois consumers would be better served by temporarily freezing
electric rates at 2006 levels and then implementing gradual rate
increases. We need to do everything we can to ensure that Illinois
has a reliable source of energy, but it must be brought to the
consumer in an affordable way. Right now, we need to freeze rates
and then take a closer look at more reasonable increases, phased in
over several years.
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 I also oppose the establishment of another government agency to
oversee utility rates. We certainly do not need the attorney general
and a new Illinois power agency to determine utility rate issues --
that's the responsibility of the Illinois Commerce Commission. We
have no need for yet another level of government bureaucracy.
Approved July 26 by the Senate and the House of Representatives,
Senate Bill 1592 now moves to the governor's desk and will
become law with his signature.
Brady on WTAX-AM radio show
I was a guest Friday morning on Bob Murray's early morning (6:40
a.m.) radio talk show on WTAX-AM in Springfield.
We talked about the record overtime legislative session -- 57
days on Friday. He asked for my insight on the way the legislative
session has been conducted and wanted to know my thoughts on the
likelihood of another temporary budget.
Check out Brady's talk show -- "Capitol Connection" -- online!
My monthly television talk show, "Capitol Connection," is now
available at
http://www.brady.senategop.org/. The 30-minute show spotlights
issues facing Illinois citizens, and my guests offer unique
perspective and insight into these issues.
[Text from file received from
Sen.
Bill Brady]
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