Wednesday, December 15, 2010
 
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Senate week in review: Medicare reform, what to do with Thomson prison and more

Dec. 6-10

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[December 15, 2010]  SPRINGFIELD -- Bipartisan legislative committees are continuing their work on workers' compensation, Medicaid and education reforms, while the sale of a state prison and the proposed expansion of gambling in Illinois face new hurdles, according to state Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield.

The Senate Workers' Compensation Reform Committee, co-chaired by Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, and Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, met in Chicago during the week.

The committee was established in November to review Illinois workers' compensation practices.

On Dec. 8, the committee heard testimony from business and labor leaders, and representatives of the legal community, with the goal of developing reforms that decrease the cost of workers' comp for employers while maintaining and improving protections for workers injured on the job.

The committee's recommendations are to be presented to the Legislature by Jan. 3.

Senate Republicans have been pushing for workers' compensation reforms to make Illinois more competitive. Testimony was presented Dec. 8 that showed that workers' compensation regulations in Illinois are the most costly when compared with surrounding states and other large states like California and Texas, which impedes job creation.

A hearing about reforming the state's Medicaid system was scheduled for yesterday morning (Tuesday) in Chicago.

Bomke said Medicaid reform has been discussed for years and several studies have been conducted on the issue. The research generated a number of legislative proposals to restructure Medicaid, but no significant action has been taken to reduce the overwhelming financial burden of the program.

A third committee, the Education Reform Committee, was also formed during the week. State Sen. Kim Lightford, D-Maywood, and state Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Rochelle, will serve as co-chairs, and state Sen. Ed Maloney, D-Chicago, and state Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, will serve as members.

In other news, a plan by state officials to sell the Thomson Correctional Center in northwestern Illinois at public auction Dec. 21 could hit a snag if the federal government does not come up with enough money.

An amount that had been proposed by the Obama administration earlier this year for the purchase of the Thomson prison was already about $50 million short of the $219.9 million value according to state appraisal, and state law forbids selling a facility at less than its appraised value.

Then on Dec. 8, the U.S. House approved just $95 million for the purchase of the prison.

The media is reporting that Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin is trying to get more money for the sale in a spending bill that could be voted on by Congress this month.

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Although an initial plan to move detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Thomson was dropped because of controversy and protest, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has expressed interest in buying the vacant facility to ease overcrowding in its system. Opponents of the sale say that Illinois could use the extra room at Thomson to ease overcrowding in the state prison system.

Also, a major expansion of gaming, passed in the second week of the fall veto session, may still face challenges from the House of Representatives and the governor.

Senate Bill 737 passed the Senate Dec. 1 and advanced to the House.

Bomke says it would allow for a Chicago casino, four new riverboats, slot machines at Illinois' six racetracks and increase the cap on positions at current boats.

Opponents say the expansion is too big, and some lawmakers expressed concerns that additional casinos would drain revenues from existing casinos. Others noted that a gaming expansion is not a dependable source of revenue. Proponents said the expansion would create much-needed revenues, while bringing both construction jobs and permanent positions to the state.

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The House is expected to consider the bill in early January, before the new, two-year 97th General Assembly convenes and members are sworn in Jan. 12.

In its current form, the bill is unlikely to pass in the House. Whatever form it takes, the bill could still face opposition by Gov. Pat Quinn, who says he doesn't favor making Illinois the Las Vegas of the Midwest.

[Text from file sent on behalf of Sen. Larry Bomke by Illinois Senate Republican staff]

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