Thursday, April 10

Governor holds true to word
with a few surprises

[APRIL 10, 2003]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich's budget address holds true to his promises to Sen. Larry Bomke last week but also contains a few surprises. In addition to no state employee layoffs and no cuts to education funding, the budget plan also calls for an end to employer contributions for state employee pensions and makes no mention of reopening Lincoln Developmental Center.

"The governor assured voters in this area that he would reopen LDC, and he promised me the same last week," said Bomke, R-Springfield. "The governor has certainly followed through on many of his promises with this speech, and I trust he will also follow through on his plans to reopen LDC, and he has indicated as much to me today."

The governor pledged to Bomke in writing last week to provide funds to reopen LDC, a promise Bomke is confident the governor will meet this year. In addition to reopening LDC, the governor also indicated he would not cut education funding and would not lay off any additional state employees -- both concerns of families within the 50th District.

 

The budget outline meets the state's commitment to education, providing an additional $250 per student in state funds to public schools, more early childhood grants, increased funding for bilingual education, more local control and flexibility for school districts, increased parent involvement through new technology, and prompt payment of state funds to schools.

The governor's plan also calls for rehiring of only 39 percent of the nearly 10,000 state jobs freed by early retirement. At the end of fiscal 2002, the state had just more than 69,000 employees. Blagojevich's plan budgets for just more than 63,000 employees on payroll, in line with his promise to Bomke.

Still, Bomke is troubled that the budget eliminates employer contributions for state employee pensions, a benefit that helps the state compete with private sector employers for top-quality employees. The plan also freezes salaries for mid-level employees and management, leaving many area families with no way to meet the rising cost of living.

 

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"I am worried that this provision will jeopardize the state's ability to retain and attract top employees," said Bomke. "While the state cannot compete with private sector salaries in specialized jobs, the benefits often put the state ahead when hiring employees with specific expertise. And the salary freeze on top of this will have a negative impact on many area families already hit hard by the state's economic condition."

Bomke intends to discuss this matter further with the governor and budget negotiators to ensure that the state's benefits for all employees remain competitive and to make certain that the state has the flexibility to at least offer cost-of-living increases to all employees when needed.

Bomke also indicated the timing is poor to increase user fees that may or may not impact business. "Businesses have also been hit hard by the economy, and with the state unable to pay its own bills on time, many businesses in my district and throughout Illinois are struggling to keep their doors open," Bomke said. "Now is not the time to put a further strain on business. I think we can work together during the remainder of the budget process to find another solution. This is not a Republican problem and it's not a Democrat problem -- it's a budget problem and we need to work together to solve it."

[News release]

 


Sen. Brady opening office

[APRIL 10, 2003]  Sen. Bill Brady is opening a new office in Forsyth. The office opens at 7 a.m. and the ribbon-cutting ceremony will be at 8 a.m. this Friday. The Decatur and Macon County Chamber are hosting the “Business Before Hours” event. The address of the new office is 332 W. Marion Ave., Suite 12, Forsyth, IL  62535.


New drug program will help more seniors

[APRIL 10, 2003]  SPRINGFIELD -- A new state-sponsored prescription drug discount program has passed the first series of hurdles toward becoming law, according to Sen. Larry Bomke, a sponsor of the plan.

Senate Bill 3, the Senior Citizen Prescription Drug Discount Plan, gained approval in the Senate April 8.

"Helping senior citizens access the medicine they need will help the state and families save money on higher cost health care, such as long-term care and hospitalization costs, for those seniors who spend down their life's savings just to pay for their medication," said Bomke, R-Springfield.

"Prescription drugs can quickly put a strain on fixed incomes. When that happens, senior citizens often put off seeking medical attention or are forced to turn to their families or to the state for assistance. Making sure they can afford the medication as soon as they need it will help senior citizens stay healthy and financially independent longer."

Under Senate Bill 3, the new drug discount program would be open to all senior citizens at least 65 years old -- with no income limitations, unlike the state's existing programs -- and would provide discounts for all prescription medications.

 

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The new program would provide discounted medicines at participating pharmacies beginning Jan. 1, 2004. The discounts would be made possible through rebate agreements with the pharmaceutical companies, similar to "buying clubs" where members of the club get discounts because the item is purchased in bulk.

To enroll, senior citizens simply complete an application and pay a $25 fee to cover the administrative costs of the program. Those already enrolled in Circuit Breaker would automatically be enrolled in the new program and could use their Circuit Breaker card to pay for medicines not covered by that program.

Senate Bill 3 now awaits consideration by the House of Representatives.

[News release]

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