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Restoring order to the state's finances is the main order of
business for Illinois State Republicans, who have reintroduced a
proposal that will authorize the governor to cut the current budget
by $1 billion.
Members of the Senate Republican Caucus joined Senate Republican
Leader Frank Watson in a Feb. 6 press conference at the state
Capitol to offer Gov. Rod Blagojevich the authority to cut the
fiscal 2003 state budget by 5 percent across the board. The caucus
is also asking for a budget summit to begin working on the budget
for fiscal 2004, which starts July 1, 2003.
Illinois' budget crisis has dominated
the headlines for months. Millions of dollars were cut from state
programs and agencies last year, and in the coming months there is
little doubt those same difficult decisions will be faced again. The
budget deficits at the state level seem to be getting worse every
day. These problems stem from a rapid growth in the state spending
that has far exceeded the state's revenues for more than a year.
The Senate Republican Caucus introduced
Senate Bill 350 -- the Emergency Budget Act for fiscal 2003 -- on
Feb. 6, giving the governor authority to cut 5 percent across the
board from the budget he inherited when he took office last month.
The legislation is based on a proposal
first offered by Senate Republicans in November 2001, which failed
because of a lack of Democratic support. A January 2003 vote on the
same legislation had the support of 12 Democrats, including Senate
President Emil Jones Jr. but failed on a narrow vote in the House of
Representatives.
Brady
named to Senate committees
Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson,
R-Greenville, has asked Sen. Bill Brady to serve on the Agriculture
and Conservation Committee and the Insurance and Pensions Committee
in the Senate
The Agriculture and Conservation
Committee considers legislation that impacts farming,
agriculture-related business and conservation issues.
Legislation affecting the insurance
industry and pension systems is examined by the Insurance and
Pensions Committee before being considered by the entire Senate.
The appointments this week come on the
heels of Brady's appointment Jan. 17 as Republican spokesman for the
Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, which considers all legislation
affecting the business and labor communities in Illinois.
The Senate's 17 standing committees
analyze legislation dealing with specific subject areas, such as
education, agriculture and transportation. The committees screen
legislation introduced by all members, shaping what is presented to
lawmakers and determining if it will be sent to the Senate for a
vote. Usually only those bills approved by a committee may be
considered by the entire Senate.
The kinds of issues considered in Sen.
Brady's committees -- agriculture, insurance and business
-- are important to all citizens and will be especially challenging
given the condition of the state budget.
Brady
resolution honors former President Ronald Reagan
The Illinois Senate paid tribute to
Ronald Reagan on the day before his 92nd birthday with the Feb. 5
adoption of a resolution that Brady co-sponsored.
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this article] |
Senate Joint Resolution 2 recognizes
Feb. 6 of each year as Ronald Reagan Day to honor the former
president's birthday.
Ronald Reagan is an Illinois native,
and it is said with pride that he was born and raised here. His
efforts on behalf of democracy and freedom changed the course of
world history. He also has the distinction of being our nation's
longest-living president. The Illinois Senate wishes him a very
happy 92 birthday.
Senate Joint Resolution 2, which passed
with bipartisan support, praised Reagan as "a man of humble
beginnings" who restored "accountability and common sense to
government." It now moves to the House of Representative for further
consideration.
College
Illinois enrollment extends through March 31
Families wanting to invest in their
children's future college education at today's prices have until
March 31 to enroll "College Illinois!," the state's prepaid tuition
program.
Different plans are available and can
be purchased with a lump-sum payment or monthly installments over
five or 10 years. The program allows the purchaser to pay for one
community college semester up to four years at a public university.
Contract benefits also may be used at
Illinois private colleges and out-of-state colleges, both private
and public. Once a plan is purchased, anyone -- grandparents,
relatives, family friends -- can make a payment on behalf of the
beneficiary.
The program is completely tax-exempt in
Illinois, and its designation as a 529 plan ensures that contract
earnings are also exempt from federal income tax.
For information and applications, go to
www.collegeillinois.com
or call toll-free 1 (877) 877-3724.
Second
semester intern
Jordan Ault of Pekin, a junior at
Illinois Wesleyan University, will be working in Brady's office
during the spring 2003 semester. Ault is majoring in political
science, and his minor is in economics and human services
management.
General
Assembly scholarships
Applications are now being accepted for
the General Assembly scholarship. Applicants must be permanent
residents of the 44th Legislative District. Anyone interested in
applying should send a letter requesting an application to Sen. Bill
Brady, 2203 Eastland Drive, Suite. 3, Bloomington, IL 61704. Brady
will be accepting applications until March 14.
Future
dates
Saturday, Feb. 8 -- Illinois Heart and
Lung Foundation Heart of Gold Gala
Tuesday, Feb. 11 -- Speech at Sunrise
Rotary Club meeting
Wednesday, Feb. 12 -- Sangamon County
Republican 99th Lincoln Day luncheon
Thursday, Feb. 13 -- Economic
Development Council of the Bloomington/Normal Area breakfast
Friday, Feb. 14 -- WJBC program with
R.C. McBride, 10-11 a.m.
Friday, Feb. 14 -- Logan County Lincoln
Day dinner
Sen. Brady
speaks on WJBC radio at 7 a.m. on the first Monday of the month.
[News
release from Sen. Bill Brady] |
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The governor also used the occasion to
sign legislation that would provide much-needed relief to the
families of Guard members and reservists who face increased
financial burdens when a wage-earner is called up for duty. In
addition, Blagojevich signed an executive order ensuring consistent
pay for state workers who serve in such units.
Blagojevich reviewed members of the
933rd Military Police Unit and the 1244th Transportation Company
prior to their deployment. Approximately 350 members of the units
will be sent to the United States Central Command theater of
operations, where they will provide support for Operation Enduring
Freedom.
"On behalf of the people of Illinois, I
wish each of you a successful and safe mission," the governor said.
"I also want to express to you the deep
gratitude of people around this state," he said.
He called the men and women of the
Illinois National Guard the living embodiment of the "citizen
soldiers" envisioned by America's founding fathers.
Blagojevich also cited the "enormous
contributions" made to this effort by the families of the Guard and
Reserve members, as well as the challenges that they face.
"It is fitting that we use this
occasion to recognize their role, too, and to honor their special
service, and help ease some of the burdens they face," he added, as
he prepared to sign into law the Illinois Military Families Relief
Fund Act.
"This act recognizes that tremendous
pressures are placed on the families of men and women who are sent
to serve," he said.
The act establishes a trust fund
allowing the families of Guard members and reservists to receive
emergency financial grants and general financial support, helping
make up the decline in household income that occurs when a
wage-earner is called up to service.
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this article] |
The fund will be financed through a
voluntary checkoff on people's income tax forms, "giving all
Illinois taxpayers the chance to play a direct and meaningful role
in helping military families meet their financial needs."
Blagojevich praised the efforts of Lt.
Gov. Pat Quinn, who was instrumental in the passage of the bill. He
also cited the work of Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline, and Sen.
Chris Lauzen, R-Aurora, two of the sponsors of the bill, who were
also scheduled to attend.
The ceremony was at the North Riverside
armory.
The governor also congratulated several
members of military families who led the efforts on the home front
to help military families -- in particular, Brenda and Karlas
Robinzine, Mary Beth and Will Beiersdorf, and Beth and Peter Kell.
While the three men had been deployed to guard Al Qaeda and Taliban
detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, following Sept, 11, 2001, their
wives worked with Quinn to encourage the General Assembly to pass
the bill.
Blagojevich also cited the
contributions made by employers across this state who enable workers
to devote time to training for and service in the Guard and
Reserves.
In addition to the legislation,
Blagojevich also signed an executive order on Friday. The measure
will ensure that all state employees who are members of the Guard
and Reserves continue to receive the same level of pay and benefits
when called up to serve.
"I am proud
to be here today with you," the governor said to the Guard members
as they prepared to deploy, adding: "I look forward to the day when
we welcome you back to Illinois."
[Illinois
Government News Network
press release] |
|
[FEB. 8, 2003]
SPRINGFIELD -- Sen. Larry
Bomke, R-Springfield, joined his Senate Republican colleagues
Thursday in asking for bipartisan cooperation on addressing the
budget crisis. The caucus offered Senate Bill 350, which gives the
governor the tools he needs to correct the nearly $1 billion deficit
for fiscal 2003. Senate Republicans also called for a budget summit
to begin immediate talks on the fiscal 2004 budget. This is in
addition to granting the governor's request to delay his budget
message until April.
[News
release from Sen. Larry Bomke] |
[Pictured
(right to left) are Sens. Kathleen L. "Kay" Wojcik, R-Schaumburg;
Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville; Bomke; Brad Burzynski, R-Sycamore;
Steve Rauschenberger, R-Elgin; and Frank Watson, R-Greenville.]
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