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Senators were able to take a few
minutes out of a busy committee schedule during the week to greet
hundreds of young people who filled the halls of the Capitol. On
March 15 and 16, members of FFA chapters and 4-H groups from around
the state came to Springfield to tell lawmakers about the importance
of agriculture, agricultural education and agribusiness.
The break from partisan maneuvering was
brief, however. On March 17, Senate Democratic leaders reneged on a
promise to allow a vote on comprehensive medical malpractice reform
legislation aimed at keeping doctors in Illinois, Brady said.
Despite strong opposition by members
of the Senate Republican Caucus, the Senate Democratic leadership
moved
Senate Bill 150 from the Judiciary Committee, which was expected
to vote on the bill March 17, to the highly political Executive
Committee, where the future of the legislation is bleak.
Brady said the action by Senate
Democratic leaders shows that they value politics over what is best
for the citizens of Illinois, but the fight is far from over. He
pledged to keep pushing for meaningful medical malpractice reform
that includes legal reforms, medical reforms and insurance reforms.
Republican lawmakers are demanding a vote on the legislation in the
full Senate.
In other business, stem-cell
research legislation was passed by the Health and Human Services
Committee, despite opposition by Republican members of the
committee.
Senate Bill 2100 allows the state to issue $1 billion in bonds
to fund adult and embryonic stem cell research. The proposal calls
for the state to recoup the money by imposing a 6 percent tax on
voluntary, unnecessary plastic surgery. Opponents question the
ability of the state and insurance companies to distinguish what is
"necessary" plastic surgery. Opponents also cited statistics showing
that in states that enacted similar legislation, the revenue
actually produced from taxing plastic surgeons was severely
overestimated.
A proposal for a land-based casino
owned by the city of Chicago was approved by a partisan vote of the
Senate Executive Committee.
Senate Bill 19 establishes a 4,000-position casino in Chicago
and adds two new riverboat gambling licenses for Waukegan and a
location in the south suburbs. Existing riverboats will also be
allowed to expand their gaming positions from 1,200 to 2,000.
[to top of second column in this article]
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 Also, the Senate Environment and
Energy Committee continued to hear testimony March 15 about the
Illinois Telecom Act, which is set to expire this summer. Some
groups want minor changes made to the current act because the
Federal Communications Commission is changing its rules and
regulations concerning telecom law. Others argue that the state act
should be completely revised and new regulations added to existing
companies. Still others argue that the companies should be
completely deregulated because the cable industry and utilities have
no regulations concerning their entry into wireless phone sales.
Other bills passed by Senate
committees last week:
"Truth in pumping" (SB 532) --
Requires motor fuel retailers to post a copy of an Illinois
Department of Revenue breakdown of the federal, state and local
taxes that are being charged with every gallon of gas purchased.
P.E. waivers (SB 1972) -- Allows a
school board to excuse pupils in grades 9 through 12 from engaging
in physical education courses if the pupil is getting substantial
exercise from participating in an athletic activity outside of
school and if a parent or guardian of the pupil documents the
activity.
Illinois Colonels (SB 1776) --
Creates an honorary regiment of Illinois Colonels, to be known as
the Governor’s Regiment, within the Department of Military Affairs.
Allows the governor to appoint individuals whose accomplishments,
achievements or service have contributed to the fellowship and good
will of the state of Illinois.
Prompt payment (SB 1654) --
Prohibits state agencies from delaying the submission of bills to
the state comptroller, to help provide state officials with a more
accurate assessment of how much money the state owes vendors.
Revenue reports (SB 1935) --
Requires the Illinois Department of Revenue to publish a timely
annual report to help Illinois officials trying to hammer out a new
state budget.
Military bases (SJR 18) -- Urges the
U.S. Department of Defense and the Base Realignment and Closure
Commission to save Rock Island Arsenal, Peoria Air National Guard
Base, Springfield National Guard Base and Scott Air Force Base from
closure because of their military and local value.
[Illinois
Senate Republican Caucus news release]
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