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Over the Memorial Day weekend, Senate Republican Leader Frank
Watson, R- Greenville, co-authored a letter to the Blagojevich
administration requesting the release of a Goldman Sachs report that
reportedly substantiated the claim that the governor's idea to sell
or lease the state lottery could net $10 billion.
Watson's letter comes on the heels of:
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An independent
lottery consultant voicing his belief to several media outlets
that lottery vendors will not pay $10 billion for the rights to
the lottery.
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A letter from House
Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, to Democratic legislators
and the governor seeking more detailed information about the
plan -- including verification of the $10 billion figure.
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Numerous media
reports and editorials questioning the substance, motive and
viability of the proposal.
Bomke says the governor's office refused to release the document,
claiming it would negatively affect future bidding processes.
In other news, the first of several hearings about the proposed
lease of the Illinois Tollway was conducted on May 31. Several
Senate Republicans attended the hearing in Chicago to obtain details
on how a potential lease deal would be carried out. There are at
least three more hearings scheduled around the state over the
summer.
Meanwhile, at a press conference initiated by state
Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, on June 1, Attorney General Lisa Madigan was
called upon to investigate the hiring practices of the Blagojevich
administration. The request comes in the wake of recent media
reports that the governor's office allegedly oversaw and promoted
the hiring of political insiders to state jobs.
In addition to this query, Brady questioned whether potentially
vital evidence and information is being protected in the event
illegal activity has already been committed. This step was taken
after a former employee of the Blagojevich administration told the
media she had been instructed to delete files involving campaign
contributors and hiring.
[Related
article]
[to top of second column] |
 Legislation signed into law this week:
Speed limits (Senate Bill 509) -- Establishes special
speed limits for park zones where children are present.
Veterans' health care (Senate Bill 627) -- Creates the
Veterans' Health Insurance Program to give qualified uninsured
veterans reasonable access to health care.
Film tax credit (Senate Bill 2030) -- Extends the Film
Production Services Tax Credit Act from Jan. 1, 2007, to Jan. 1,
2008.
Antique vehicles (Senate Bill 2252) -- Creates the
Secretary of State Antique Vehicle Show Fund to promote and produce
the annual show.
Behavioral support (Senate Bill 2254) -- Creates an
individualized behavioral support plan for individuals with
developmental disabilities who exhibit behavioral challenges in a
community-based residential program.
Mortgages (Senate Bill 2349) -- Creates the Mortgage
Rescue Fraud Act, requiring distressed property consultants to
provide a written contract listing all services. It also provides an
owner a right to cancel a contract up until all services are
performed and prohibits a consultant from receiving payment until
all services are performed.
Quitclaims (Senate Bill 2569) -- Mandates that counties
develop a system to notify owners of the filing of a quitclaim deed
on their homes.
Highway safety (Senate Bill 2650) -- Ensures a portion of
the revenue from construction zone speeding tickets given on roads
other than interstate highways is deposited into a county's
Transportation Safety Highway Hire-back Fund.
Dogs (House Bill 4711) -- Increases the penalty for
attending a dog fight, soliciting a minor to attend a dog fight and
attendance by a minor younger than 13 at a dog fight. (House Bill
2946) -- Prohibits certain felons from possessing a dog that is not
spayed or neutered. (House Bill 4238) -- Eliminates a limitation on
fines in excess of $50 for dogs running at large and provides that
if the owner of a dog knowingly allows it to run at large and the
dog inflicts serious physical injury or death to a person, the owner
is guilty of a Class 3 felony.
[News release from
Sen. Larry Bomke] |
