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Education plan worth a look, but support depends on details
The education funding plan unveiled May 23 by Gov. Rod
Blagojevich is short on details and leaves several important
questions unanswered. [Related
article]
Blagojevich has proposed to sell or lease the state's lottery
system, claiming it would generate $10 billion for public schools.
Of that, the state would use $4 billion for school construction,
preschool education, special education and a general increase in the
per-pupil funding level. The $6 billion balance would be invested,
with a hoped-for return of $650 million per year for schools until
fiscal 2025.
This plan appears to be little more than an election-year ploy.
There is no guarantee that it will bring in any more money for the
state's schools. I want a lot more information, as well as
assurances that this is not just another opportunity for the
governor's political cronies to make some money.
If Blagojevich was truly concerned about education funding
reform, he would have been working on such a plan in the three years
since he was elected, instead of unveiling it six months before an
election as a way to appease a potential gubernatorial candidate.
The state-run lottery currently generates about $670 million per
year for education.
Eight students chosen for scholarships
Eight students who live in the 44th District and will be
attending state universities in Illinois have been selected to
receive a
General Assembly Scholarship for the 2006-2007 school year.
Each year, every Illinois state senator and representative has
the privilege of awarding scholarships for full tuition to the state
universities. My scholarship committee selected these students based
on their accomplishments, especially in leadership and academics.
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 The students and the schools they plan to attend are:
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Tyler Cain of
Bloomington; University of Illinois
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Sidney Comstock of
Clinton; University of Illinois
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Andrea Cross of Emden;
Southern Illinois University
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Jared Osland of
Riverton; University of Illinois
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Chad Russell of
Bloomington; University of Illinois
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Sonia Sosa of
Bloomington; University of Illinois-Chicago medical school
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Sarah Starnes of
Bloomington; Southern Illinois University medical school
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Chelsea Wallace of
Heyworth; University of Illinois
Selected college students across the state who attend state
public universities receive General Assembly Scholarship awards
presented by Illinois lawmakers.
New law sets safety limits on DMX drugs
A new law will set safety limits on over-the-counter sales of
drugs containing dextromethorphan, also known as DXM.
DXM is a legal cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter
cough syrups. It can also be bought in a pure form via the Internet.
People who have abused the drug and taken it in high doses have
experienced hallucinogenic and psychoactive effects similar to LSD.
Five deaths in the U.S. have been attributed to DXM overdoses,
including one at Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal.
Signed Thursday,
House Bill 4300 prohibits the sale, delivery or possession of
drug products containing DXM, except as ordered by prescription.
The new law has an immediate effective date.
[Column from
Sen. Bill Brady]
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