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Sen. Brady chairs Senate task force meeting in Plainfield I
convened the Senate Republican Health Facilities Planning Board Task
Force in Plainfield on Oct. 4 to take a closer look at the
politically charged and increasingly litigious process that is all
too common in determining health facility construction and
modification.
Senate Deputy Republican Leader Ed Petka, R-Plainfield, asked me
to convene the task force to discuss a ruling by the Health
Facilities Planning Board against a proposal by Edward Hospital in
Naperville to open a hospital in Plainfield.
More than 33,000 Plainfield area residents signed a petition in
support of a hospital in Plainfield. Why should the opinions of four
members of a state board trump the interests of these people? There
is obviously a flaw in the system if the board cannot recognize the
need in the Plainfield community.
A number of local officials testified at the hearing, including
the Plainfield mayor, Naperville mayor, Will County Board members
and Plainfield village officials.
Sen. Petka said the process should be changed to put the burden
of proof on the Health Facilities Planning Board to show that the
project is not necessary.
"I share concerns with local officials about decisions being made
about health care facilities in our region, which is one of the
fastest growing areas in the state of Illinois," Petka said. "Edward
Hospital in Naperville has been working since 2003 to open a
hospital in Plainfield, but the Health Facilities Planning Board has
denied the request. Access to quality heath care for local residents
is more than enough incentive to ask some strong questions about the
reasoning behind the Health Facilities Planning Board's decisions
against a hospital in Plainfield."
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The Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board has had a tumultuous
couple of years, and it appeared that the current administration was
taking some steps to reform the system. However, other than
replacing the members of the planning board, it appears that nothing
else has changed. This task force is looking at ways to remove
politics from the system and establish a process based on merit, not
on political influence. Electric rates should have been dealt
with last spring
The question of electric rate increases should have been dealt
with during the spring session and should not have been subjected to
current pre-election political forces. However, Senate President
Emil Jones, who has supported ComEd in the past, opposed calls this
spring to extend the rate freeze.
House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, asked Gov. Rod
Blagojevich on Oct. 2 to call a special session to consider
legislation that would continue a freeze on electric rates for three
more years
A state power auction in September, where power providers bid to
supply electricity to ComEd and Ameren, revealed the state could see
rate hikes of as much as 22 percent in the ComEd service area and up
to 55 percent downstate.
The governor has not made any move to call a special session,
although he said he would call the session if Madigan can show he
has enough votes to pass a rate freeze.
The General Assembly's veto session is scheduled to begin Nov. 14
and conclude Nov. 30.
[Column from
Sen. Bill Brady]
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