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Lack of leadership or indifference to downstate? Utility
customers stranded Democratic leaders' appalling lack of
leadership, or perhaps supreme indifference to downstate concerns,
has left utility customers stranded as they head into the fourth
month of higher electric rates and higher utility bills.
The House speaker and the Senate president failed to reach a
workable compromise on electric rate hikes before adjourning March
30 for a two-week spring break.
A long-term solution to this crisis is needed to provide low-cost
electricity to everyone in Illinois without bankrupting the utility
companies. This solution is important because it will retain jobs in
Illinois, while reducing the financial burden placed on families,
senior citizens and businesses by the staggering rate increases.
However, until that time, some kind of immediate, short-term
relief is needed. It's terribly disappointing that downstate utility
consumers, who are the hardest hit by the recent electric rate
hikes, are not a top priority for the Democratic legislative
leaders, who are both residents of Chicago.
Senate likes Tremont resident's idea to cut energy costs
Dan Mathis of Tremont says he has been interested in different
types of energy sources since he was a teenager. So he brought me an
idea about cutting energy costs, and I agreed to sponsor legislation
based on his suggestions.
On March 29, the Senate voted unanimously to approve that
legislation.
Senate Bill 680 requires an electric utility to establish a "net
metering" pilot program for its retail customers that own and
operate a solar-powered or wind-powered electrical generating
facility.
Alternative energy sources reduce consumer reliance on utility
companies and reduce costs. Skyrocketing electric rates and
extremely cold weather earlier this year have forced many utility
customers to consider the need to cut energy use or use an
alternative energy source. Many other states are finding that the
net metering bill is something that works well because it allows
people to make the investment to produce their own energy, solar or
otherwise.
Senate Bill 680 now moves to the House of Representatives for
further consideration.
The best ideas for legislation come from Illinois citizens who in
their day-to-day lives encounter problems and come up with great,
common-sense ways to address these situations. I would urge others
who have workable ideas to give me a call.
Senate approves teen driving safety legislation
Keeping young people safer by strengthening the requirements for
their first driver's license is the goal of legislation I am
co-sponsoring, which was approved March 27 by the Senate.
The need for this legislation became very apparent when one of
the seven counties I represent -- Tazewell County -- suffered 15
teen-driving fatalities in just 15 months. Sadly, there are too many
more such accidents happening in other communities across the state.
Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death among adolescents.
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 Based on recommendations by Secretary of State Jesse White's Teen
Driver Safety Task Force,
Senate Bill 172 increases the required permit phase for drivers
younger than 18 from three months to nine months, proposes a
stricter driving curfew for new drivers, and sets tough penalties --
including license revocation and vehicle impoundment -- for drivers
who are involved in street racing. The legislation also imposes
increased penalties for new drivers who commit a moving or seat belt
violation, and it prohibits graduated license holders younger than
18 from having more than one passenger younger than 20 in the car
for the first year they have the permit.
White's task force -- composed of legislators, traffic safety
experts, law enforcement officials, educators, judges and victim
advocates -- conducted public hearings in Springfield, Carterville
and Chicago to study proposals aimed at keeping teen drivers safe.
Passed by a 54-2 Senate vote March 27, Senate Bill 172 now moves
to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
Smoking ban passes Senate
On March 29, the Senate voted 34-23 to ban smoking in all indoor
public places, including bars, restaurants and state prisons.
I understand the reasons the bill's proponents are seeking the
ban. I acknowledge the health risks of secondhand smoke. But I voted
against the measure because of personal rights.
People should have a right to do what they want with their
property. If you own a business, you should decide if you want to
allow people to smoke there. If your decision is wrong in the eyes
of your consumers, then your business will suffer and you might
rethink your decision. But the decision should be yours to make.
Local student groups, museums featured in Capitol
The state Capitol was filled with a number of central Illinois
residents the last week of March.
On March 27, 4-H groups from Chatsworth, DeWitt County, Logan
County and McLean County stopped by to visit as part of a
Legislative Connection event, which helped lawmakers learn about the
4-H program and gave 4-H members a firsthand look at how laws are
made.
March 28 was an exceptionally busy day.
A former Bloomington resident, the Rev. Christopher Layden of
Champaign, delivered the opening prayer for the Senate. He is
assistant chaplain at St. John's Catholic Newman Center at the
University of Illinois.
Also that day, as part of Illinois Electric and Telephone
Cooperatives Youth Day in Springfield, I welcomed students from
counties served by the Menard Electric Cooperative. The students
came from Midwest Central, Sangamon Valley, Havana, Williamsville,
Illini Central and Porta schools.
I was also pleased to talk with FFA groups from Seneca, LeRoy and
Heyworth in my office as part of Ag Legislative Day in the capital
city.
And last, but most certainly not least, March 28 was Illinois
Museum Day, and the halls were filled with exhibits from museums
across the state, including the Children's Discovery Museum in
Normal, the Macon County Historical Society and Museum Complex in
Decatur, and the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington.
[Text from file received from
Sen. Bill Brady] |
