Senate week in review         

[April 28, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- After reconvening April 24, following what was one of the most contentious weeks in recent history, the Illinois Senate focused primarily on core legislation during the past week, according to state Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield.

In a move intended to shed light on state investments, House Bill 824 passed out of the Senate Pensions and Investments Committee unanimously. This legislation will mandate that the state treasurer post information online regarding the investment of public funds.

The Senate Education committee passed legislation concentrating on "green" schools, including House Bill 285 and House Bill 895, which are intended to help schools become more environmentally friendly. House Bill 285 authorizes renewable energy grants, which will allow schools to find ways to incorporate alternative energy into their long-term plans. House Bill 895 is the result of a Lockport school district program that used "green cleaning" products, Bomke explained.

The Senate had ended the previous week with a contentious fight over an electric rate freeze, and the rate legislation was still very much on the minds of legislators. Despite strong bipartisan support for rate relief legislation, the Senate president had blocked statewide rate relief, prompting a major protest by senior citizen and consumer groups during the week.

Also during the week, the Housing and Community Affairs Committee heard testimony regarding House Bill 1425. This legislation, which passed the House 108-0, deals with disclosure of radon to people buying and selling a home. This type of disclosure will help make sure home buyers do not purchase a house with a known radon problem.

The Senate Criminal Judiciary Committee discussed House Bill 281. This legislation extends the statute of limitations on identity theft crimes. The bill passed committee unanimously.

The Senate Transportation Committee passed bills that create new specialized license plates.

• House Bill 133 creates a Rotary Club license plate.

• House Bill 903 creates an ovarian cancer license plate.

• House Bill 1024 creates an "Agriculture in the Classroom" license plate.

The Senate State Government Committee passed House Bill 32, intended to assure funding for the Adeline Geo-Karis Marina in northeastern Illinois. However, as amended, this legislation leaves the funds susceptible to a "sweep" in which the administration can divert the funds for other purposes. Fund sweeps are a tactic that have been frequently employed by the Blagojevich administration, allowing the state to take money from a dedicated fund and transfer use of those funds for other purposes.

[Text from news release sent on behalf of Sen. Larry Bomke and received from Illinois Senate Republican staff]