Sen. Bill Brady to address 'state of state' at breakfasts         

McLean County, Feb. 21

DeWitt County, Feb. 22

[FEB. 9, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- During two breakfasts next week, Sen. Bill Brady will address challenges facing Illinois and the overall state of Illinois government. The breakfast in Bloomington on Feb. 21 will be hosted by the McLean County Farm Bureau. The breakfast in Clinton on Feb. 22 will be co-hosted by the Clinton Area County Chamber of Commerce and the DeWitt County Farm Bureau.

"Medicaid, health care and pensions all are putting increasing pressure on the state budget and our tax dollars -- so much so that a group recently calculated that the state faces a whopping $106 billion in unfunded commitments," said Brady, R-Bloomington, whose 44th District includes McLean and DeWitt counties. "That debt amounts to $8,800 for every man, woman and child in Illinois, and the problem is going to get worse if we don't start finding the answers today and demanding greater fiscal responsibility from all state officials."

"The current administration has implemented sweeping new programs with questionable, if any, revenue sources. Illinois needs to find long-term, common-sense solutions to our budget challenges, and Illinois needs to stop spending money it doesn't really have."

"I want the citizens of the 44th District to understand the serious challenges facing Illinois today, and I also want to hear the ideas people have for giving Illinois a more secure financial foundation and more promising future," he said.

Brady's "state of the state" program will be at 7 a.m. Feb. 21 at the Interstate Center, 2301 W. Market St. in Bloomington. Reservations and payment are requested prior to the breakfast and can be made by contacting the McLean County Farm Bureau at 309-663-6497. The cost of the breakfast is $10.

The senator's program will be at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 22 at the Clinton Country Club, Route 51 South, Clinton. Reservations are needed and can be made by contacting either Steve Vandiver at Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce, 217-935-3364 or [e-mail]; or contact Ken Bjelland at DeWitt County Farm Bureau, 217-935-2126. The cost of the breakfast is $12 per person and can be paid at the door.

Brady, who is planning similar forums throughout his Senate district in coming weeks, has represented central Illinois in the state Senate since 2002. He previously served in the state House of Representatives for eight years. Throughout his Senate tenure, he has received the highest ratings from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and was named a "Champion of Free Enterprise" in 2005-2006. He has annually been rated as a "Friend of Agriculture" by the Illinois Farm Bureau for his public service.

(Text from news release sent on behalf of Sen. Bill Brady and received from Illinois Senate Republican communications and public affairs staff)