Sen. Brady named to Senate committees, reappointed to spokesman positions         

[FEB. 17, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, has been named by Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, to four Illinois Senate committees for the 95th General Assembly.

Brady, the 44th District senator, has been asked to continue his responsibilities as Republican spokesman for the Senate Pensions and Investments Committee and as Republican spokesman for the Senate Insurance Committee.

The Pensions and Investments Committee considers legislation affecting the five state pension systems for public employees and local government pension funds. The Insurance Committee examines legislation affecting the insurance industry and policy holders.

"Having served for four years as spokesperson for Senate committees that deal with insurance and pensions issues, I have worked to protect consumers, public employees and taxpayers," Brady said. "The issues are complex and diverse, but affect us all."

Brady will also serve as a member of the Revenue Committee, which considers legislation involving the Illinois tax code and tax-related issues, and the Public Health Committee, which examines bills relating to public health, health care facilities and health care access issues.

The Senate's 24 standing committees analyze legislation dealing with specific subject areas, such as education, agriculture and transportation. Committees screen legislation introduced by all members. Usually, only those bills approved by a committee may be considered by the entire Senate.

The 44th District senator also was a member of Illinois Commission on Pension Funding, which held public hearings around the state in 2004 and 2005 to discuss the way the state chronically underfunds its pension systems for public employees.

"Our state pension systems have been underfunded for many years, but in 1995 steps were taken to restore some balance," Brady said. "However, the current administration has added insult to injury in recent years, flouting the 1995 law and using the public pension systems as a source of quick cash to prop up the state budget. What taxpayers need to know is that the raids have to be repaid, with interest, at a cost of billions of extra dollars in years to come."

In spring 2005, Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his legislative allies pushed through a massive raid on the state's pension systems; as a result, $1.2 billion was diverted from the state retirement systems in fiscal 2006. The governor's fiscal 2007 budget diverts another $1.1 billion, for a total two-year raid of $2.3 billion. Brady noted that over five years, more than $4.8 billion will have been diverted from state retirement funding because of changes Blagojevich made to the 1995 pension funding formula law.

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