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22 days of overtime… and counting Lawmakers left
Springfield Wednesday with no action on desperately needed electric
rate relief and no state budget.
The next day, on Thursday, it was announced that a one-month
budget will be passed next week to forestall a government shutdown
when the state's new fiscal year starts on July 1. I have concerns
about getting into that process. While I agree it would be horrific
to shut down state government, I think this approach is problematic.
It is a terrible way to run a ship, month by month, let alone the
state of Illinois. We should be working toward a full-year budget
the people can count on.
There has been plenty of rhetoric from Democratic leaders about
staying in Springfield until the "work of the people" is done, but
the time for rhetoric has come and gone. It is time for action.
Legislation could lead to cable TV competition
Illinois lawmakers have approved legislation that could lead to
cable TV competition and lower rates.
Senate Bill 678 sets new cable television rules allowing
telephone companies to enter into the cable television market, with
conditions for consumer protections.
At the beginning of this year, AT&T came to us and asked for
authorization to compete with the tele-cable industry throughout
this state. The good news is we were able to negotiate a successful
bill, which provides another layer of competition for the consumers.
A compromise agreement was brought together that will afford
consumers another alternative and the ability to use competing
forces to drive down the cost of their cable bills.
Approved June 19 by the Senate and May 31 by the House of
Representatives, Senate Bill 678 now moves to the governor's desk
and will become law with his signature.
Helping veterans and military personnel
Helping Illinois veterans and military personnel is the goal of
several legislative measures approved by lawmakers this spring and
awaiting action by the governor.
The men and women of the armed services are making an enormous
sacrifice, as have their fellow veterans from prior military actions
and wars. They all put their lives on hold, and often in jeopardy,
to represent our country. We need to do what we can to help them
when they return home.
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Senate Bill 8 provides student financial aid to nurses working
in Illinois veterans homes, to encourage young medical professionals
to work in the facilities. Qualified applicants would receive a
$5,000 grant per year, for a total of four years.
The legislation also creates a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Program to assist mental health professionals in counseling veterans
returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Senate Bill 1099 places Illinois veterans under the protection
of the Human Rights Act. Currently, veterans are afforded specific
consumer rights under Illinois law, including no stoppage of gas or
electricity, no lapse in life insurance policies, and protection
from eviction while they are serving overseas.
It can be cost-prohibitive for veterans to hire an attorney to
assert their rights when they are violated. By placing those
violations under the Human Rights Act, they can be enforced by the
Illinois Human Rights Commission or Illinois attorney general, which
better protects veterans' rights.
Other bills that are aimed at helping veterans and service
members and are awaiting the governor's approval:
Senate Bill 1438 -- Gives armed forces personnel an extra 45
days to renew their driver's license while they are on active duty.
House Bill 639 -- Grants veterans who are state employees up to
four days of leave per year to visit a veterans hospital for
treatment of a military service-related injury.
House Bill 668 -- Increases fines for violating the Veterans
Preference Act, which seeks to give veterans greater opportunities
in the work force. Maximum fines for violating the act will increase
to $300.
House Bill 670 -- Creates the Illinois Discharged Servicemember
Task Force to identify complications involving the re-entry of
combat veterans into society. The task force will investigate such
issues as post-traumatic stress disorder, homelessness and
disabilities, which often afflict veterans.
[Text from file received from
Sen.
Bill Brady] |
