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The governor is set to make his annual State of the State and budget
address on Wednesday. The lawmakers said that this will be an
excellent opportunity to deliver copies of electric bills to the
governor personally. "I feel this action is necessary for the
governor to experience firsthand the financial strain that families,
senior citizens and others on fixed incomes are feeling across the
state," said Jones, R-Mount Vernon. "Small business and farmers are
also affected; everyone in southern Illinois is feeling the pain of
this crisis. By having this event, we are going to show the governor
that this is affecting people throughout the state. The governor has
refused to hold talks with the Legislature on this topic and play an
active role in the process."
The "Bring Your Electric Bills to the Governor" Day will take
place at 11 a.m., on the second floor of the Capitol building,
outside of the governor's office. Citizens should bring a copy of
their electric bills with personal information concealed. Because of
state Capitol security measures, everyone in attendance should bring
a suitable form of identification. For information, call Ron
Deedrick at 217-782-0757.
"Whether or not the governor realizes it, or wants to admit it,
this is a statewide problem and he needs to deal with it as the
governor of the entire state of Illinois," said Brady,
R-Bloomington. "Unfortunately, it seems that until Chicago feels the
pain, nothing will happen. Their utility bills might not have
skyrocketed yet, but their consumers will feel the pinch soon. The
time for action is now."
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 Legislators have asked, several times, for Democratic leaders and
the governor to take action on the issue. However, other than a
letter sent to the speaker of the House, the governor has been
silent. The House held a rare committee of the whole on Feb. 27 to
address the electric rate issue; however, no floor votes have been
taken in the House or the Senate.
"Right now the persons most severely affected by higher utility
rates are downstate residents, so this issue is probably not on the
governor's radar screen," said Risinger, R-Peoria. "It is up to the
residents of central and southern Illinois to remind him that he
represents us all and it is time he shows some leadership on this
issue. Consumers are suffering and need some relief."
The three downstate Republicans are also asking groups like the
Citizens Utility Board and the National Federation of Independent
Businesses for their help in mobilizing consumers. Members of the
business and agriculture communities are invited as well.
[Text from news release sent on
behalf of
Sen. Bill Brady and received
from Illinois
Senate Republican staff] |
