 The Senate Workers' Compensation Reform Committee, co-chaired by
Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, and Senate Republican
Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, met in Chicago during the week.
The committee was established in November to review Illinois
workers' compensation practices.
On Dec. 8, the committee heard testimony from business and labor
leaders, and representatives of the legal community, with the goal
of developing reforms that decrease the cost of workers' comp for
employers while maintaining and improving protections for workers
injured on the job.
The committee's recommendations are to be presented to the
Legislature by Jan. 3.
Senate Republicans have been pushing for workers' compensation
reforms to make Illinois more competitive. Testimony was presented
Dec. 8 that showed that workers' compensation regulations in
Illinois are the most costly when compared with surrounding states
and other large states like California and Texas, which impedes job
creation.
A hearing about reforming the state's Medicaid system was
scheduled for yesterday morning (Tuesday) in Chicago.
Bomke said Medicaid reform has been discussed for years and
several studies have been conducted on the issue. The research
generated a number of legislative proposals to restructure Medicaid,
but no significant action has been taken to reduce the overwhelming
financial burden of the program.
A third committee, the Education Reform Committee, was also
formed during the week. State Sen. Kim Lightford, D-Maywood, and
state Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Rochelle, will serve as co-chairs, and
state Sen. Ed Maloney, D-Chicago, and state Sen. Dave Luechtefeld,
R-Okawville, will serve as members.
In other news, a plan by state officials to sell the Thomson
Correctional Center in northwestern Illinois at public auction Dec.
21 could hit a snag if the federal government does not come up with
enough money.
An amount that had been proposed by the Obama administration
earlier this year for the purchase of the Thomson prison was already
about $50 million short of the $219.9 million value according to
state appraisal, and state law forbids selling a facility at less
than its appraised value.
Then on Dec. 8, the U.S. House approved just $95 million for the
purchase of the prison.
The media is reporting that Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin is trying
to get more money for the sale in a spending bill that could be
voted on by Congress this month.
[to top of second column] |
Although an initial plan to move detainees from Guantanamo Bay to
Thomson was dropped because of controversy and protest, the Federal
Bureau of Prisons has expressed interest in buying the vacant
facility to ease overcrowding in its system. Opponents of the sale
say that Illinois could use the extra room at Thomson to ease
overcrowding in the state prison system.
Also, a major expansion of gaming, passed in the second week of
the fall veto session, may still face challenges from the House of
Representatives and the governor.
Senate Bill 737 passed the Senate Dec. 1 and advanced to the
House.
Bomke says it would allow for a Chicago casino, four new
riverboats, slot machines at Illinois' six racetracks and increase
the cap on positions at current boats.
Opponents say the expansion is too big, and some lawmakers
expressed concerns that additional casinos would drain revenues from
existing casinos. Others noted that a gaming expansion is not a
dependable source of revenue. Proponents said the expansion would
create much-needed revenues, while bringing both construction jobs
and permanent positions to the state.
The House is expected to consider the bill in early January,
before the new, two-year 97th General Assembly convenes and members
are sworn in Jan. 12.
In its current form, the bill is unlikely to pass in the House.
Whatever form it takes, the bill could still face opposition by Gov.
Pat Quinn, who says he doesn't favor making Illinois the Las Vegas
of the Midwest.
[Text from file sent on behalf of
Sen.
Larry Bomke by Illinois
Senate Republican staff]
 |
