Senate Week In Review

October 13-17, 2008 - A view from the Illinois Senate Republican Press Office

SPRINGFIELD ­ The Governor's plan to expand taxpayer-subsidized health care hit another roadblock during the week of Oct. 13-17 when Cook County Circuit Judge James R. Epstein renewed a previous judicial order banning state officials from using state money to pay for Gov. Rod Blagojevich's unilaterally expanded health care program.

The Legislature has rejected the governor's plan to expand state health care twice, but the Blagojevich Administration proceeded to enroll residents in a state-subsidized program. A lawsuit was filed in response and in April, Judge Epstein issued a preliminary injunction banning state officials from spending money on the program. Epstein's decision was upheld in September by the Illinois Appellate Court and on Oct. 15, he renewed his initial order.

State Sen. Tim Bivins (R-Dixon) said that the judge's order was not unexpected. Many people criticized the Governor's decision to implement the program without legislative approval, questioning his authority to do so. Opponents had cautioned that enrolling people in the program, only to later remove them, may have serious repercussions ­ and it appears those concerns may be realized.

Also during the week of Oct. 13-17, State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias announced plans to deposit $1 billion in Illinois banks as a way to ensure local banks have the resources to attend to their community's needs in today's volatile economy. The goal is to boost bank depositors' confidence that their money is safe.

Any state-chartered bank or national bank with an Illinois branch may request up to $25 million. A bank that chooses to participate will be required to put up collateral that is as much as 110 percent of the deposit; if the bank fails, the state can collect the collateral.

There may also be changes to the way the state oversees large construction projects. Officials say a new law may save state tax dollars by giving any building project that costs more than $20 million to one contractor, as opposed to multiple contractors ­ as is the current practice.

Not only is the new process expected to cost the state less, but it purportedly would be easier to correct problems and monitor the construction process. Currently, projects that total more than $250,000 must be bid to five separate contractors.

Some concerns have been expressed about the new proposal, specifically that general contractors could pit subcontractors against each other.

You've Got a Friend

In the animated movie, Toy Story, Woody and Buzz sing the Randy Newman song "You've Got a Friend." How comforting it is in a time of crisis or despair to have a friend to lean on. Now imagine you are a young child in a courtroom full of strangers who are going to decide whether you will return home or will be sent to live with someone you have never met before. You would want a friend.

One of the duties of a CASA advocate is to be a friend to abused or neglected children in the court system and offer comfort and support during very stressful times. The advocate also reports directly to the Court what they feel is in the best interest of their young friend. I speak from experience when I say that Judges rely heavily on such information when making a decision that will affect a child for the rest of his or her life.

The number of neglect and abuse cases has increased substantially in our three counties, Lee, Ogle and Carroll, which has placed a considerable strain on the resources of CASA. Volunteer advocates are urgently needed now or many of the young people in our court systems will have no friend to help them through their ordeal. Your duties as an advocate would not require more than 5-8 hours a month. If you can find some inspiration in the prospect of actually making a difference in a child's life, I urge you to contact CASA's central office in Dixon at 815-288-1901.

Respectfully,

Richard E DeMoss

Circuit Judge, retired

President, CASA Board of Directors

Proud of Their Party

We are more excited about this election than any other election in the last forty years. We are thrilled that Barack Obama is just a few weeks away from being elected President. As Democrats, we're proud that our party is doing the right thing.

It has not always been this way. We were not always proud to be Democrats. At one time, the Democrats were the party of Dixiecrats and Jim Crow. One convention refused to seat Julian Bond and the Mississippi Delegation. The party ignored Jesse Jackson when he ran for president. All that is changing. Lyndon Johnson steered the Civil Rights legislation through Congress. The party paid a terrible price for defending fairness and justice. But every Democratic candidate, from Lyndon Johnson to Barack Obama, continued to champion the rights of all Americans, not just the privileged few.

This summer's Democratic convention was a mirror of the new America. The hall was filled with men and women, blacks, white, Hispanics and Asians. One a proud moment in American history! Contrast that with the Republican convention, 92% white, mostly male. Contrast the crowds that attend the two candidates' rallies. One mostly white, the other a beautiful mix, representing the new America. One party says that Alaska mirrors America, but that's an old America that never really existed. Northwest Illinois, also, reflects that new America. An African-American is a star reporter for the Journal Standard. The West Carroll School board chair is black.

We were in Chicago last Sunday. We stopped at a neighborhood McDonald's. There were people for all over the world enjoying lunch. Every continent was represented. Some people, both men and women, were wearing their native costumes. All ordering in English, speaking to strangers in English and then speaking their native language in the family group. It was wonderful.

The Republican Party refuses to change. They welcomed the Dixiecrats. They sought the votes of the George Wallace Democrats. Nixon devised the Southern Strategy, appealing to the latent racism in many Americans. Reagan attacked the mythical black welfare queen driving a Cadillac and using food stamps. George Bush used the Willie Horton ads again to trash an honorable opponent and win the election with his racist appeals. His son attacked a primary opponent by falsely claiming that the other candidate had fathered a black child out of wedlock. And today the Republicans, even the one previously victimized by Bush, continue to sling mud, stir up hate by appealing to people's racism and then they pretend to be shocked at the hate they have whipped up.

Happily, America has moved past the rhetoric of hate and divisiveness. This past summer we spent an evening at the wonderful fountain in Millennium Park in Chicago. Just like other famous fountains all over the world, it has become a magnet, drawing people from all over the city. It is a huge fountain and literally dozens of kids and their parents splash and play enjoying a special time together. But what is so wonderful is that the pool is filled with kids from all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds, playing and splashing, getting soaking wet together. This is the new world that Barack Obama represents.

How cool is it a black man who graduated from Harvard, who taught at the University of Chicago, who can shoot baskets, is going to use his education and his experience to help all Americans, not just the rich, build a new world of change.

Pat & Chuck Wemstrom

Mt. Carroll, IL

Who's Your Choice?

In November, we go to the voting booth to pick a new president. Here are some questions to consider:

Do we want a president whose wife is not proud to be an American? If so, why?

Do we want a president who, for 16 years, has not heard what his Pastor said? If so, why?

Do we want a president who associates with questionable people and organizations - like Ayers, Farakan, ACORN . . . the list goes on - but can't be honest about it? If so, why?

We have a choice for president named John McCain, who gives us straight talk, loves America, proved it, and is not afraid to stand against what is tearing down America. We have McCain, who is for the people.

Who do you want for president?

Richard Weegens

Shannon, IL

Capitol Report

By Jim Sacia

State Representative

89th District

On October 15, Senator Bivins and I met with the legislative committee of the JoDaviess County Board. They shared with us a significant concern that "advisory" proposals will appear on JoDaviess County voter ballots November 4th. Much of that concern evolves from a law that requires only five days for "advisory" proposals to be publicly posted before they must become a part of the ballot. Simply put, the committee missed it.

The "advisories" are direct attacks on production agriculture, a long and proud tradition in JoDaviess County, and specifically the Bos Dairy.

Abbreviated, they are as follows:

1. "Shall JoDaviess County institute a moratorium on all new large confined animal feeding operations (CAFO's)" Illinois law (55ILCS 5/5-12001) states counties may not regulate agriculture via zoning.

2. "Shall JoDaviess County in cooperation with Illinois Department of Natural Resourcescreate water districtsto have the power to meter water use and assess a fee based on water use".

There is a water use act of 1983, (525 ILCS 45/). It applies to the soil and water conservation districts and this should be the agency regulating.

3. "Shall JoDaviess County create setbacks of five miles for new medium and ten miles for large CAFO's" The state is the regulating agency for CAFO setbacks.

4.Applies directly to water use in Nora Township and is similar to #2, but certainly specifically targets the Bos Dairy.

Each of the above proposals merits discussion. Certainly watch dog groups are important and a great part of our free heritage. We always must be careful of the information we receive and do our own research. I recently received a letter from a lady in Stockton soliciting money and assuring me that the Bos Dairy will be milking 200,000 cows within ten years. Folks, we must separate the wheat from the chaff. The General Assembly studied the issue closely prior to creating the Livestock Management Facilities Act (LMFA) in 1998.

The new Rosendale Dairy being built in western Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, where 7,000 cows will be milked, certainly compares favorably with Traditions Dairy being built by A.J. Bos in Nora, Illinois.

Both of these dairy projects are receiving opposition from some who aren't in favor of production agriculture. In some parts of the world people are literally starving, and I feel some opponents may have lost sight of the fact that it's production agriculture that feeds us. Throughout society we expect modernization. We shop at box stores and buy products over the internet. We now pay at the pump when we fill our gas tanks. With our ever-growing world population we need to also modernize what feeds us.

I understand that some have been led to believe that our water will turn brown, the smell will drive away the tourists and your property values will be cut in half and our tax base and water table will decline, but it's just not so. Large scale farming is actually the way to a cleaner environment.

The Reporter Newspaper out of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin reported on September 14, 2008 "Large scale farming is the answer to a clean environment. There will be nowhere on the dairy where rain and manure will mix and run off" "There are tens of thousands of acres that are currently using chemical fertilizers. Area crop farmers are in need of an affordable replacement for petroleum-based chemical fertilizers. We will have a terrific natural fertilizer, produced locally. And it is a lower carbon footprint production model."

A recent study by Iowa State University showed that houses that had cats inside or homes with residents who smoke, had much higher levels of harmful chemicals in them than homes just a short distance from large livestock farms.

As always, you can reach me, Sally or Barb at 815/232-0774 or e-mail us at jimsacia@aeroinc.net. You can also visit my website at www.jimsacia.com. It's always a pleasure to hear from you.

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