Get the Facts on the 1% Tax

By Craig Mathers, Superintendent, West Carroll C.U.S.D. #314

On April 5, 2011 voters in Carroll County will be asked if a 1% sales tax should be instituted as a way to fund school facility improvements and upgrades or as a way to reduce the property tax through bond and interest abatement. Nine counties in Illinois have already successfully passed this measure. The proposal is asking residents if the dependency on property taxes for school facilities should be switched to sales tax.

The sales tax funding option is a concept our neighbors in Iowa initiated. The practice was so popular, every county in Iowa has passed this measure; all 99 counties. The schools are using the funds to repair, maintain, or build facilities without a referendum or tax increase.

The funds cannot be used for staff, salary, or benefits. The funds directly impact students with better facilities to learn and residents receive much needed tax relief through tax abatement on outstanding debt. It will also reduce the burden to sell health, life safety bonds. Health, life safety bonds are sold to finance facility improvements required by law to ensure a safe environment for your children.

Many items are exempt; cars, trucks, ATV’s, boats, farm equipment, RV’s, mobile homes, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medication, and most groceries. If it is not taxed now, it will not be taxed under this proposal.

It is estimated, based on Illinois Department of Revenue trends, the 1% sales tax would generate enough revenue to reduce your property tax by 4-5% in West Carroll C.U.S.D. #314; a possible reduction of over 24 cents on the tax rate. The sales tax also encourages residents to shop locally and support our local businesses. With every purchase, you support the local businesses, support safe facilities for our students, and reduce our local dependency on property taxes.

Information is available in each school office. I encourage you to get the facts prior to April 5th so you can make an educated decision. If you have any specific questions, please call the West Carroll District Office at .

Where is Lisa Madigan?

By Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady

On Wednesday, Governor Pat Quinn’s nominee for the Prisoner Review Board, Careen Gordon, withdrew her name from consideration just hours before an Illinois Senate hearing on her appointment.

Governor Quinn selected former State Representative Careen Gordon, a Morris Democrat, for the $86,000 per year part time position last January within a few days of her vote for the largest tax increase in Illinois history. The tax increase passed the House of Representatives by one vote. Gordon specifically campaigned against Quinn’s 67 percent tax hike during her failed re-election campaign.

Then, after a lost election and a meeting with Governor Quinn, Gordon just happened to have a change of heart on an issue that she so adamantly campaigned against. She cast the deciding vote for the tax increase during the lame-duck session and her final days in office.

Gordon publicly admitted that she and Governor Quinn had met prior to the vote and had discussed the tax increase and her potential appointment to the Prisoner Review Board.

This doesn’t pass the smell test. Any taxpayer in Illinois can do the math on Gordon’s sudden flip flop. It makes sense that she withdrew her nomination before anyone had an opportunity to ask her any questions under oath.

The publicly known facts justify an investigation. If she chooses not to investigate, Attorney General Madigan needs to explain to taxpayers why she has continually abdicated her responsibility to investigate public corruption in her eight years as Illinois Attorney General.

Capitol Fax

Rich Miller’s commentary on State Government

A big question on a lot of Statehouse minds right now is: Why would Senate President John Cullerton all of a sudden decide to string out his members yet again on a dollar a pack cigarette tax hike when he surely knows that the House will kill it for the umpteenth time?

Cullerton wants to raise money from the cigarette tax so he can kill off the controversial law legalizing video gaming in taverns, clubs and truck stops. Video gaming proceeds are supposed to subsidize part of the state’s massive capital construction plan, but the video gaming program hasn’t got off the ground after two years of preparations because the Illinois Gaming Board is taking its time to develop strict standards.

Part of the answer is that Cullerton loves the cigarette tax hike idea in and of itself. The man just downright loathes cigarettes and believes that raising the tax would cause people to stop smoking and prevent kids from starting.

But when the four legislative leaders sit down to cut a deal, they’re supposed to stick to that deal unless the other leaders go along. The capital plan was just such an agreement. Breaking a pact like that is just not done. Ever.

You rarely see stories about the tax and fee hikes that fund the state’s construction program, and you don’t see many articles about some of the more questionable projects in the package. That’s because all the leaders vowed to each other that they wouldn’t stir up any trouble. Those vows are usually as solemn as any priest’s, so they’re never violated, but Cullerton is now doing it. Why?

Cullerton is said to be tired of Democrats being blamed for the video poker law, which has been blasted by most editorial pages in the state. “Maybe now they’ll understand that it was the Republicans who wanted this, not us,” explained a Cullerton aide last week.

The Republicans actually came up with the idea of legalizing video gaming in taverns, clubs and truck stops. But the Democrats have worn the jacket for the much-maligned program because they’re in the majority and the hugely controversial Cook County Democratic Party Chairman Joe Berrios was one of the top lobbyists for the video gaming industry.

It didn’t help matters much when former mobster turned government informant Frank Calabrese, Jr. told Fox Chicago the other day that he believed infiltrating the video poker industry would be a piece of cake.

“I mean, I laughed when I seen that,” Calabrese told Fox’s Dane Placko about the video poker legalization measure. “I mean, really. Why? I could go back there and show you how fast I could get in the middle of it,” he said from his Arizona house.

“It’s math 101, okay? I’m not gonna go in there and put my name on a license and buy a bar and ask for three machines. I’m coming to you who’s totally legit and say you’re gonna buy the machines from this guy, and this is what you’re gonna pay him and that guy’s gonna help me in some way,” Calabrese said.

In the same story, former FBI organized crime director Tom Bourgeois told the channel that the General Assembly had opened the doors to the Outfit. “You’re just providing an avenue for organized crime to re-root itself and find ways to become more powerful. It’s just too easy to do that and of course, the legislation provides opportunity for very little oversight,” Bourgeois claimed.

In reality, neither Calabrese nor Bourgeois are likely correct. For one thing, the current “amusement purposes only” video poker machines (most of which actually pay out in the real world) are already connected to the mob in one way or another. Legalization is seen by proponents as a way to get the mob out, not let them in.

To that end, the Illinois Gaming Board has spent almost two years attempting to devise a fail-safe plan to prevent organized crime from sticking its nose into the new business. A mobster just couldn’t strong-arm a tavern owner into using a particular machine, as Calabrese claimed, because machine distributors will have to undergo vigorous background checks and deal with strict government oversight - neither of which happens today.

So, publicly disassociating himself from video poker and letting Republicans take the lead in keeping the law on the books has real public relations and partisan advantages for the Senate President. And that’s why he’s doing it.

Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and thecapitolfaxblog.com.

Proposed 1% Sales Tax Increase

Against Increase

A one percent Carroll County sales tax increase is being requested by a Carroll County school district. A chamber of commerce representative from one of the towns in that district reports that the business community is opposed to the increase. The district superintendent has countered that the increase will benefit county taxpayers by promising to use a portion of the sales taxes collected to lower property taxes in his district.

The school superintendent proceeds forward with the sales tax request despite the opposition of business men and women in his community. The split between the district and the community it serves is unfortunate. Mending this rift is perhaps more important than the tax issue at hand. Perhaps the school district could work to lower its annual spending and in so doing, lower the amount of property tax it collects from its citizens. This would go far in improving the goodwill and working relationship between the district and its constituents.

Yesterday’s Wall Street Journal reports that US consumers in 2008 had a debt to income ratio of 136%. That is, we spent 36% more than we made. Today that ratio is 117%. Not too many of us saw significantly increased earnings in the past 2 years, so apparently we have disciplined ourselves to spend less and pay off existing debt. The same is required of government entities, be they local, state or federal.

Efforts to curb spending will regain the support of the citizens. Further taxation only drives a greater wedge between tax supported entities and the citizens they serve.

Lynn Collins

Lanark, IL

For Increase

Dear Editor:

This coming April 5th, voters will have an opportunity to support their schools and help themselves by voting yes on the proposition to have a 1% sales tax that is dedicated to the upkeep of the school buildings and meeting their life safety requirements or paying off building bonded indebtedness.

These are expenditures that have to be made and paid for regardless. The usual sources of revenue is our property taxes. This 1% sales tax would not apply to big ticket items like homes and cars nor would it apply to groceries and prescriptions. It would give tourist an opportunity to contribute to the upkeep of our schools and perhaps eliminate the need for more bonded indebtedness.

Unfortunately, most voters will likely see tax and just vote no. Others will just vent their frustrations with past board actions. Neither approach is helpful. We have no way of changing the past but we can, if we are willing, improve our future.

Sincerely,

Dr. Arthur C. Donart, Ph.D.

A former Supt. of Thomson Dist. 301

Unfit to Stand Trial

Background

Under Illinois law there is a presumption of fitness that a defendant is fit to stand trial or to plead, and be sentenced. A defendant is unfit if, because of his mental or physical condition, he is unable to understand the nature and purpose of the proceedings against him or to assist in his own defense. (725 ILCS 5/104-10)

The term Unfit to Stand Trial can easily be misunderstood due to the popular term guilty by reason of insanity. In reality the term includes developmental disabilities as well as mental disabilities.

When a court determines a person is Unfit to Stand Trial and the defendant’s disability is mental, the court may order him placed for treatment in the custody of the Department of Human Services (DHS). If the defendant’s disability is physical, the court may order him placed under the supervision of the DHS which shall place and maintain the defendant in a suitable treatment facility or program. (725 ILCS 5/104-17)


Statement

“The time between the fitness determination and the placement by DHS is the issue to be addressed in House Bill 1905” said Greg Sullivan, Executive Director of the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association (ISA). A recent survey conducted by the ISA found that a majority of the County Jails in this State experience serious delays in transferring the custody and care of those defendants to DHS. Defendants are remaining in a county jail an average of 4 to 6 weeks after they have been determined Unfit to Stand Trial.

Sullivan added that in 1955 there was one psychiatric bed for every 300 Americans. In 2005 there was one psychiatric bed for every 3,000 Americans. “We have now returned to the conditions of the 1840’s by putting large numbers of mentally ill persons back into jails and prisons. Any state can solve this problem if it has the political will by using assisted outpatient treatment and mental health courts. As of March 1st there were 90 inmates waiting to be transferred to DHS, some had waited as much as three months. These mentally ill detainees attempt suicide at a rate of 77 % compared to 15% by the general jail population.”

“The last place these defendants need to be is in a county jail”, said Sheriff Robert J. Hertz the current President of the ISA, “They need to be in a treatment facility that has the proper staff and resources.”

At a recent Legislative committee hearing on this issue Sheriff Hertz said “The County Jails in this State are holding more inmates than ever before. Sheriffs find ways to manage this responsibility and never turn a prisoner away due to staffing or space problems. Some County Jails, at their own expense, routinely have to send prisoners to other jails due to a lack of space in their facility. We do not maintain waiting lists for incarcerations.”

Sheriff Hertz believes the delays are a serious injustice to defendants that are disabled and unable to participate in their own defense and to the taxpayers of the County that pay the bills. The State needs to step up and meet their responsibilities.

Illinois Sheriffs’ Association

401 East Washington

Springfield, Illinois 62701

StephCo TEA Party Supports . . .

Since the good taxpayers have started the Stephenson County Tea Party, one of the biggest things we have noticed is that governing bodies want to keep the spending of taxpayers dollars a secret. We have a lack of transparency!

I sent out four questions to all the nominees running for Highland College board, as well as the Lena school board. The most important question proposed to the candidates was about sharing information with the Tea Party on wasteful spending, back door referendums, and proposed bonds that the taxpayers should know about.

Only one responded! That speaks volumes. We support Doug Block, Steven Kroeger, and Whittney Zumdahl for Highland College Board. We support Keith Russell who is running for School Dist. 145 board and John Cook who is running for Freeport alderman-at -large.

For fiscal survival of Lena’s Parks, we support Nikki Leverton and Jim Arnold. It does not make sense to drain the parks coffers to support boat landings miles from town. Now they are trying to develop one clear over by Pecatonica! Like McConnell and Damascus boat landings, it will eventually cost the Lena Taxpayers.

Who is running in your area? Are they employed by, or receiving a pension from the government? Will persons receiving a pension or a paycheck from the government be a conservative voice for the citizens who pay the taxes? Some will, most will not. Will they vote the right way on cutting pensions on the upper end, which has left our state broke? Will they band together with other boards and Tea Parties to make pleas to our state and federal legislatures (many who are also retired government workers) to undo laws they instituted to create this mess? When times are tough and layoffs necessary, we should be able to keep the most productive employees, regardless of seniority.

Get out and vote April 5th, unless you’d enjoy paying even more taxes. How many foxes are watching the hen house in your area?

Bill Dietz

Lena IL.

ph.

Daffodil Days Thank You

Thank you to everyone in the Carroll County communities who showed support for the American Cancer Society Daffodil Days. My heartfelt thanks goes out to each person who participated in this campaign to help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays, where cancer never steals another year from anyone’s life.

Special thanks go out to this year’s Daffodil Days committee, led by chairperson Karen McCarty of Mt. Carroll. Karen spent many long hours coordinating orders and delivery schedules and she, along with the rest of the committee, took the time to wrap each vase and daffodil bunch with tissue and ribbon. It is because of their outreach to community members for donations that Daffodil Days in the Carroll County raised more than $14,000 this year! Thank you to Karen and all those who helped!

Although Daffodil Days involves giving beautiful flowers, it is really about giving hope for a future free from cancer. Together we are saving lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer.

Sincerely,

Jessica Kundert

American Cancer Society Rockford Office

Morrison City Council

March 14, 2011

Morrison City Council met at City Hall. The room was overflowing. Five council members present were: Blakemore, Connelly , Bees, Rose, and Thorndike. Mayor Drey, Chief Melton, and Gary Tresenriter were also present.

One public comment was made by Les Mathews asking if the workers from Moring could keep the noise down while picking up garbage/recyclables.

Bills payable of $56,059.27 were paid. We had $914.79 electrical at the Sport Complex. $1,476 was paid to Air Products Equipment Company out of the Water /Sewer Fund (what was that for?). Baxter and Woodman were paid $855.06 for wastewater plant engineering, well #5 and pump, well #4 improvements monies coming from Series 2010 Alt Rev IEPA Loan. Mid American Energy Co collected $6,479.28 mostly from the water /sewer fund. Sarah Thorndike was reimbursed $620.88 minus the tax for purchasing the Code Books. Chen Nelson Roberts LTD were paid $7,369.66 for legal services from the administrative/ general fund (not sure for what).

Mayor Drey had contacted someone about the Revolving Loan Fund and was advised not to move it from the general fund into a separate fund at this time. Because of a question from a local citizen, he asked the council why they approved the hiring of a new officer at the last meeting. They stated they were just replacing a position that was already in the budget, not adding more of a burden and for public safety.

The six year two month contract with Moring Disposal was approved with the changes.

Tom Sanders of Ward, Murray, Pace & Johnson did a short presentation. Being a 20 member firm, they use at team approach dealing with municipalities and governmental issues. They are paid $175.00 an hour (travel time is also paid) but the city would have access to the entire firm for whatever comes up. They will also try to deal with some issues by email-saving time. The city council approved the hiring of the firm to replace Attorney Weinstine as City Attorney.

Mayor Drey recognized Gary Tresenriter as acting city administrator and Brian Melton as acting assistant city administrator. The council also approved the general order to provide Morrison Police Officers guidelines for the proper use and care of body armor. Ordinance #11-1 was amended so Chief Melton can hire part-time police officers at his discretion.

Sarah Thorndike (representing the Building Code Committee), assisted by Bert Thorndike, made a presentation covering the new Building Codes. There will be a public meeting in the near future to review the new codes. Inspections of remodeling jobs and new buildings will cost more, so building permits will be adjusted accordingly. Contractors will have to obtain a yearly license.

The council also reviewed the Draft of the City Administrator Agreement for any changes by the Personnel Committee. Most of the agreement could be negotiable by the candidate. There was no executive session.

This year we will have a new City Administrator, new City Attorneys, and 2011-12 budget in place BEFORE new aldermen take office. (With a failing economy-maybe some new ideas and a lot of hard work we can get “Morrison back on track and in the black”). The next Morrison City Council Meeting will be March 28, 2011 at 7:00 pm at City Hall. See you there!

Quote of the Day: Change is inevitable-EXCEPT from a vending machine. (Robert C. Gallagher)

A Morrison Taxpayer

Marti Wood

A “Tsunami”

In reality, a tsunami/earthquake has hit Japan and a “tsunami” has also hit the USA in the form of Tea Party/Republican legislators who have been/will use a hatchet by “watering down” (elimination) of social programs to cure the deficit. NOT to save the economy or help people…they are “killing” jobs and any job prospects. Tea Party/Republicans are against abortion-to kill fetuses does not fit in their so-called family ideology….THEN, they pass legislation which also killed any efforts of contraception by their hatchet job on Planned Parenthood which will result in unplanned/unwanted babies. Tea Party/Republicans have and will continue to kill any help in what they call the “welfare state.” Tea Party/Republicans used and will continue to use their hatchet on education in any form which will negatively affect people from birth to college to old age.

Tea Party platform is to eliminate debt on the backs of all people from birth onward including reforming SS/Medicare/Medicaid which they see as “give-aways” with the intention of eliminating these so-called “freeloaders”…People who have paid their dues their whole working lives. Tea Party/Republicans want a free Market economy with NO government regulations where businesses will run a controlled market….this is laissez-faire economics which puts the concepts of freedom at the service of vested wealthy interests allowing them to attack labor laws and other protections of the working class. They want deregulation and privatizing with government not involved…free market rule which means power and privilege for the rich, giant corporations and businesses who enjoy tax breaks paying little or no taxes…while our country is fiscally drowning in red ink and only the people are cut to pieces (fiscally and emotionally) by the “tsunami” of the “Red” (Tea Party/Republican) party. They are tearing to shreds all that IS and made America great-freedom of speech, by trying to silence the people and by elimination of Public Broadcasting and what will be next? Safety is being eliminated by gutting any clean air laws. They are tearing America and it’s people apart.

History of the Roman Empire and the FALL. Rome’s constitution centered on a separation of powers and checks and balances. There was a struggle between the aristocracy and the people-an aristocracy that depended on the structure of society rather than law to maintain its dominance. Towards the END, a section of Rome’s leaders came to so dominate in the political arena that they exceeded the limitations of the Republic of Rome. American Tea Party legislators are leading us down the SAME road as the falling of the Roman Empire. Cicero 63BC was appreciated for his humanism-his letters contained details concerning the inclinations of leading men, the faults of the generals and the revolutions in the government such as civil war and dictatorship and he championed the return to traditional government-his speeches/letters survived on the last days of the Roman Republic. TRUE, the national budget and debt must be reduced and the arrogance of the authorities (legislators) must be moderated and controlled. Also, payments to foreign governments must be reduced if the US doesn’t want to become bankrupt.

Wake up America, the underhanded, deceptive TEA Party ideology-“socialism is all around us”…. Tea Party legislators are going for fascism which is the belief and strict obedience to their extreme beliefs and intolerance of other views and behaviors.

Julie Kilpatrick

Hanover, IL

Great Cabaret Night

I would like to take the opportunity to commend the FACCS, music and art departments on their fabulous Eastland HS Cabaret on March 18. The energetic kids and their guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves as we ate, played games and were entertained. The Disney banners, soft lighting and music created an enchanting atmosphere so unlike that of a basketball game. The engaging staff and student involvement were amazing.

We are so fortunate that our school district has carried this terrific performance for 24 years. Hats off to our kids, Mrs. Hartman, Mr. O’Keefe and Mrs. Matheson!

Carla Grisham

Lanark, IL

Senate Week in Review

March 14-18, 2011

Senate Republicans unveiled a series of spending and revenue adjustments March 17 that State Sen. Tim Bivins (R-Dixon) said will put Illinois on firm financial footing and allow for the roll back of the 67% income tax increase enacted during the lame-duck legislative session in January.

Throughout the week, most Senate Committees met to consider pending legislation by a March 17 deadline, including a bill to increase cigarette taxes in Illinois by $1 per pack.

Senate GOP lawmakers unveiled a menu of $6.7 billion in spending reductions and financial improvements. The proposed cuts come on the heels of a report released by the caucus last week, which showed that without significant changes, Illinois is on target to accumulate a $22 billion deficit in five years.

Republicans said it is significant that no one has disputed the fiscal projections, which they had released March 10. The GOP caucus determined that $5 billion in spending and revenue changes would allow the state to roll back the full income tax increase and eliminate the job-killing business tax hikes that were also enacted in the middle of the night in January.

Bivins said cutting services to many worthy programs is difficult, but the imminent $22 billion deficit is not a viable alternative. Therefore, the lawmakers have identified cuts that they say are fair, responsible and reasonable, noting that they made a strong effort to preserve appropriate funding for core responsibilities of state government.

The menu of items released March 17 would total approximately $6.7 billion in reductions and financial improvements. At least $4 billion would be needed to bring the budget into line by the time the temporary tax hike is set to expire and $5 billion would be needed to allow an earlier stepped reduction in the tax increases.

Senate GOP legislators have issued an invitation to both Gov. Pat Quinn and members of the state’s legislative Democrat majority to come together at the budget table. Bivins said GOP lawmakers will welcome the opportunity to work with anyone who opposes the recommendations; the caucus is eager to review other ideas for cutting spending.

In committee action, the Senate Executive Committee advanced legislation along party lines that would increase Illinois’ cigarette tax by $1 per pack. The proceeds of Senate Bill 21 have been estimated at $300 million, and would go to finance the state’s capital construction program, the funding sources of which were ruled unconstitutional in late January by an Illinois Appellate Court. The infrastructure projects have continued while the Illinois Supreme Court considers the lower court’s ruling.

Republicans voted against the cigarette tax proposal, noting that capital projects are proceeding, making it premature to pursue additional channels of funding. Cigarette tax proponents were encouraged to shelve the idea until the state’s high court rules on the capital construction case, at which time if necessary lawmakers could consider the legislation.

Opponents to Senate Bill 21 said that pursing the cigarette tax as a way to replace video gaming would undermine the original capital proposal. It would also do a disservice to the business owners and other interested parties who invested money in video poker on the legislature’s representation that video gaming would exist in Illinois. Additionally, they noted that when taking into account the state’s budget deficit, the state might be better served to direct cigarette tax revenues into the General Revenue Fund (GRF) as a way to address some of the state’s fiscal problems.

In other action, on March 14 Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) urged Gov. Quinn to act on legislation they say will create much-needed transparency and public accountability within the executive appointment process.

Senate Bill 1 removes all expired gubernatorial appointees who collect a salary. It further clarifies the state’s executive appointment process to ensure Senators fulfill their constitutional obligation to review and confirm gubernatorial appointees. The legislation was filed in response to reports that both the Blagojevich and Quinn administrations have allowed gubernatorial appointments to expire, and have not taken steps to replace or re-appoint the positions. Illinois currently spends more than $5 million annually on these expired salaried positions.

In a letter to the Governor March 14, Senators Radogno and Cullerton said approving Senate Bill 1 “will fulfill the promise you made to Illinois citizens to ‘fumigate state government’ and the pledge to work with lawmakers to restore trust in our state offices and officials.” The Senate leaders noted that “Sunshine Week” provides a great opportunity for Quinn to sign the bill, which they believe is “the next step in this journey to restore public trust.”

Additional legislation advanced by Senate committees this week includes:

Accountability Portal (SB 1992): Provides that the Illinois Transparency and Accountability Portal must provide direct access to a database of current General Assembly members and state employees of the executive, legislative and judicial branches; the database must be sorted by Rutan status, status relating to collective bargaining, and per diem and mileage paid to General Assembly members.

Assistance Co-Pay Scale (SB 1236): Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a co-payment scale that provides for cost sharing by families that receive child care services, including parents whose only income is from public assistance; eliminates a provision that bases co-pays on the number of children receiving care; and allows the Department of Human Services to waive co-pays for families at or below the federal poverty level.

Capital Revenues (SB 1323): Re-enacts portions of the capital construction revenues bill including creating a Capital Projects Fund for capital projects and the payment of debt service on capital project bonds, ending road fund diversions, enacting changes to the vehicle code, allowing for a number of grant programs, and requiring quarterly reports on capital construction-related spending.

Capital Revenues Lottery (SB 1322): Recreates the Department of the Lottery, including mandating reporting requirements from the Department of Lottery to the Chief Procurement Officer and continuing the appropriation for payment of prizes to winning lottery players. Also re-enacts provisions from the previous capital bills including the privatization of lottery management, the license plate and driver’s license fee increases, and tax increases on coffee and tea drinks, candy and medicated grooming and hygiene products.

Charter School Commission (SB 79): Creates a State Charter School Commission to act as an independent State agency with statewide chartering jurisdiction and authority, with a particular focus on schools designed for at-risk students.

Commercial Driving Schools (SB 2135): Requires all commercial driving school instructors to teach these three classes to students younger than 18: driver task analysis; class room knowledge; and vehicle operational and instructional skills.

Community College (SB 59): Allows a community college student to be eligible for transfer into a baccalaureate program of an Illinois public university if the student has completed 60 semester units eligible for transfer to a state university, including both gen ed core curriculum and a minimum of 18 semester units in a major area, and has obtained a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Corporate Sponsored License Plates (SB 1360): Creates revenue by allowing discounts to car owners who have corporate-sponsored license plates with the corporations paying for the discount and paying an additional fee to the state.

Developmental Disabilities (SB 1622): Directs the Department of Human Services to perform a geographic analysis of existing services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities and mental illness, as well as identify existing gaps in those services and supports, throughout Illinois. The Department of Human Services will present a final report on the analysis to the Governor and the General Assembly by Jan. 1, 2013.

Employment Discrimination (SB 68): Provides full-time “domestic workers” with protection from employment discrimination, including requiring that domestic workers receive overtime compensation in the seven-day calendar week and be allowed one day of rest. Also allows the domestic worker to voluntarily agree not to take one day of rest in the calendar week, provided that the worker is paid at the overtime rate, and stipulates that after the domestic worker has worked for the same employer for one year that the domestic worker is entitled to at least three days of paid vacation time.

Fiscal Transparency (SB 31): Requires the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability to prepare all fiscal notes, and be in charge of the preparation, compliance and accessibility issues relating to fiscal notes.

Granny Tax (SB 769): Halts implementation of the “Granny Tax,” a nursing home tax based on the number of residents pending federal approval of the plan, which is designed to increase federal matching funds for care facilities. Delaying the implementation will prevent the unintended use of state tax dollars to finance the facilities.

Health Facilities Permits (SB 40): Requires permit holders who intend to construct, modify or establish a health care facility, to submit the final completion and cost report for the project within 90 days after the completion date or extension date, and submit annual progress reports no earlier than 30 days before and no later than 30 days after the anniversary date of the Health Facilities and Services Review Board’s permit approval until the project is complete.

Higher Ed Funding (SB 1773): Directs the Board of Higher Education to form a group to devise a system of performance-based higher education funding that reflects success in achieving State higher education goals, such as student academic success and certificate and degree completion.

Higher Ed Programs (SB 1798): Requires each state university to annually report to the Board of Higher Education on programs of instruction, research, or public service that have been terminated, dissolved, reduced, or consolidated by the university; and all aforementioned programs that exhibit a trend of low performance in enrollments, degree completions, and high expense per degree.

Higher Ed Tracking (SB 122): Requires all public institutions of higher education to track the status of students who are the first in their families to attend an institution of higher education.

Homestead Exemption (SB 109): Pro-rates the general homestead, returning veterans homestead, disabled veterans and disabled veterans standard homestead so that a recipient moving into a home mid-year does not have to wait until the following assessment year to get the benefit of the assessment reduction.

Hydraulic Fracturing (SB 664): Directs the Department of Natural Resources to adopt new regulations about the use of hydraulic fracturing, a method of extracting natural gas that involves blasting underground rock with a cocktail of water, sand and chemicals.

Insurance (SB 71): Stipulates that group health policies providing coverage for hospital or medical treatment issues must offer, for an additional premium, optional coverage for audiological services and hearing aids.

Medicaid Dentists (SB 1948): Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to work and develop the concept of a dental home for Medicaid children, including an effort to ensure an ongoing patient/dentist relationship coupled with an effort to provide comprehensive, coordinated oral health care so the children have access to preventative and restorative oral health care.  

Mental Health Records (SB 1234): Authorizes the disclosure of mental health pharmaceutical records to medical practitioners/primary care physicians.

MDRO (SB 1805): Requires the Department of Public Health to publish a yearly report regarding certain Multidrug Resistant Organisms infections based on the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network surveillance system, instead of the Hospital Discharge Dataset.

Personal Needs Allowance (SB 1993): Increases the monthly personal needs allowance for institutionalized persons who are eligible for Medicaid from $30 per month to $50 per month.

Pet Identification (SB 1637): Sets “best practices” standards for animal control facilities when cats or dogs are brought in; asks that facilities do all they can to ID an animal, such as scan for a microchip, or physically examine the animal for other forms of ID, including tags, tattoos, and rabies licenses.

Prescription Drug Cost (SB 2046): Authorizes the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to reimburse the dispensing of a 90-day supply of a brand name drug when it is cost effective and a non-narcotic maintenance medication.

PSA Prohibition (SB 1344): Prohibits a public service announcement on behalf of a state-administered program that contains the proper name, image or voice of a state executive branch constitutional officer or legislator from being displayed on a billboard or electronic message board.

Psychiatric Discharge (SB 839): Clarifies language to ensure that individuals are physically allowed to leave a mental health facility immediately upon their discharge.

Railroad Crossing Closings (SB 1803): Requires that fire chiefs be notified seven days before a railroad crossing is closed for construction so that they may avoid unnecessary delay when responding to an emergency.

Regional Superintendents (SB 2134): Establishes that regional superintendents will no longer be elected, but instead be appointed by the State Board of Education. Also for any schools found to be fiscally inefficient, the regional superintendent and the school district must approve a plan that considers, among other things, consolidation or reorganization.

Rental Companies (SB 54): Makes more stringent requirements for rental companies and sets a standard matrix that outlines the maximum amount an item can be marked up when renting to consumers.

Respectful Language (SB 1833): Eliminates the terms “mentally retarded” and “crippled,” to be replaced with “intellectually disabled” and “physically disabled.”

Retired Teachers (SB 2279): Renews the 120-day return to work sunset for retired teachers under the Teachers Retirement System to continue to allow retired teachers to return to work each year for no more then 120 paid days (or 600 paid hours) during the school year without suspending their pension.

Sex Education (SB 1619): Makes changes to the sex education curriculum in public schools, including removing provisions requiring courses to emphasize abstinence as the norm, as well as provisions that emphasize abstinence until marriage.

Speeding Cameras (SB 2103): Allows speed cameras to be used in areas determined by the Department of Transportation to be “high fatality zones.”

Sustainable Agriculture (SB 1280): Allows the Department of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture to use funds to foster sustainable agriculture practices and control soil erosion, and to partner with conservation land trusts to integrate state and federal programs with Illinois’ natural resource protection and restoration efforts.

Tax Credit (SB 2168): Creates a Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit for people and businesses for the costs and expenses of rehabbing and renovating eligible properties.

Tax Sales Videotaping (SB 1710): Requires that all tax sales be videotaped with audio and allows the Treasurer to declare the taxes forfeited if multiple simultaneous bids of the same percentage are made and lower bids are not made. If there are multiple bids for 0 percent the Treasurer must select the winner at random.

Ticket For the Cure (SB 1279): Extend the “Ticket For The Cure” scratch-off Lottery game by five years to Dec. 31, 2016.

Tax Increment Financing (SB 540): Requires the Comptroller to establish a tax increment financing (TIF) administrator training program, and post municipal audit reports that are received on his/her Web site. Requires TIF reports be filed with the Comptroller within 190 days after the close of the municipal fiscal year or as soon thereafter as the audit becomes available.

Vehicle Impound (SB 2064): Suspends or revokes a vehicle’s registration if it is determined that the vehicle was used during the commission of a felony in which a firearm was used.

Veteran Voters (SB 98): Extends “incapacitated voter” provisions to residents of state-operated and federally-operated veterans’ homes, hospitals and facilities located in Illinois so they qualify for absentee ballots in multiple elections and. Also requires that absentee voting be conducted at the homes, hospitals and facilities.

Capitol Report

By Jim Sacia, State Representative, 89th District

“Absolutely among the finest legislators I know and as a person-none finer”…I’m referring to Susana (Suzie) Mendoza (D-Chicago) who will soon leave these hallowed halls to accept her newly elected position as the Chicago City Clerk.

Why write about Suzie? Simple, a seething email from a self-proclaimed expert on republican politics was sent recently to a constituent with a copy directed to me. The email was suggesting that my constituent find out from me why seven of my republican colleagues in the House, donated republican directed money to a democrat.

It’s hard for me to boil over, but that one just about did it. Are you kidding me? I am so tired of labels- republican, democrat, liberal, conservative, tea party, do-gooder, I could go on and on. To add insult to injury, that same constituent then left me a voicemail (which I have saved), demanding to know why that “liberal democrat” received “conservative republican money”.

I was less than kind when I called back my constituent, who is also my friend. I told him exactly what I thought. What does concern me is the honor and integrity of my good friend Susana.

First of all, if you want to know why these colleagues gave Susana money, ask them. Secondly, I wish she had asked me for help, because if she had, I certainly would have been there for her. Thirdly, to call Susana Mendoza a liberal is a classic example of how we have a tendency to buttonhole people with a label. Suzie works for the good of the people. She has stood with me on issues extremely important to you, my constituents.

Some of those issues were far from liberal, but good public policy. That’s what makes a good, no make that a great, legislator. I consider it such an honor to have had the pleasure of working with her and being able to call her “my dear friend”. Yes, I feel privileged to know such a competent friend that we all can turn to in the City of Chicago.

It’s time to bury the labels and look at the person.