Letters to the Editor and Commentary

To the Citizens of the Village of Milledgeville

Perhaps you have already noticed a press release elsewhere in this paper about lower electricity rates coming to the Village of Milledgeville starting October 1, 2011. Your village trustees have been working on this for about the past six months and we will be the first Carroll County town to benefit by a lower electric rate.

The electric aggregation bids came in even better than expected and the typical home owner should save approximately twenty five percent on the amount of the electricity part of the bill that they have been charged by ComEd. The winning bid came in at 5.90 cents per kilowatt hour compared to the 7.90 cents per kilowatt hour that residents and small businesses are currently paying.

In approximately one week each home and small business should receive a letter from First Energy asking if you would like to have them provide your electricity for the next three years, stay with ComEd or try to find a different electric provider. If you do not send the letter back to First Energy you will then automatically be signed up to receive electricity from them. If you sign the letter and send it back to First Energy this will mean that you want to stay with ComEd or seek a third party electric provider for your home or small business. ComEd will send you a letter in about another two weeks asking if you want to stay with them or go with another third party electric provider other than First Energy or ComEd. After this process has taken place we hope that all of those people who want to go with first Energy will be on line with them by October 1, 2011.

Please keep in mind that ComEd will still supply the delivery system of power lines and poles to get the electricity to our homes and small business no matter who you choose as your supplier. Your electricity bill will still come each month from ComEd just as it has in the past. Our citizens will not notice a change on electricity coming to them other than a twenty five percent savings on the electrical charge part of their bill for the duration of the three year contract.

If after a year citizens are not happy with First Energy they can then opt out of the contract with them and can go with ComEd or a third supplier. If small business opts out of First Energy there will then be a $50.00 service charge. ComEd will make you sign a 12 month contract if you want to come back with them.

The Village President and Trustees want the citizens of Milledgeville to know that the Village will not be receiving kick backs from First Energy since this would inflate the electricity cost for citizens during the length of the contract.

If you have any questions please contact the Milledgeville City Hall at .

Sincerely,

Galen Wirth

Milledgeville Village President

Appreciation

This is just a quick note of appreciation for our local grocery store, the Lanark Food Center. All of us know the convenience and good fortune of having a local store when we need something for a recipe, want to stop quickly for supplies for tonight’s dinner, or have unexpected house guests (like 6 teenagers spending the night—they eat a lot!)

But maybe we are not all aware of the extra things Lanark Food Center has done recently in our community. The free water bottles handed out at the Old Settler’s Day parade were supplied by the Food Center. And the Food Center, along with another local business, donated all food items last fall for the Chamber of Commerce cookout after the homecoming parade. These generous donations covered event costs, allowing proceeds from the dinner to go to community projects.

Our local restaurant, Brothers Inn, similarly makes food donations for community events.

We are blessed to have these and so many more generous businesses in our community!

Sue Appel, John Huggins, & Lynn Collins

Lanark, IL

Future of Farming

The article, “Transforming US Agriculture” (Science, May, 2011) points out, “Concerns about long-term sustainability have promoted interest in new forms of agriculture that (i) enhance the natural-resource base and environment, (ii) make farming financially viable, and (iii) contribute to the well-being of farmers, farm workers, and rural communities, while still (iv) providing abundant, affordable food, feed, fiber, and fuel.” And the 2010 US National Resources Council, “Toward Sustainable Agriculture Systems in the 21st Century”, identified numerous examples of innovative farming systems that contribute to multiple sustainability goals but noted they are not widespread- and was critical of aspects of mainstream, conventional farming systems. When even the American Public Health Association seeks a moratorium on large CAFOs, being critical of a mega-dairy does not mean being critical of agriculture or the farmers of our community. Nor does it mean we want to go back in time. No! We want to move with all haste to the agriculture of the future.

“Why are we supporting big, mainstream agriculture that’s not necessarily protecting or benefiting the environment?” (Reganold, a Washington State University soil scientist, Science Daily, May 5, 2011)

These new sustainable practices- that protect farming and the farmer, the environment, and our communities- these should be the focus of our state and country. These should be the focus of our policies.

Ken Turner

Warren, IL

NIDA, nada – Have a Cup of TEA

There’s been a lot of discussion about the Northwest Illinois Development Alliance (NIDA), particularly their funding and performance. Their stated goal is laudable, and their members include business-savvy folks who no doubt realize the obstacles to business creation, and will do what they can to facilitate area business development.

There’s a little problem, though. NIDA is trying to get a fire started in the 200 MPH headwinds of a recession seemingly without end, in a country which discourages business creation, and a state which is downright hostile to business.

We’ve all seen the performance of business in Texas (which has created 45% of all American jobs since the start of the recession), Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and other business friendly states. We’ve also noted the job exodus from business hostile states like California, New York, Ohio, and, yes, Illinois. But, the winning (and losing) states have had years to create their business environments – what can we in Illinois do right now?

One thing we can do is look north. Wisconsin has done an “about face” in just months. While Governor Walker has garnered much media attention over the public employee union issue, less noticed was the quiet transformation of Wisconsin’s business climate, culminating in the release of June employment figures.

In June, over half of all jobs created in the entire country were created in just one state, our northern neighbor. A smaller, less intrusive government is not only mandatory for personal freedom, business growth benefits as well.

Instead of expecting NIDA to perform miracles, we should look to Wisconsin, and eliminate some headwinds.

“To stand in silence when they should be protesting makes cowards out of men” - Abraham Lincoln

Terry Smith

Stephenson County TEA Party

Commentary . . .

A Free Speech Challenge for Parents

By Dr. Joseph J. Horton

Should a 13-year-old be able to purchase a school-shooting simulator without parents’ knowledge or consent?

The Supreme Court says that freedom of speech requires that 13-year-olds have that opportunity. In a 7-2 decision, the court struck down a California law barring the sale of graphically violent video games to people under 18.

I have not seen legal minds commenting on what seem (to me) to be obvious consequences of this decision. If the First Amendment requires that minors be able to purchase graphically violent video games, does this mean minors may attend R-rated movies without an adult or purchase pornography? We have longstanding traditions and laws which regulate the speech to which minors may be exposed without the consent of their parents.

The research on the effects of violent video games shows that parents and society have reason to be concerned. Today, we are not talking about the games from my youth like Space Invaders or games that involved a cartoon-like image of a person falling over. We are talking about games with graphic, movie-quality images of death and dismemberment. Unlike a movie, however, which is viewed passively, game players are actively causing the scenes which unfold before them.

Yes, video games are pretend. Of course, they are. Even young teenagers who play the games know they are pretend. Yet, even passively viewing pretend images affects the way people think. Television commercials are pretend. We all know they are pretend. The reason some of the most successful businesses in the world advertise—even paying over $2,000,000 for a 30-second Super Bowl spot—is not to generously provide free television for us; it is because they have data showing that advertising changes consumers’ attitudes and behavior. Active participation, like playing a video game, changes attitudes and behavior more efficiently than passively watching TV.

Will most kids who play games that simulate school shootings live out the roles they are playing? Will most kids who play Grand Theft Auto steal cars? No. Very few kids who play violent video games will perform those acts in real life. The changes most kids will experience as a result of playing violent video games are more subtle than mass murder, but are still quite measurable.

For example, greater exposure to violent media desensitizes people to the effects of violence and aggression. What would have been abhorrent, or should be, becomes not so bad or perhaps even funny. Violent video games cause users to think more violent thoughts. Typical behavioral effects from these changes in thinking might range from not being appropriately moved by images of real human suffering to being more argumentative and disrespectful.

Space does not allow for a full consideration of the effects of using violent video games. I spend an entire class period in my course on child development discussing violent media. Among the well-established effects is that users of violent media are more likely to believe that crime victims deserved their fate. In addition, users of violent media have a distorted view of the world, believing life to be significantly less safe than it is.

It is true that people who are prone to aggressiveness are more likely to use violent media. It is also true that people who use violent media become more aggressive. None of us want to believe that we will acquire a taste for the distasteful, but if we consume enough of what began as distasteful, it becomes satisfying.

Make no mistake about it; video games can be a great use of free time. Research shows that kids who play video games develop better spatial skills and hand-eye coordination. They are also just plain fun. Yet the benefits of video games do not require gruesome images.

We endure a lot of ugliness to protect our right to free speech. Like Justices Clarence Thomas and Steven Breyer, I do not believe that restricting the sale of violent video games to people 18 and older would have strained the First Amendment. With or without laws that require adult involvement for kids to have questionable material, parents must be parents. Laws are no substitute for parental monitoring. While I find the Court’s decision disappointing, it highlights the need for parents to be proactive and willing to make tough decisions.

— Dr. Joseph J. Horton is professor of psychology at Grove City College and a researcher with The Center for Vision & Values.

SENATE WEEK IN REVIEW: July 18-22, 2011 July 22, 2011

Seeking a redraw of the state’s General Assembly redistricting map that State Sen. Tim Bivins (R-Dixon) says violates the United States Constitution, the Illinois Constitution and the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, Republicans and concerned citizens filed a federal lawsuit July 20 to invalidate the 2011 legislative boundaries.

In other news, the Illinois Comptroller released a detailed analysis of the state’s fiscal year 2010, and lawmakers and state officials began exploring available options after the Obama Administration moved to undo key anti-fraud provisions of a bipartisan Medicaid Reform package approved in January.

On July 22, the Governor signed legislation sponsored by Bivins that targets criminals who use those drugs as a weapon against others. House Bill 21 expands current law addressing drug-induced homicide crimes to include a drug-induced death caused by absorption of an unlawfully delivered controlled substance.

“You constantly struggle to keep laws current with the technology and the new ways people have of circumventing the law. Someone is always coming up with a new way to get a ‘high’ or make a profit selling drugs,” Bivins said. “But we have to do all we can to keep up with the criminals. Illegal drugs hurt our children. They cost our society billions of dollars. But we have to keep fighting.”

On July 20, Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno, House Republican Leader Tom Cross and concerned citizens filed a federal lawsuit in the Northern District of Illinois during the week in an effort to force a redraw of legislative districts.

The lawsuit has been filed against the State Board of Elections, arguing the state’s General Assembly redistricting maps represent a direct violation of the Federal Voting Rights Act and some of voters’ most basic rights under the Illinois and U.S. constitutions. The suit makes the following allegations against the map passed by Democratic majorities and signed by the Governor:

• The map violates the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 because African Americans and Latinos have not been provided a “fair opportunity” to participate in the political process.

• The process by which the map was approved violates the Illinois Constitution because the map was not made available to the public or the Legislature for a sufficient amount of time for review.

• The map violates the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution because it dilutes the voting power of Republican voters throughout the state.

• The map violates the compactness requirement of the Illinois Constitution and is less compact than the previous map and the Fair Map put forward as an alternative.

The lawsuit will be considered in the coming months. If the plaintiffs are successful, the court could direct the General Assembly to redraw the district boundaries of all or parts of the state. The court could also direct a “Special Master” to redraw the lines, or it could direct a Legislative Redistricting Commission, as provided by the Illinois Constitution, to draw the boundaries with equal appointments made by the four legislative leaders. If the Commission cannot agree, a tiebreaker’s name would be drawn from a hat.

Though good government groups, the public and Republican lawmakers advocated for a more open redistricting process that would give the responsibility of drawing the maps to an independent body instead of politicians, Democrats denied voters that opportunity. While the public was able to weigh-in on the redistricting process prior to the release of the maps, little time was given for voters and community organizations to review or react to the final proposals. In fact, the legislative maps that were ultimately passed were made public for only a few hours before being pushed through the General Assembly by state Democrats.

On July 21, Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka released the Illinois Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the 2010 Fiscal Year.

According to the Comptroller’s report, in FY 2010 Illinois confronted billions of dollars in increasing deficits and outstanding liabilities, and almost 11 percent of the state’s nearly 13 million people were out of work. Even with the almost $4 billion in federal funding the state treasury received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, in a single year Illinois’ deficit increased $1.8 billion, from $7.4 billion to $9.2 billion.

The report noted that “The state has shown an inability to generate sufficient cash from its current revenue structure to pay operating expenditures on a timely basis.” In fact, FY 2010 was the eighth consecutive year Illinois engaged in short-term borrowing to pay for state expenses, yet Illinois ended FY 2010 with $1.521 billion in deferred liabilities, primarily Medicaid-related expenses. The CAFR noted that the state’s continued reliance on deferring yearly obligations creates an additional cash management strain at the beginning of each new fiscal year, particularly in the first and second quarters.

The FY 2010 deficit persisted despite the more than $275 million that was drained from the State’s Budget Stabilization Fund. The Fund was created in 2000 to assist the state in meeting cash flow deficits as needed. As of June 30, 2010, there was a balance of $0 in the Budget Stabilization Fund.

Bonding and pension debt continued to be the state’s largest liabilities in FY 2010. The state’s total bonded indebtedness came to $27.4 billion, and in the 2010 fiscal year the state paid more than $1 billion in interest on the obligations. Pension obligations comprised the second largest liability in Illinois, and increased by almost $1.3 billion in FY 2010 alone. Though the targeted funding percentage for Illinois’ five state-funded retirement systems is 90 percent, as of June 30, 2010 the pension systems were a dismal 45.4 percent funded.

The report noted, “Budgetary challenges and economic uncertainties along with the accumulated deficit in the General Fund, continued growth in unfunded actuarial postemployment benefit costs, and the recent ratings downgrades on debt issuances of the state may impact the state’s ability to access credit markets for the continued short-term borrowings being issued to pay operational expenditures more timely and may increase interest costs of those borrowings.”

In recent years, Illinois has consistently seen its credit ratings downgraded based on the state’s continuing budget deficit and chronic failure to address Illinois’ ongoing fiscal issues. Despite arguments from state Democrats that the national recession is the primary cause of the budget deficit, recent downgrades are mostly unique to Illinois and California. These independent “report cards” of the state’s finances are indicative of serious financial problems, and will likely lead to hundreds of millions of dollars in higher interest costs over future years.

Also during the week, Obama Administration officials are receiving backlash for attempting to block two key provisions included in Illinois’ Medicaid reform law (HB 5420), which passed in January with strong bipartisan support. Federal and state lawmakers say that by blocking implementation of the reforms, the federal government is overreaching its authority and undermining efforts to curb Medicaid fraud.

Senate Republican lawmakers have been longtime proponents of Medicaid reform. For years, Senate GOP legislators introduced and advocated for measures that would bring accountability and common sense to the Medicaid program. Much of the January reform package was based on proposals long pushed for by Senate Republicans.

The reforms the Obama Administration wants to block are intended to prevent persons ineligible for Medicaid from fraudulently receiving services. The law requires that Medicaid applicants prove they live in Illinois and that they meet income eligibility requirements to qualify for the program. Supporters of the Illinois law point out that the Medicaid reforms in question do not change or curb eligibility—they simply advance greater oversight of the program to ensure Medicaid recipients are eligible. State lawmakers from both parties advanced the reforms to target inefficiencies and fraud within the system.

The Obama Administration’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services claim the anti-fraud provisions of the new law do not comply with the federal health-care reform law, because federal law restricts states from changing eligibility in the Medicaid program. Federal officials contend that Illinois’ reforms violate the federal law by limiting Medicaid eligibility, even though the Act does not affect persons legitimately eligible for Medicaid.

Although the eligibility verifications are the only portion of the law challenged so far by the federal government, in a letter to the State Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Obama Administration official Cindy Mann left open the possibility that they may attempt to undo other provisions of the Medicaid reform law, saying that since there is an Oct. 1 date for those provisions to go into effect, “we will respond to those issues separately.”

Legislation signed into law during the week includes:

Aggravated Assault (HB 3390/PA 97-0159): Requires mandatory prison time for aggravated assault with a firearm against a peace officer, community policing volunteer, private security officer, fireman, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, ambulance drivers, or other medical assistance or first aid personnel.

Aggravated Intimidation (SB 1739/PA 97-0162): Establishes that a person has committed aggravated intimidation if they knew their victim was a civilian reporting information about a forcible felony to a law enforcement agency, and the offense was committed for that reason.

Charter Schools (HB 2401/PA 97-0151): Requires that with regards to the five “re-enrolling drop-out” charter schools and the 15-maximum “campuses” in Chicago, a collective bargaining contract be entered into between each individual, re-enrolling charter school campus in order to unionize the teachers within that charter school. 

Child Luring (SB 1038/PA 97-0160): Recognizes that Illinois has a compelling interest in identifying and providing appropriate sentences in cases where offenses are sexually motivated and to recognize the greater danger sex offenders pose to children. Therefore it requires all child abductors under this section [10-5(b) (10) child luring] to undergo a sex offender evaluation prior to sentencing. Increases the penalty to a class 2 felony for a second offense when a person has a prior conviction of a sex offense as defined in the Sex Offender Registration Act or any substantially similar federal, Uniform Code of Military Justice, sister state or foreign government offense. Adds language to make it harder for an offender to claim a lawful intent (of trying to lure a minor) if they do not have express permission of a parent.

Child Pornography (HB 3283/PA 97-0157): Enhances the penalty for filming, videotaping, or creating a moving image of child pornography, or possessing such items.

Doctor Sex Offenders (HB 1271/PA 97-0156): Provides that licensed health-care workers who have been convicted of a sex crime will have their license to practice permanently revoked.

FOID Revocation (HB 3365/PA 97-0158): Provides that a person convicted of domestic battery is not eligible to obtain or keep a FOID Card. People who have an order of protection issued against them must also surrender their FOID Card for the duration of the order.

Good Samaritan (HB 1549/PA 97-0150): Requires that for immunity under the Good Samaritan Act a person providing CPR must be trained in accordance with the standards of the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association and that the care be provided in accordance with the training.

Hate Crimes (SB 1708/PA 97-0161): Provides if an offender receives probation or conditional discharge following a conviction for a hate crime where the offender caused criminal damage to religious property, the offender must enroll in an educational program discouraging hate crimes.

Juvenile Sex Offender Study (SB 2151/PA 97-0163): Provides that the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission study and make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly to ensure the effective treatment and supervision of adjudicated delinquent juvenile sex offenders. The study must also consider the appropriateness and feasibility of restricting juveniles adjudicated as sex offenders from certain locations, such as parks and schools.

Laser Airplane Prohibition (HB 167/PA 97-0153): Prohibits discharging a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft that is taking off, landing, or in flight.

Sex Offenders (HB 295/PA 97-0155): Requires sex offenders who are employed at or attend an institution of higher education to also register with the campus’s public safety or security director instead of just with the Chief of Police or County Sheriff. 

State Charter School Commission (SB 79): Creates a State Charter School Commission, which will be an independent State agency that has statewide chartering jurisdiction and authority. The Commission will focus on schools designed for at-risk students.