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Letters to the Editor and Commentary

Support CASA as a Volunteer

Every year there are millions of abused and neglected children who have become wards of the court. CASA-15th Judicial Circuit (serving Lee, Ogle and Carroll counties) is a program where volunteers are appointed by the court to represent the child’s best interest in an abuse and/or neglect case. These Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) are trained persons from our community who speak for these youngsters.

These children are at risk because of their circumstances, i.e. they are abused and/or neglected. The CASA volunteer provides a judge with carefully researched details about the child to help make a sound decision regarding the child’s future. The CASA volunteer reviews all records pertaining to the child, makes recommendations on placement of the child to the judge and follows through on the case until it is permanently resolved. The volunteer is the one consistent person in all these proceedings and providing continuity for the youngster.

We need volunteers for this program. There is no special experience required to be a CASA volunteer. All one needs is a commitment to children and the desire to help.

The American Bar Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the Office of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the U.S. Department of Justice have endorsed CASA.

Please think of our children and consider being a CASA volunteer. For more information, please visit our website, www.CASALeeCarroll.com , or call our office at (815) 288-1901.

Marguerite Nye

Ogle County Board Member

CASA Board Member

Morrison City Council Notes

Morrison City Council met July 25, 2011 at City hall. All aldermen were present except Pat Zuidema. Mayor Drey, Administrator Wise, Attorney Zollinger, Treasurer Huling, Chief Melton, and Gary Tresenriter were also present. James Wise handed council members his certificate as FOIA officer. He will be posting one at a later date.

Bills payable of $39,519.98 were approved. Lindsay Harkness Chevrolet collected $3,578.98 for replacing the transmission on squad #2. I raised a question on who has access to the credit cards . . . James Wise said he would get that information to me.

Gary Tresenriter stated that bids are to be let out on Aug 16 for the Water projects for the city including East End Water Loop, the New Well, Well #4 rehab, the Water tower rehab and some other things.

Ernie Huling, city treasurer talked about some of the post audit adjustments that were made at last meeting. Monies were moved from the general fund to Water and Sewer to help handle cash flow. The problem being that the cash report from the bank doesn’t come in until the 5th of the month for the prior month. This puts everything behind but it should all catch up in September so that it will be easier to understand.

Public comment came from Harvey Zuidema stating that the auditor adjustments were made and the council voted for things they didn’t even understand by approving the adjustments. There were no explanations for what was moved at the last meeting before the vote was taken.

Irene Bramm asked how much the city has given to the Friends of the Park. Mayor Drey said that we have given them nothing. James Wise interrupted her telling her that she was not to ask questions, it was a time for comments only. She asked when that was changed and was told that is the way it is and that she needs to write down her questions, drop them at city hall to get answers.

Rich Ayres was recognized. Without asking a question, he wanted an explanation for an incident that occurred on July 12, 2011, when he was going to the Historic Preservation Commission meeting at City Hall. Before the meeting James Wise called him into his office and told him to leave the building because he said so. Rich Ayres said he challenged the decision made by James Wise by attending the meeting and listening to the comments. Then James Wise called the city police to remove him from the meeting and charge him with criminal trespass to property. No explanation was given during the meeting. Brian Melton and Mayor Drey said he would have to write it down in order to be answered. Alderman Kallermyn also stated he would like more information on what happened.

Brian Melton is proposing 4 amendments for ordinances (Rules of the Road, Stops; Parking; Offenses Against the Person; Consumption/Possession of Alcohol). He is proposing 2 new ordinances: Curfew; Truancy. I believe if you want more information on them you can contact city hall.

Whiteside County Board Room has been brought up as a possible meeting place for city council meetings if approved. Let your councilman know how you feel about it. The next Morrison City Council Meeting is Aug. 8, 2011 at city hall. Hope to see you there.

A Morrison Taxpayer

Marti Wood

Correction

In the July 27, 2011 issue of the Prairie Advocate News, the article entitled “Early Step Preschool Program in Carroll County Receives State Grant” incorrectly stated that Lyn Franke was the Program Director. Franke is the Program Secretary, who sent the news release for the Program Director, Pam Delp.

This coming school year is Delp’s second school year as the Carroll County Early Childhood Director. The three Carroll County school districts have a joint agreement to provide Early Childhood services to our families including Preschool and Parents As Teachers Home visiting program.

Neither Lyn Franke or Pam Delp responded to the PA’s inquiries until after the article was published.

If you have any questions, or are considering preschool for your child, please call the Early Step Preschool office at .

Correction

In the July 27, 2011 issue, the Carroll County Board article stated that “a Savanna bar owner with a 25 year old felony on his record was forced to close his doors because the liquor license was in his partner’s name and the partner pulled out, he sought redress from State’s Attorney and Finance Committee.” In fact, owner Les Wittbecker has never closed the Riverview Bar & Grill.

“We have not been closed for even one hour,” said Jeff Berg, an employee of the facility. “Since everybody reads the Prairie Advocate, we just want to be sure that people know we are definitely open for business!”

The Prairie Advocate News regrets the error, and encourages you to stop in, order some food, and have a cold one!

Commentary

Push Back Against FDA Growing

By Bernie LaForest and Michael Boldin

A county assembly in Washington State has just passed a food freedom ordinance which would punish federal agents with up to ten years in prison and $20,000 fines.

On July 20th, the Stevens County Assembly finalized the ordinance. They are now in the process of collecting signatures from the residents of Stevens County – urging them to to claim his/her natural right to grow, produce, purchase, and consume the foods of their choice.

Beyond that, the passed ordinance would make it unlawful for agents of either the State or Federal government to execute laws that interfere with the ordinance.

Already four towns in Maine have passed similar measures, and others around the country have indicated they’re looking at the same.

Regulations, Regulations, And More Regulations

Last year, Congress introduced the Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510) which opponents say will lead to crushing regulations on local food production – at the benefit of the big corporate farming interests that backed passage of the law. Local food ordinances appear to be a direct response to the new regulations. The Stevens County Ordinance states, in part, that:

WHEREAS, We find the history of government regulators, even with hundreds of food regulations on the books, shows they are incapable of protecting citizens from exposure to food poisoning events from foods produced by corporate farming

What exactly have all of these regulations given you? For example:

–The year-long raw milk sting operation that resulted in a raid consisting of two US Marshals, two State Troopers and two FDA officials on a SWAT like assault on an Amish farm in Pennsylvania at 5 a.m.

–In the first half of 2008, there was an epidemic of human salmonella poisoning that afflicted 1,294 people in 43 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. The FDA immediately sprang into action and after a hasty investigation they proclaimed that tainted tomatoes may be the source of the epidemic. Several varieties of tomatoes were withdrawn from markets and restaurants across the country. Several weeks later, the FDA proclaimed that it may indeed be jalapeno peppers and cilantro that could be contributing to the outbreak. All of these ingredients are commonly used to make salsa which is a staple when eating Mexican food. Surprise! Finally the FDA pinpointed the peppers and cilantro that were imported from Mexico because it had traced contaminated irrigation water. The American tomato industry lost millions of dollars because of these errant recalls.

–Last year, FDA “Investigators” entered an organic grocery store in Venice, California – warrant and guns in hand. As reported by the LA Times, they “ordered the hemp-clad workers to put down their buckets of mashed coconut cream and to step away from the nuts. Then, guns drawn, four officers fanned out across Rawesome Foods in Venice. Skirting past the arugula and peering under crates of zucchini, they found the raid’s target inside a walk-in refrigerator: unmarked jugs of raw milk.

These are but a few of the seemingly endless examples of how the FDA and its increasing regulatory and police power have been keeping you “safe.” Some people, as shown by the five towns taking matters into their own hands, have decided that “enough is enough.”

Locals Speak Out

Sedgwick, Maine resident Mia Strong told Natural News: “Tears of joy welled in my eyes as my town voted to adopt this ordinance. I am so proud of my community. They made a stand for local food and our fundamental rights as citizens to choose that food.”

“I still can’t believe they took our yogurt,” Rawesome volunteer Sea J. Jones told the LA Times a few days after the raid. “There’s a medical marijuana shop a couple miles away, and they’re raiding us because we’re selling raw dairy products?”

Community Farming, Organic Foods: Tenther 101

While the media would like to portray any and all actions that assert the Tenth Amendment as a “tea party” or “right wing” movement, support for food sovereignty ordinances, along with fifteen states passing medical marijuana laws, certainly proves that stereotype to be little more than media hype.

The ordinance from Stevens County makes this clear:

WHEREAS, We, the people of the State of Washington domiciled on Stevens county, declare:

1. The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution for the United States, states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people”; and

2. That pursuant to Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution for the United States, there is no power granted to the federal government to regulate local foods on Stevens county; and

3. The Ninth Amendment to the Constitution for the United States, states, “The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”; and

4. That pursuant to the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the Constitution for the United States, the power to regulate local foods on Stevens county is reserved to the State of Washington or the people of the State of Washington.

Warning To The Feds

Like the four towns in Maine that have passed similar ordinances, Stevens County means business. They’ve also included an enforcement clause – telling the feds, in essence, to butt out.

ENFORCEMENT CLAUSE;

(A)(1) The people of the State of Washington domiciled on Stevens county, declare that any law enacted by the congress of the United States; any federal regulation, rule, or policy promulgated; any executive order issued by the president of the United States; and any court decision; that seeks, purports, or is otherwise intended to regulate, in any way, the unalienable and fundamental rights of the people on Stevens county to choose the local foods they produce; process or prepare; sell, purchase, or distribute; preserve and store for extended periods of time; and consume, for food or drink, for people or other life forms, is not authorized by the Constitution for the United States of America; and

(2) The people of the State of Washington domiciled on Stevens county, declare the federal laws, etc., referred to in subsection (A)(1):

(a) Are invalid on Stevens county; and

(b) Will not be recognized by Stevens county; and

(c) Are specifically rejected by Stevens county; and

(d) Are null and void, having no effect on Stevens county.

The ordinance continues

(D)(1) Public employees employed at the federal, state, or local levels, including, but not limited to, agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, Food and Drug Administration, Washington state Patrol, sheriff’s departments, and municipal and county police will not enforce or attempt to enforce the federal laws, etc., referred to in (A) subsections (1) and (2); or treaties referred in (B) subsections (1) and (2); or Washington state laws, etc., referred in (C) subsections (1) and (2);

and

(2) A violation of subsection (D)(1) is a class B felony (as defined at RCW 9A.20.021(1)(b)) and is punishable by confinement in a state correctional institution for a term fixed by the court not to exceed ten (10) years, or by a fine in an amount fixed by the court not to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), or by both such confinement and fine; an

What Next?

While the FDA has been getting increasingly aggressive – raiding raw milk activists, threatening walnut producers, and the like – these activists believe that they can push back and win by doing the same to DC. Will a local government ever attempt to arrest an FDA official? Only time will tell, and maybe they’ll never have to. With five local ordinances now passed, the “food sovereignty” movement is just in its infancy. But, if they learn from the efforts of those who defied DC on issued like medical marijuana and the real ID act, they’ll recognize that when enough people, towns, and even states – say NO to Washington DC, there’s not much the feds can do to stop them.

Bernie LaForest is the Outreach Director for the Wisconsin Tenth Amendment Center, http://wisconsin.tenthamendmentcenter.com.

Michael Boldin [send him email at ] is the founder of the Tenth Amendment Center. He was raised in Milwaukee, WI, and currently resides in Los Angeles, CA. Follow him on twitter - @michaelboldin - and visit his personal blog - www.michaelboldin.com

Going to the Brink: The Aug. 2 Debt Ceiling Deadline

By Dr. Mark W. Hendrickson

Some have called August 2 “Financial D-Day.” That is the date, according to Treasury Secretary Geithner, by which either Congress raises the debt ceiling or some government disbursements will cease.

Multiple proposals have been floated for budgetary reforms to be made in exchange for raising the debt ceiling. A partial list includes: Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) plan to add $4.4 trillion less to the national debt than current trends project; the GOP “Cut, Cap, and Balance” plan, which aims for $6 trillion of future spending cuts; and the so-called “Gang of Six” Plan that proposes $3.7 trillion less debt than now projected.

Whatever compromise is eventually adopted, you should be aware that the national debt will continue to grow and that the vast majority of promised spending cuts will be scheduled for after the next election, when those promises can easily be forgotten. None of the proposed reforms would reduce debt; they would merely increase it less than now planned.

Also, notice how fishy the numbers seem to be. For example, the press release for the GOP “Cut, Cap, and Balance” stipulated $111 billion of spending cuts in Fiscal Year 2012 and to cut next year’s projected $1.1-trillion deficit in half. This is the best they can do?

Democrats resist spending cuts, but massive cuts are imperative. Last year, the U.S. Treasury incurred $3.3 trillion of new debt to finance the government’s on-budget and off-budget spending. This $3.3-trillion deficit cannot be closed with taxes. The total income of Americans above the $250,000 threshold that President Obama uses to designate “rich Americans” amounts to approximately $1.4 trillion. If the government taxed it all, we would still be around $2 trillion short. There literally is no other way to close the deficit than to slash federal spending drastically.

The Democrats have been particularly irresponsible in their handling of this issue. (For the record: I publicly criticized Republicans for their overspending during the Bush-Hastert years, and I opposed both the Bush stimulus plan and Bush’s Big Bailout.) As other commentators have observed, despite controlling both houses of Congress during President Obama’s first two years in office, the Democrats (in defiance of the law) failed to pass a budget that funded their ambitious spending plans. President Obama himself proposed a budget earlier this year that was so out-of-touch that the Democrat-controlled Senate rejected it 97–0. Since then, the president has not proposed a single specific spending cut. In fact, at his press conference on July 11, President Obama announced, “I’d rather be talking about … new [spending] programs” than deficit reduction.

On July 13, the president angrily told Republicans, “This [his willingness to scuttle any deal] may bring my presidency down, but I won’t yield.”

One would hope that, instead of couching this in terms of re-election prospects, the president of the United States would spare the American people a wrenching economic upheaval.

Obama knows that no president can spend funds that Congress has not raised by taxes or authorized the Treasury to borrow. As president, he should have in place contingency plans with clearly defined priorities (e.g., interest on the national debt so there is no default; Social Security, defense, whatever) for deciding what federal spending would be continued or discontinued if Congress said “Enough!” to runaway spending and refused to raise the debt ceiling. Whenever the debt-ceiling issue is temporarily patched over in the coming days or weeks, Congress should hold hearings to ferret out the truth. Did President Obama have a contingency plan in place? If he didn’t, he was derelict in duty; if he did, his plan could prove useful in identifying what federal spending is nonessential. And was cutting off Social Security payments really near the top of his list, as the president implied when he raised the prospect of those checks not going out on August 3, or was that a cynical attempt to scare senior citizens?

Another unseemly aspect of this ongoing drama is how the administration managed to postpone “Financial D-Day” to August 2, even though the debt ceiling was first reached in May. Secretary Geithner tapped the retirement funds of federal employees. Naturally, those funds (over $100 billion) will have to be repaid. As he did by tapping into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the president’s administration has misused important reserves set aside for future needs for (in my view) political advantage.

Bottom line: Whatever deal is struck now will not solve our long-term fiscal problems. The ongoing political maneuvering has given us glimpses of how sick our political system is.

— Dr. Mark W. Hendrickson is an adjunct faculty member, economist, and fellow for economic and social policy with The Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College.

Senate Week In Review: July 25-29, 2011

A new audit released by the state’s Auditor General shows that Illinois’ net worth deficit is now the largest among all 50 states and the state’s general fund deficit is a record $9.2 billion, according to State Sen. Tim Bivins (R-Dixon).

Also during the week, state leaders met with Gov. Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to discuss work rules at McPier, and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is exploring increasing toll fares for I-Pass users.

Auditor General William Holland’s report was released July 21, on the heels of the Comptroller’s Fiscal Year 2010 annual report on the state’s finances. Unfortunately, the audit showed that Illinois’ net worth has steadily deteriorated over the last decade, plummeting from negative $12.8 billion in FY 2003 to negative $37.9 billion in FY 2010.

Sen. Bivins said the deficit in the state’s net worth reflects the difference between Illinois’ liabilities and assets. Examining a state’s net worth provides a good picture of its fiscal health. In FY 2010, Gov. Quinn’s first full year in office, the state’s net assets fell $8.4 billion.

Auditor General Holland was able to compare the state’s fiscal year (FY) 2010 financial statement to all states but Hawaii, which has not yet been released. Illinois was one of only four states with a net worth deficit. However, Illinois had by far the largest deficit, at nearly 10 times the $4.2 billion deficit reported by California and still substantially more than Connecticut’s $13.7 billion deficit and New Jersey’s $28.2 billion deficit.

The audit is one of numerous reports released by both state officials and private entities highlighting the state’s ongoing fiscal problems. In May, Treasurer Dan Rutherford released a report showing state taxpayers’ borrowing debt has jumped to $45 billion—or $24,000 for every Illinois family. Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka has consistently cautioned that substantial structural budget changes are needed if Illinois is to ever eliminate its massive deficit.

In other news, the Toll Highway Authority is seeking a toll increase for drivers who use I-Pass. The revenues would finance a $12 billion program to improve and expand Illinois’ suburban Chicago transportation infrastructure.

On July 28, the Tollway Board voted to hold August hearings on the proposed toll hike. According to the Tollway’s Executive Director, the Authority is seeking to increase the current 40-cent I-Pass passenger-car toll to 75 cents.

The Tollway Board would be responsible for voting on the proposed hikes, though lawmakers and the Governor would have to approve construction plans affiliated with the improvement program. Tollway authorities say the increase is necessary to make much-needed improvements to the suburban expressways surrounding Chicago.

There is no proposed hike for commercial vehicles; an increase had already been approved for commercial vehicles that will take effect in 2015. Tollway drivers who pay cash will continue to pay their current rates.

Earlier in the week, legislative leaders met with Gov. Quinn and Mayor Emanuel to discuss changes to work rules at Chicago’s McCormick Place convention center and exhibition facility.

The facility, known as “McPier,” is an economic engine for the state, attracting lucrative trade shows, which create local jobs, and bring in tourism dollars and sales tax revenues. In 2010, lawmakers passed a bipartisan reform package to ease stringent labor rules at McPier after several trade shows left Illinois for more desirable locations, citing the high cost of doing business at the facility.

However, legal challenges have placed the 2010 labor changes in jeopardy. U.S. District and Appeals Courts have sided with labor unions that protested the initial reforms, finding that the law interferes with the negotiating rights of private-sector employees.

In response, state and city leaders are pursing new work rules that would satisfy the legal concerns surrounding the current work rules. State officials are hopeful a compromise can be reached through negotiations with union leaders. However, Gov. Quinn has said that if an agreement cannot be reached, he will call lawmakers back to Springfield in September to pursue revised legislation intended to keep the work rules in place.

State lawmakers, Gov. Quinn and Mayor Emanuel all agree that a compromise on the work rules is important. The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), which owns and manages McCormick Place, confirmed that the implementation of the reforms had a tremendously positive impact in ensuring the competitiveness of the facility against similar venues in Orlando and Las Vegas. However, McPier authorities have confirmed that the legal uncertainty surrounding the reforms has already impacted sales at the facility through lost trade show business.

Legislation signed into law during the week includes:

Audit Clean-up (SB 100/PA 97-220): Addresses issues, loopholes and outdated practices at the Environmental Protection Agency as outlined in a recent state audit, including establishing a new penalty for destroying a public water system.

College Technology Entrepreneur Centers (HB 1876/PA 97-0196): Authorizes the board of trustees of each public university and community college to create a technology entrepreneur center, which will provide goods and personnel to innovators who possess an innovative concept that has not yet been offered for sale. The goal is to help them develop their concept to the point where it can become a business venture.

Construction Application (SB 2143/PA 97-0232): Doubles the time, from two years to four years, that a filed school construction application from a former school district(s) may be used with the State Board of Education for a reorganized school district or cooperative high school construction project, if that application has not been already been entitled for a project previously for districts that are reorganizing.

Corporate License Plate (SB 1360/PA 97-0221): Requires the Secretary of State to complete a feasibility study on the costs, profits and public interest associated with the implementation of corporate license plates.

False Representation (SB 64/PA 97-219): Prohibits knowingly and falsely representing oneself to be another person in order to intimidate, threaten, injure, defraud, or obtain a benefit from another. Prohibits a person to claim to be a representative of a person or organization in order to obtain a benefit, or to injure or defraud another person.

Forgery Terminology (SB 2027/PA 97-0231): Adds the act of making “a false document” and “to make it false” to the prohibited conduct currently included under a forgery offense.

Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits (SB 2168/PA 97-0203): Creates an income tax credit for the rehabilitation of historic structures in River Edge Redevelopment Zones.

IDOT Discrimination (SB 1923/PA 97-0228): Gives the chief procurement officer, in consultation with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the power to implement a target market program in order to remedy particular incidents and patterns of egregious race or gender discrimination.

Investment Funds (SB 107/PA 97-0197): Provides that any funds created by an Illinois venture capital firm in which the Treasurer places money must invest at least twice the aggregate amount of investable capital that is received from the state in Illinois companies during the life of the fund. The goal is to ensure that money invested by the state will not be invested in out-of-state companies with no hope of that money returning as investments in Illinois companies.

Juvenile Detention Worker Assault (SB 1754/PA 97-0225): Establishes that an assault against a county juvenile detention center resident supervisor is considered an aggravated assault and a Class 4 felony, the same classification that’s associated with assaults against corrections officers.

Large Truck Speed Limit (SB 1913/PA 97-0202): Provides that outside the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will, the speed limit for big trucks is uniform with cars, or 65 mph, on four-lane divided highways.

License “Clean-up” Languages (SB 1924/PA 97-0229): Contains clean-up provisions and minor changes relating to driver’s licenses, including requiring individuals to appear at a Secretary of State facility that the Secretary of State believes to have issued identification cards based on invalid, fictitious or fraudulent documents. Failure to appear will result in cancellation of the card. Also makes changes relating to school bus permits, graduated driver’s licenses for people who received supervision for underage drinking, license suspension for speeding in construction zones, restricted driving permits for people convicted of moving violations that resulted in fatal accidents, and more.

Natural Gas Markets (SB 1654/PA 97-0223): Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission’s Office of Retail Market Development to prepare an annual report regarding the development of competitive retail natural gas markets in Illinois.

Nuclear Fees (HB 1723/PA 97-0195): Increases the fee that must be paid by owners of each licensed nuclear power reactor in the state, and changes the date by which the fees must be paid. Also imposes an additional, temporary fee that will be used to upgrade remote monitoring system software and to acquire, replace and upgrade certain equipment.

Oral Cancer Medications (HB 1825/PA 97-0198): Requires insurance plans that provide coverage for oral cancer medications and intravenous cancer medications to cover oral medications at the same benefit cost as intravenous medications.

Recycling Centers (SB 1929/PA 97-0230): Allows recycling centers to recycle certain materials that would otherwise end up in landfills. Counting other types of waste as recycling material will allow them to qualify for certain exemptions that would enable them to maintain financial viability.

Respectful Language (SB 1833/PA 97-0227): Makes changes to language in state law to replace the term “mental retardation” with “intellectual disability” and the term “physically disabled” for “crippled.”

Semi-trailers (HB 2836/PA 97-0200): Allows a semi-trailer to be directly connected to another semi-trailer without the use of a dolly converter as long as all statutory length and weight restrictions are met.

Student Athlete Concussion (HB 200/PA 97-0204): Requires school boards to adopt a policy on student athlete concussions and head injuries that complies with the protocols, policies, and by-laws of the IHSA. Requires student athletes who sustained a concussion to receive written clearance from a licensed health professional before they can resume play. Also encourages park districts to provide patrons with information concerning head injuries.

Student Transportation (SB 1669/PA 97-0224): Places additional regulations on school bus and cab drivers who transport students, including restrictions and requirements for applicants under court supervision, or who have been convicted of multiple traffic offenses. Institutes new safety and insurance requirements for transportation companies transporting students. Advances new documentation mandates for school districts relating to bus drivers.

Sunset Clean-up (SB 1806/PA 97-0226): Amends the Home Inspector License Act and the Regulatory Sunset Act to move the repeal date from Jan. 1, 2012, to Jan. 1, 2022, and advances other standard clean-up language.

Truck Restrictions (SB 1644/PA 97-0201): Preempts home rule to establish that weight and size limits on trucks are under the exclusive purview of the state, with some exemptions.

Utility Consumer Education (SB 1396/PA 97-0222): Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to direct the Office of Retail Market Development to review the existing consumer education information for residential and small commercial utility customers and determine whether updates are necessary.

Capitol Report

By Jim Sacia, State Representative, 89th District

I receive many emails, letters, faxes and phone calls about the articles I write. Some thank me, some condemn me, and some suggest that I write about this or that subject. Accordingly, I receive volumes of information from you, the citizens I have the privilege and honor to serve.

Last week I was criticized by some for suggesting that the Governor was correct by preventing a pay raise to the state labor union. The suggestion, of course, was I was anti-union. No, not at all, my point, which was quite clear, is that during financial hard times we all “must give a little”.

Some information that I received from the Illinois Policy Institute reveals that the average compensation for an Illinois state government worker in 2008 was $69,500, for private sector workers it was $56,500. Over a forty year career, the average state worker will receive about 510 more paid vacation days than a private sector worker.

I’ve been on this planet for a while. I remember all too well when the tables were turned. Labor unions did much to equalize a discrepancy, but “whoa hoss”, we’re getting out of control.

My good friend Gordy Tormohlen shared some interesting information he had received from Dr. Timothy Nash at Northwood University (). “Based on data from the Tax Foundation and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), we have constructed a brief comparison of public policies in the states that had the “best” economic outlook in 2010 (Utah, Colorado, Arizona, South Dakota and Florida) with those that had the “worst” (New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Illinois and California). The findings are interesting and thought-provoking.

*Four out of the five “best” outlook states were right-to-work states while all five of the “worst” outlook states were union shop states.

*All of the “best” outlook states had the lowest minimum wage rate in the country while three of the five “worst” outlook states had among the highest minimum wage rates in the country.

*Personal, corporate, and inheritance taxes in the “best” outlook states are among the lowest in the country for four of the five states in this category and at a reasonable level in Arizona. The five states with the “worst” outlook are among the highest in said categories.

*Finally, the “best” outlook states realized a population growth total of roughly 2.3 million people from 1999-2008, while the “worst” outlook states saw their population decline by a total of just under 4.3 million over the same period.”

My friend Bob Nickels shared an article about Wisconsin private sector job growth for May and June of this year totaling over 12,900. Maybe Governor Walker isn’t all wrong.

As always, you can reach me, Sally or Barb at or e-mail us at . You can also visit my website at www.jimsacia.com. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you.

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