Update from $pringfield: Lawmakers' payraise debate turns personal

Earlier in the week I blogged about my disapproval for raises for State Legislators. There's clearly a difference of opinion between me and a few members in the Senate Leadership. I can barely believe what I've been hearing in Springfield today. The Daily Herald article below says it all. As always please leave your comments about this issue!




Lawmakers' payraise debate turns personal
By John Patterson

SPRINGFIELD - Lawmakers and other state officials are likely to get pay raises because the Democratic leadership in the Illinois Senate does not plan to let members vote on whether to block the increases, lawmakers confirmed Thursday.

State Sen. Rickey Hendon, a Chicago Democrat, said he thinks the rejection effort is flawed and claims state House members are using the Illinois Senate as a political fall guy on the issue. Hendon said the Illinois House votes to reject the raises all the while expecting the Senate will block rejection and everyone ends up with more money.

"They want to use the Senate and pimp us, and they keep taking the money," Hendon said. He suggested the proposal be changed so anyone voting against the raises won't get them, even if they are ultimately approved.

As chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, Hendon controls whether the plan to reject the raises ever sees the light of day.

Hendon also took issue with state Sen. Susan Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat, leading the push to reject the raises.

"People should not miss out on the fact that she's a millionaire. She don't need it. Have you seen her house? Mind-boggling," Hendon said. "So it just blows my mind how the filthy rich are always the ones saying, we don't need the raise. No she don't."

Before talking to reporters, Hendon had gone over to Garrett on the Senate floor and suggested she should sign over her expense check to him.

"If she signed her name, I would have took it. She don't need it," Hendon said, calling Garrett the "esteemed senator from Richville."

Told of Hendon's comments, Garrett said the issue should not be personal.

"He's making this personal and that's unfortunate. We're not here to draw distinctions between wealthy legislators and non-wealthy legislators. We're here to make sure that what we do here in Springfield is above board and that the taxpayers are made aware of how we vote on crucial issues such as this," she said.

In the middle of Garrett talking to reporters, Senate President Emil Jones Jr., a Chicago Democrat who supports the raises, walked past and loudly quipped that he needed to get some "food stamps."

Garrett had this to say in response.

"Let me just say that some of the legislators have missed the point if they think that they need the raise because they're not making $150,000 a year," Garrett said. "We are here as public servants. We're not here to assume that we should be entitled to be receiving major increases every year when the rest of the state and other state employees are suffering."

The Illinois House voted Wednesday to reject the raises, but the Senate must approve the exact same proposal else the raises are automatic.

Demand for water expected to grow

Over two years ago I worked with the Governor to get support for funding a water supply study because of sincere concerns about the sustainability and rapid depletion. Included in the study will be an implementation program to determine how we can protect our water supply in Northern Illinois. Even though Illinois is on the shores of Lake Michigan, one of the largest bodies of fresh water in the world, there are Supreme Court decisions that restrict states in how much water they can remove per year. I am continuing to monitor the study and look forward to the next step‚ a proposal of how we can conserve water. Below is an article that outlines the nature of the problem in Northern Illinois, I will keep you posted with the solutions.



Demand for water expected to grow
Conservation needed now, expert says

May 3, 2008

BY ED COLLINS

LIBERTYVILLE -- The availability of fresh water, which we often take for granted, is finally getting the environmental attention it deserves, planners say.

"To protect our future, we need to start talking about water conservation now," said Randy Blankenhorn, executive director of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, who opened a water supply planning briefing for county elected officials Friday at the county's Libertyville governmental campus.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says almost 16 billion gallons are used throughout the state daily, with 2 billion gallons not replenished.

Population growth projections for the 11-county Chicago metropolitan region through 2050 indicate that water will be in strong demand for both industry and households.

To prepare for these challenges CMAP is carrying out a state planning grant on regional water supply initiatives to project future estimates on water demand, prepare public conservation plans, and suggest environmental protections to preserve water quality.

State Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, called the subject "a huge, huge issue that needs to be addressed from a regional standpoint."

Garrett has been a legislative leader in fighting E. coli pollution of Lake Michigan's beaches. She told the group she was concerned about recent news reports regarding possible prescription drugs and toxic matter found in Lake Michigan drinking water.

Nearly 77 percent of residents in northeastern Illinois drink lake water daily. Another 19 percent use wells. Statistics show that the average person consumes or uses nearly 150 gallons of water daily.

Tim Loftus, a CMAP senior environmental planner who presented an update on water usage over the next 40 years, said it could range from an optimistic 2 percent growth rate to 59 percent.

Pay raises for legislators!?

Last week I proposed a Resolution to reject any kind of pay raise for state legislators. When we can't balance the State budget and a down-turning economy is affecting many Illinoisans, I see no justification for state legislators to approve a pay raise whatsoever. I also believe that on the heels of the Recall bill (which did not pass, but which I voted for) a pay increase would send the wrong message to Illinois citizens who are understandably already fed up. The entire article is posted below. Your comments, as always, are welcomed.



Garrett decries legislator raises
An Illinois Senate resolution rejecting a proposed raise for state legislators was introduced Friday by Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest.

The resolution rejects a 2008 report of the Compensation Review Board recommending a 3.8 percent cost of living adjustment increase in fiscal year 2009 for members of the executive and legislative branches.

Garrett said the Compensation Review Board report also recommends that the Legislature accept two previously rejected cost-of-living allowances that would result in a significant salary increase for Illinois public officials.

"I strongly believe every legislator should be of the mindset to completely reject another salary increase as the state faces hard economic times," said Garrett, who has been a member of the General Assembly since 1999. "This state can't pay its own bills, and there are thousands of people out of work.

"Those who are employed are not being offered raises. I don't believe there is any justification for a pay increase for state legislators," she said.

The General Assembly has 30 session days after the House and Senate next convene following the filing of the report to reject it in whole or reduce it.

Using the current session calendar, May 29 would be the 25th day, leaving five additional session days within which the report could be rejected, Garrett said.

Update from Springfield: The Recall Effort

This week in Springfield has been extraordinarily intense and busy because the recall effort (known to lawmakers as SJRCA 70) has been passing back and forth between the House and Senate. This amendment proposes to amend the Suffrage and Elections Article of the Illinois Constitution and provides for elections to recall not just the Governor and State executive branch officers, but also members of the General Assembly, and supreme, appellate, and circuit judges as well as sets forth requirements for petitions and elections. It also allows the General Assembly, by law, to provide for recall of officers of units of local government and school districts.

I am in favor of the recall. I believe it is a sound process to have in place when and if an elected official needs to be removed before they are up for re-election. I am concerned, however, that the addition of local government (i.e. alderman, local mayors, school district officials). The reason the House and Senate are trying to put a recall process in place is because of concern about corruption and competency within the Governor's office. I personally do not think the amendment should include aldermen, mayors, local judges and school officials because our goal as state lawmakers should be to first address the state officials, not local government. Additionally this could cause the amendment not to pass.

As of 9 a.m. this morning I believe this amendment has a good chance of passing, and I will vote for it despite the fact that it has been weighed down with these extra local provisions. The bigger picture is extremely important to the citizens of Illinois who are fed up and want to have a say into whether or not our Governor should continue to hold office.

A good source for the latest information on the recall can be found on The Capitol Fax Blog, which has been live-blogging the Recall initiative. I've also posted an up-to-date article below regarding this issue. Please feel free to send me your comments on this important issue.



Lawmakers think recall effort will die

April 29, 2008
By ANDREW HELLPAP

Democratic and Republican state lawmakers worried this week that senators will derail legislation aimed at removing Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office.

The Illinois Senate has until Sunday to vote on legislation for a state constitutional amendment. The same bill already passed the House.

State Sen. Donne Trotter, D-17, of Chicago, who picked up the bill for the Senate, must submit the same version or an amended bill this week because the deadline for the amendment to appear on the November ballot is Sunday, May 4.

Several local lawmakers, however, think Trotter's delay or any proposed changes to the bill will effectively kill it.
"Whether they can get it done today, the chances are zero," said Rep. Paul Froehlich, D-56, of Schaumburg.
Froehlich co-sponsored the House version of the bill.

If a Senate bill is introduced this week with changes, the bill would give the House until Sunday to approve it. However, the bill must first pass out of a committee and the full Senate.

The problem is the House isn't in session Friday through Sunday. Even though the House could call an emergency session, a new Senate recall version would still require three readings.

"He (Trotter) should have called for a vote two weeks ago when it was in committee," Froehlich said.
For the House to pass a Senate version, the body would have to do it today, he said.

Froehlich isn't alone in his lack of optimism for a recall amendment for both the executive and legislative branches.

"I personally have concerns," Sen. Susan Garrett, D-29, of Lake Forest said. "I have seen how this process can be manipulated."

"If they are trying to give the appearance they want to get this legislation passed and if they aren't engaged, then the recall won't be a constitutional provision," Garrett said.

Garrett is confident in the ability of the legislature to handle complex bills like a budget, she said.

To get the process moving, she planned to call a caucus to discuss the issue, Garrett said Tuesday.

Still, if changes are being considered, Garrett would like to see a higher voting threshold, around 50 percent, to recall a politician, she said.

In 2003, California Gov. Gray Davis was recalled. According to California law, residents had to gather signatures equaling 12 percent of the number of votes cast in an official's previous election. For Davis that meant 900,000 signatures.

Garrett is also worried about campaign spending. For example, a person with a lot of money to spend on a campaign could run against the recalled official who might not have had time to raise money for a campaign, Garrett said.

Discussion alone wouldn't slow the amendment, but Sen. Carole Pankau, R-23, of Roselle said, any changes to the House version would have the same effect as a new bill introduced by Trotter.

"It must pass the House and the Senate in the same form," she said.

Introduction of a new bill is simply a means of defending a fellow Democrat, namely Blagojevich, while maintaining the appearance of supporting a popular movement to recall him and other politicians, Pankau said.

"In an election year, they (the Democrats) are running from their own governor," she said.

Trotter's move is "bill-jacking," Froehlich said. Once a bill is passed out of the House, a senator must fill out a form to claim the bill, which Trotter did for the recall, Froehlich said. Then, submit it to the appropriate committee.

If Trotter doesn't do anything with the bill the recall dies, but any changes won't likely be approved in time anyway, Froehlich said.

Garrett authors bill to try to get park funds for Lake Forest, others

As Spring is in full bloom, the parks throughout the state are starting to get more and more visitors. Many of them however, are not able to start on new projects and improvements because grant information has not been released. While I was in Springfield last week I authored a Senate Resolution calling for an audit of the Department of Natural Resources program that issues grants to park districts. I did this to learn how much money the state has for the grants and how much has already been spent—information the Blagojevich administration has held up releasing. My colleague Jeff Schoenberg clearly sums up the issue with his statement, "The park districts are ready to go [with new projects], but they are paralyzed because the Blagojevich administration will not formally tell them what they already know...if the parks could at least get formal notice that the money is coming, they could then borrow against the grant or manage their cash flow to begin their projects now." I've posted the full article which appeared in the Pioneer Press. As always feel free to leave comments or questions.




Garrett authors bill to try to get park funds for Lake Forest, others

April 24, 2008
By RANDY BLASER

Area legislators are pressuring the Blagojevich Administration to release state grants that are earmarked for improvements to parks in the suburbs and across the state.

With many suburban park districts eager to begin improvement projects, State Sen. Susan Garrett, D-29th, of Lake Forest authored a Senate Resolution April 16, calling for an audit of the Department of Natural Resources program that issues grants to park districts.

Called the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development program, Garrett's home town of Lake Forest is one of 13 north and west suburban park districts in line for a grant. Lake Forest is expecting $400,000 for the development of the Route 60 Park.

Other suburban park districts in line for grants are Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Glenview, Grayslake, Hoffman Estates, Lake Forest, Lake in the Hills, Lake Villa Township, Lake Zurich, Morton Grove, Oak Park, River Forest and the Round Lake Area Park District.

Garrett said the point of the audit is to learn how much money the state has for the grants and how much has been spent. She said the Blagojevich administration has held up releasing the grants.

State Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, D-9th, who chaired a hearing on the issue April 16 in the Capitol, said the parks can't move forward on their projects without formal notification that the grant applications have been approved.

Evanston, in Schoenberg's district, is waiting for notification on a $400,000 grant for Foster Field redevelopment.
Danger of losing

"Park districts have gone out for bids on the projects, but can't open them because if they move ahead without the formal letter of approval, they lose the grant," he added. "The park districts are ready to go, but they are paralyzed because the Blagojevich administration will not formally tell them what they already know."

Schoenberg added if the parks could at least get formal notice that the money is coming, they could then borrow against the grant or manage their cash flow to begin their projects now.

"In this case, it is a classic 'Catch-22,'" he said.

The Open Space grants are funded through a real estate transfer tax, "so the money is already there," Schoenberg said.

However, the governor's office said the state doesn't have the money for the program. It is part of cuts Blagojevich wants to make to agriculture programs across the state, including the University of Illinois Extension Service.

Garrett said her recent calls to the governor's office have been unanswered, so she is seeking the audit. The audit would include the number and cost of grant applications between 2005 and 2007, and projects approved and completed during those years.

Statewide Electronic Recycling Program in time for Earth Day 2008

Today is the 38th annual Earth Day since U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin announced that in the spring of 1970 there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on the environment. The Green movement has exploded in this decade both with the help of grass roots movements and state-sponsored action. I'm thrilled to announce that I was able to pass legislation in the Senate this week to establish a statewide electronic recycling program to be administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Senate Bill 2313 includes several measures that will provide an opportunity for Illinois consumers and businesses to go green. The legislation creates statewide goals for recycling and reuse of electronic devices. The legislation also bans the disposal of electronic devices covered by the Act in landfills or by burning beginning in the year 2012.

Many electronic products contain materials that pose environmental and health risks, such as lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and others. The harm is that many computers, printers, and cell phones have toxic components, and when you put those toxic components into landfills they leach into the land and air.

Senate Bill 2313 now moves to the Illinois House of Representatives for further consideration. I will keep you posted on its status.

State hospital panel worries Rezko trial gives it a bad image

Yesterday Springfield's primary daily newspaper, The State Journal-Register, published the article State hospital panel worries Rezko trial gives it a bad image (which subsequently ran in other local publications across the nation). Many voters are watching what will unfold from the Rezko trial and becoming more and more disillusioned with State government. In this specific article a former member of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board has been accused of misconduct in conjunction with Rezko, who has been accused of pressuring firms seeking state business for kickbacks and split a $1 million bribe from a contractor looking to build a hospital. I am one of the co-chairs of a task force considering changes in the board's operations. Like many of my recent posts, my take is a strong need for transparency in Springfield. The entire article is posted below. Please comment with any concerns, questions, or opinions on this matter.



State hospital panel worries Rezko trial gives it a bad image
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The head of an Illinois hospital board is worried that being mentioned day after day in a government corruption trial will give people the wrong idea about the panel.

Susana Lopatka, chairwoman of the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, said she is dismayed by the headlines and wants the public to know things are different now.

"I get asked on a daily basis, is that your board?" she told The (Springfield) State Journal-Register.

"It makes me heartsick to see this board beaten up in the newspapers every day."

A former member of the planning board is accused of misconduct in conjunction with Chicago businessman Antoin "Tony" Rezko, who faces federal charges.

Former member Stuart Levine claims he and Rezko pressured firms seeking state business for kickbacks and split a $1 million bribe from a contractor looking to build a hospital.

And former board chairman Thomas Beck has testified he took "marching orders" from Rezko, although he has not been charged with a crime.

The planning board determines whether hospitals and other health facilities can expand. The trial adds urgency to discussions about whether the board is really needed.

"We can't help but take note of what happened in the past for this board," said Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, who co-chairs a task force considering changes in the board's operations. "More than anything, the public wants the system to be as pure as possible."

The corruption described in the Rezko trial "can happen again," Garrett said.

Lopatka, however, insists that any problems were solved when former members were ousted in 2004 and a new, smaller version of the board was appointed.

Former panel chairman Glenn Poshard said he understands why the Rezko trial raises questions.

"If I were just a citizen out there reading what I've seen in the papers so far about this trial, I would have the very opinion that the board was still of a nature that was corrupt and inefficient and being used for personal gain and profit," said Poshard, president of Southern Illinois University.

"But the fact of the matter is the board has changed, and the board, in my judgment, is effective."

The Illinois Hospital Association wants some changes but supports the board's process of reviewing the need for new facilities and services, said senior vice president Howard Peters.

In contrast, the Illinois State Medical Society believes the board should be disbanded because it creates additional barriers to medical services.

Since 2000, the Illinois General Assembly has considered dismantling the board. Current law allows it to expire at the end of August, although legislation is pending to extend the deadline through next July.

How is that extra sales tax being used?

The mass transit bail-out plan has been one of the most reported-on and talked about issues in State government lately. This week in Springfield we unanimously passed legislation requiring the accounting of the sales tax. I understand many people are concerned about this issue, so I am extremely pleased that the Senate took this kind of solid action. I believe we as legislators and as leaders need to make our actions as transparent as possible. Specific to this issue, I believe it is important that we have oversight on how our taxes are spent for specific projects and that we not leave out citizens that depend on public transportation such as disabled residents. For more information please read the full article below or click here to be redirected to the online version.




How is that extra sales tax being used?
Lawmakers want suburbs involved in mass transit bailout to answer

By Nick Shields

SPRINGFIELD -- Suburban counties that received sales tax increases as part of a mass transit bailout earlier this year soon may have to detail to lawmakers how the money's being spent.

The state Senate passed legislation 56-0 on Wednesday requiring the accounting of the sales tax windfall for suburban leaders. The suburban tax increase was added to woo lawmakers' votes, especially among DuPage County lawmakers.

It worked, as a deal was narrowly approved in January to raise sales taxes in Cook and the suburban counties by a quarter percentage point, adding 25 cents to a $100 purchase. The legislation also said DuPage, Lake, McHenry, Kane and Will counties automatically get another quarter-point increase. County officials could then spend the money on transportation projects or public safety.

The follow-up plan approved Wednesday is designed to ensure the money is being properly spent. Annual reports would be required with the General Assembly.

Also, the legislation seeks to grant disabled people of certain economic levels free public transportation.

As a part of the mass transit bailout plan, Gov. Rod Blagojevich agreed to sign off on the sales tax increase despite a contrary campaign pledge, but only if lawmakers let seniors age 65 and older ride the buses and trains for free.

State Sen. Susan Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat, and sponsor of the follow-up legislation, said she felt it was important to have transparency when spending tax dollars. As lawmakers worked to stave off a transportation "doomsday" scenario, Garrett said she fielded concerns from the disabled community who felt they were forgotten.

The legislation now moves to the House for a vote. Garrett said she's optimistic it will pass.

"I can't imagine anybody voting against this, because everybody wants to make sure there's accountability when it comes to spending our tax money," she said. "And if anybody deserves a free ride, it certainly should be the disabled community."

IPA, IHSA settle use of photos dispute

On March 10, about one month ago, I posted about the dispute between the Illinois Sports High School Association (ISHA) which wanted to have an "exclusive" in selling sports photos to interested parties, likely the parents of the featured high school athletes, and local newspapers that argued that they also had the right to provide photos and charge for the cost. You can read that March 10th post by clicking here. The month-long dispute that went to both the courts and the general assembly is now settled. I always opposed the proposition as it not only created a monopoly and prevented free enterprise but it also prevented newspapers from having access to certain locations—barring freedom of the press. This was an interesting exercise in fundamental American principles on a local level. I'm glad it's settled. The entire article is posted below.



IPA, IHSA settle use of photos dispute

April 8, 2008
By LIZA ROCHE

A months-long dispute between the Illinois Press Association and the Illinois High School Association over the use of photographs and videos taken at sporting events has been settled.

Once partners in high school sports, the IHSA and the IPA found themselves in recent months as adversaries in circuit court -- and then in the General Assembly.

But the new plan, submitted in Sagamon County circuit court, allows Pioneer Press and other credentialed newspapers to document IHSA -sponsored events and use those images or video without regulation, much as they have in the past.

The fight started last year when the IHSA contracted with Visual Image Photography Inc. of Wisconsin for exclusive access to IHSA tournaments for photo opportunities. That agreement allowed newspapers to sell only the published pictures from all IHSA events.

Illinois newspapers, including Pioneer Press, have long made photos not published in the paper available for purchase to the public.

Legal action was pursued, and ultimately the IPA drafted legislation late last year after the IHSA refused to allow field access to five newspapers during the state high school football championships. Those newspapers refused to agree not to make their photos available for sale. Newspapers also were banned from floor access during wrestling and cheerleading tournaments.

Last week, the Illinois Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill that forbid elementary and secondary schools, as well as organizations that organize competitive events for them, from regulating the dissemination of news from those events.

The Illinois House was in the midst of considering a similar bill and was expected to be approved.

Throughout the dispute, the IPA simply sought a plan that allowed newspapers to operate as they always have, said Dave Bennett, executive director of the Illinois Press Association.

The attempted restrictions by the IHSA "creates a monopoly and I think that's what makes it unfair," said state Sen. Susan Garrett, D-29th, of Lake Forest, a co-sponsor of the senate bill. One single entity should not have the control of high school athletic photographs, she said.

Garrett, speaking before the news of the settlement, said the bill showed strong support for freedom of the press.

Among their concerns, IHSA officials warned school officials that if passed, the bill could end a tradition of providing live television coverage of March Madness and the IHSA Boys Football championship games because it would be unable to regulate the use of photos or other visual images.

Cancer Wellness Center

One thing I really love about my job is the opportunity I have to get out into the district on a regular basis to meet new people and learn about organizations that benefit the community. Today I went to the Cancer Wellness Center in Northbrook for a meeting with staff, board members and legislators. I was so impressed and touched by the free services they provide I felt it important to get the word out. The center was founded in 1989 to help people live better while they live with cancer. They help cancer patients feel more connected by becoming part of a comforting and comfortable community of people, provide counseling, offer programs for stress relief, and provide access to an extensive library. Again, all of this is free thanks to generous donors. Click here to go to the website to learn more.

215 Revere Drive
Northbrook, IL.
866-292-9355

If you are interested in making a donation contact Executive Director Nancy Laatsch by email at: nlaatsch@cancerwellness.org

Senate Voting Rights for the Homebound Bill Passes

SPRINGFIELD UPDATE:
While in session this week I was able to pass legislation out of the Senate which ensures that the right to vote isn't hampered by citizens who are homebound, sick or shut-in. Below is an desciption of the bill as well as excerpts from the press release sent out from my office.

Senate Bill 2314 expands the list of people eligible for a personally-delivered ballot. Under current law, people who have been admitted to a hospital, nursing home, or rehabilitation facility within five days of an election and are unable to travel to their polling place in order to vote are eligible for a personally-delivered ballot. Current law does not take into account the possibility of people who meet that requirement, but who have also been released from the facility before or on the day of the election, but are homebound due to their illness or injury.

Senate Bill 2314 would add people meeting this additional criterion to the list of people eligible for a personally-delivered ballot.

"Temporary circumstances such as illness or injury should never deny anyone the right to vote," said Senator Garrett whom serves as Vice-Chair of Senate's State Government and Veterans Affairs committee. "We heard from constituents, who because of a homebound illness, were prevented from participating in the voting process. This measure ensures that even those who cannot get to the polls still have an opportunity to cast their vote."

Senate Bill 2314 now moves to the Illinois House of Representatives for further consideration.

Towns fear they won't be able to keep up with pensions

Yesterday I was quoted by the Daily Herald in regards to an issue I feel really strongly about. Throughout this decade state lawmakers have added to pensions of firefighters and police officials without regard to local taxpayers' ability to pay—which in turn puts many parties in undesired positions. Even the parties that stand to benefit from these measures, like the Associated Firefighters of Illinois agrees with me that everybody needs to know what the impact is going to be to our municipalities and, ultimately, to our taxpayers.

Below is the complete article, with my quote highlighted—or click here to be redirected to the story online.

Please feel free to leave a comment with your opinions on this important local economic matter.



Towns fear they won't be able to keep up with pensions
By David Beery

Illinois municipalities are losing ground in efforts to fully fund their pension plans for police and firefighters. That much is clear.

The question is why? And what can be done?

Municipal authorities and unions representing police and firefighters agree in part. Both call on state officials to relax regulations governing the ways in which police and fire pension funds can be invested.

But, emphasizing their point at a news conference Monday, municipal officials also call state legislators overly generous with other people's money. They say lawmakers -- bearing no fiscal responsibility themselves -- sweeten police and firefighter pensions without regard to local taxpayers' ability to pay.

Police and fire unions take issue on that point, saying lawmakers' changes reflect the importance and hazards of their work.

David Wickster, executive director of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council, has written on the council's Web site that local officials "want to get out from under their obligations altogether."

Not so, say Northwest Municipal Conference officials, who released a survey Monday showing that many member communities have lost substantial ground in funding pensions. For instance, the average funded ratio of their members' police pension funds declined from nearly 90 percent in 1999 to slightly over 70 percent in 2007.

This has occurred, village representatives said, even as they have boosted pension contributions as a percentage of their tax levies.

Municipal conference officials and several village presidents point to state-law changes taking effect in 2000 and 2001 that enhanced benefits. One change, for instance, made police and firefighters eligible for full pensions -- 75 percent of their working pay -- after 30 years of service instead of 35.

"This problem has pretty much exploded since '99," said Northwest Municipal Conference policy analyst Larry Bury.

While Monday's survey came from the Northwest group, village and city officials across the state are lobbying for change, an effort led in Springfield by the Illinois Municipal League.

Municipal officials want a series of measures in Springfield, from looser restrictions on pension-fund investments to a moratorium on benefit enhancements and a requirement that any proposed benefit boost be accompanied by an analysis of the resulting fiscal impact on at least 25 local pension funds.

Without such changes, Northwest Municipal Conference officials say, matters will get worse. They cited current Springfield proposals that would increase their pension load. One would boost firefighter pensions to 80 percent of pay, up from 75 percent. Another would grant retroactive pension increases to firefighters who retired before 1971.

City and village officials say they do not want to roll back existing benefits. They acknowledge that police and firefighters contribute substantial amounts -- 9.91 percent and 9.46 percent, respectively, of their salaries -- to their pension funds.

The problem, local authorities say, is that they have few available means to increase their contributions to meet growing pension obligations. Their options, they say, consist mostly of either increasing local property taxes or cutting municipal services. Both choices, they say, are unpalatable, particularly to local taxpayers who work in the private sector, where guaranteed pensions are increasingly rare.

For most communities, the situation is not immediately dire. Municipalities are meeting obligations to current retirees. State law mandates that all public-safety pension funds be fully funded by 2033. But local officials say trend lines are troubling and that the further they fall behind, the harder it will be to catch up.

When it comes to solutions, union and municipal officials alike point to local funds underperforming in contrast to returns realized by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. The Illinois fund does better, they say, because it enjoys a latitude on making investments that they don't have -- but want.

State Sen. Susan Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat, is sponsoring a measure that would require a fiscal-impact statement with any proposed benefit change.

"If nothing else, we need to put a fiscal note on these bills so that we and everybody else knows what the impact is going to be to our municipalities and, ultimately, to our taxpayers," she said.

On that point, the Associated Firefighters of Illinois agrees.

"We think it's prudent for everybody to understand what the impact of any change is gong to be on firefighters and on the fund," said Pat Devaney, legislative representative for the group. "Firefighters are interested in solvency and making wise decisions."

What union officials find objectionable, Devaney said, are those mayors who make public pronouncements blaming greed on the part of police and firefighters for municipalities' pension woes.

Misinformation makes finding jobs tough for physically disabled.

On the heels of my last post I read this article in yesterday's Daily Herald titled Misinformation makes finding jobs tough for physically disabled. The story highlights how Heather Barcal, a Vernon Hills resident who is blind, suspects it took her three years to secure a job because of her disability. The article also expands on how employment remains a difficult and elusive goal for many disabled residents—in fact the most commonly cited statistics indicate only 30% of the disabled are employed either full- or part-time. There are several reasons why the statistic is so low, but part of it is due to a lack of information. Employers, as well those with disabilities, may not be aware of their rights or available resources. In that regard employers may not know of federal tax credits that may be available when people with disabilities are hired and make accommodations. I've introduced a bill last year to try and extend those credits at the state level. Below is the direct quote I gave the paper:

"I'm optimistic (about its passage) but I don't think it's going to happen overnight," she said. "Our goal is to provide more opportunities for people with disabilities … and to encourage employers to hire people with disabilities."


I'm really interested in what citizens think about this issue and encourage your comments.

Northern Suburban Special Education District

Early this year I announced that I would donate my pay raise ($5,700) that the Governor signed into law last August—legislation I strongly opposed. After much consideration I decided to donate the money to the Northern Suburban Special Education District foundation, also known as NSSED.

As many parents in the district know, it's the season when high school seniors are checking the mailbox everyday looking for their acceptance letters from colleges. NSSED is a wonderful organization that provides scholarships to special needs students who plan to attend college as well as for students that would like to forge a career in special education.

Should anyone want more information about donating to the NSSED Foundation or about applying for a scholarship. Contact NSSED at (847) 831-5100 or click here to be redirected to the NSSED website.

Secrecy puts damper on ethics process

Springfield's primary daily newspaper, The State Journal-Register, published this article yesterday which I think accurately portrays the Ethics Legislation climate in the Capitol. Specifically it details how, although I passed SB 157 out of the Senate last year (which would require the Executive Inspector General to provide the Executive Ethics Commission with summary information about newly opened investigations), it got held up because of squabbling between the House and Senate. I know this is an issue that many citizens are deeply frustrated by. I hope I can continue to work to get this legislation signed into law and provide an open and accessible State Government.




Secrecy puts damper on ethics process

LAST WEEK was Sunshine Week, a time for reflecting on the importance of open government and the Freedom of Information Act.

Illinois in recent years has had its share of open government successes. Early in her first term, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan established an office specifically for educating and advising people in the public and private sectors on how to use and abide by the Freedom of Information Act. Comptroller Dan Hynes’ office posts records on a publicly accessible Web site so citizens don’t have to make formal requests for information.

But for all these gains, there remains one aspect of Illinois state government still almost completely hidden from public view. Under current Illinois law, the Illinois Executive Inspector General’s Office investigates and adjudicates allegations of ethics abuse by state employees in near complete secrecy. The nature of the offenses, names of offenders and their punishments — even when they are fired for their misdeeds — have so far never been made public.

THE OFFICE was created in 2003 to investigate allegations of ethics violations in state government. Each constitutional officer appoints his or her own inspector general. With subpoena power and independence to investigate allegations of wrongdoing at all levels of state government, the office is a powerful arm for reform. But the law that created it also made virtually all of its activities exempt from public review. Even the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission, created as the oversight body of the 2003 ethics law, almost never sees the results of its work.

“You look at (the ethics statute) and it looks like the commission is going to make rules for the inspectors general, which you would think would be largely self executing, and then sit in judgment of all these cases that are going to come forward,” says commission member Scott Turow, the author and lawyer whose appointment as the commission’s first chairman helped boost its profile. “In point of fact, the cases get resolved in secret between the IGs and the constitutional officer who appointed them and very little finds its way to the commission.”

TUROW BELIEVES the cases almost never reach the commission because it behooves each constitutional officer to accept the inspector general’s findings and let the case be resolved with no public attention. Only when there is a dispute between the inspector general and the constitutional officer for whom the inspector works does the commission hear a case. That means the cases stay secret. Turow is hardly alone in finding that ridiculous.

“Taxpayers have a right to know if there are problems going on at certain agencies and they have a right to know if they’ve been remedied,” says state Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Highwood, who sponsored a bill to bring some transparency to the inspector generals’ work. “We should be able to know how our government is working or not working and we should be able to know if it’s getting better or if they’re making efforts to make it better.”

OF HUNDREDS of investigations carried out, only six have come before the commission. In its first year alone, the EIG’s office terminated 25 state employees for ethics violations. Their names and the nature of their violations were never made public, effectively erasing any deterrent effect their discipline may have had on other state employees. Inspector General James Wright has said as much, and has supported efforts to allow public disclosure of his office’s work.

“It goes to the matter of the ethical climate,” says Chad Fornoff, executive director of the ethics commission. “As long as people aren’t aware of the discipline that is carried out, the climate is going to suffer. I think that is a problem we have in the state of Illinois.”

GARRETT'S BILL passed the Senate last year but was amended in the House. The Senate then didn’t like the House version, so the bill — SB 157 — is now languishing in the Senate Rules Committee. Garrett says her bill’s fate is indicative of the squabbling between the two houses in the last legislative session.

It’s fascinating that so many members of the General Assembly will freely advocate for ethics reform and open government, yet won’t stand up to pass a measure so obviously and urgently needed to ensure that Illinois’ ethics laws can not only ferret out violators, but deter future misdeeds.

It’s time the House and Senate got past their petty differences and removed the shroud of secrecy that now hides some of the most important work in cleaning up Illinois government.

Out of Town

I'll be out of town next week for some much needed R&R, so the blog won't be regularly updated. I'll try and send in a few posts when anything blog-worthy lands in my in-box while I'm gone though! Have a great weekend and happy St. Patrick's Day!
—Susan

Update from Springfield: E-Waste bill passes committee

I'm pleased to say that I was able to pass Senate Bill 2313 out of the Environment & Energy Committee Wednesday. This bill, dubbed the "e-waste bill", will make it easier for citizens to recycle computers, computer monitors, televisions, printers, cell phones and fax machines—all of which can contain toxic and hazardous materials that should be diverted from landfills. The bill requires manufacturers to cover the cost of the recycling not tax payer money. In some cases there will be a refurbishing component—and many of these items will be re-sold to secondary markets. I think the most important aspect of SB 2313 is that it gives consumers a way to safely recycle all of their electronics on a regular and convenient basis—something that I feel is not only necessary, but overdue.

While this bill passed the Senate Committee, some manufacturers are not on board. Apple, for one, wants this bill to be "killed" and is working diligently and aggressively to prevent its passage in the full Senate and the House.

I will be calling upon you for help with e-mails and petitions to ask Apple to help us in Illinois to find a safe and convenient way to recycle our electronics.

Many local business are either supporting this bill or have taken a neutral stance and I think it's important to call them out: The Illinois Recycling Association, AT&T, Motorola, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Environment Illinois, Waste Management, Sierra Club, Environment Law & Policy Center, Chicago Recycling Coalition, City of Chicago, Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, solid Wast Agency of Cook County, Kane County Waste Management, PC Rebuilders & Refurbishes, Illinois Retail Merchant's Association, Dell, Hewlett Packard, General Electric.

Stay tuned for ways in which you can help as citizens to ensure that Illinois has a proper electronic waste recycling program. No more unused old cell phones in your desk drawers...imagine!

Life's A Campaign by Chris Matthews

I'm a big fan of Chris Matthews, one of MSNBC's political pundits and the host of Hardball. I watch this program as often as I can, mostly to catch up on the 2008 presidential campaign. Matthews has had a rich career as both a journalist and political adviser (he was one of Jimmy Carter's speech writers), so I was excited to get my hands on his most recent book, "Life's A Campaign" which came out last October. The book has received only tepid reviews, but I just finished it last week and highly recommend it, especially for political junkies (you know who you are!). It's a fun and inspiring read and full of anecdotes. Each chapter features historical quotes that very much apply in today's political arena. One in particular I raised an eyebrow at is from Chapter 18:

"Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation. For it is better to be alone than in bad company."—George Washington

Pick up a copy at your local bookstore or click here to purchase it from Amazon.com.

Enjoy!

Susan

Law Letting Papers Sell High School Sports Photos Sails Through Ill. Senate Panel

This story appeared in Editor & Publisher (a journal that covers the newspaper industry) this morning and makes the point that the Illinois Sports High School Association (ISHA) wants to have an "exclusive" in selling sports photos to interested parties, likely the parents of the featured high school athletes. Newspapers argue that they also have the right to provide photos and charge for the cost. Herein lies the argument. I am supporting rights of newspapers to also provide photographs. I've pasted the editorial below, and you can also read it by clicking here. Let me know your thoughts!
—Susan

Law Letting Papers Sell High School Sports Photos Sails Through Ill. Senate Panel
By Mark Fitzgerald

CHICAGO A law that would guarantee Illinois newspapers can sell photos they take of high school sports tournaments appears to be on the fast track to passage in the state legislature.

An Illinois Senate panel sent the bill to the floor on an 8-1 vote late last week.

The legislation, pushed hard by the Illinois Press Association (IPA), comes in reaction to incidents this fall and winter in which newspaper photographers were not allowed close access to tournament games and matches because they would not promise not to sell the photos to the public. Photographers were barred from the sidelines. Some newspapers took photos from the stands, while others refused to run any photos from the tournaments, and told readers why.

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) imposed the rule to assure exclusive photo rights to the games by a Wisconsin business called VIP. IHSA argues VIP deserves the exclusive access because it also photographs less popular tournaments in sports such as chess or bowling. And it says the dispute with newspapers is about commerce, not the First Amendment.

But the IPA contends the IHSA's actions go the very heart of a free press.

The restrictions are the topic of the editorial in the current March print Editor & Publisher. "It's not just about sports photography," IPA Executive Director Dave Bennett told E&P for that piece, "it's about the right of newspapers to protect their product without government interference, which is a much larger issue."

The editorial also noted that attempts to give exclusive photo resale rights have been made by the prep sports association in Alabama. Arkansas newspapers have reported similar attempts in that state.

IPA has also sued the IHSA over the restrictions. In the lawsuit, the press association notes that the revenue stream from selling tournament shots to the public is tiny. According to The State Journal-Register in Springfield, sales of photo reprints from all IHSA tournaments last year amounted to just $454.

Parents have also complained about the policy to their representatives, Illinois lawmakers say.
For instance, Democratic Sen. Susan Garrett told the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights that she supported the law because the restrictions are a "roadblock" to families or schools who want to buy the newspaper photos.

"The more I hear about this, the more obvious this is to me that we need legislation," Garrett said, according to the account by Daily Herald reporter Amber Krosel.

With legislative hearings set and the lawsuit filed, the IHSA earlier this month temporarily lifted its restrictions during the boys and girls prep basketball state championship rounds.

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Green Business Conference and Luncheon

Oakton Community College, Harper College, the City of Des Plaines, and Green2B/Green2C Marketing are sponsoring a Green informational event for the public to learn more about Green opportunities from eco-experts. The program will include introductions by Des Plaines Mayor Tony Arredia, a featured speech by Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, and round tables from local business representatives.

Where: Oakton Community College, Business Conference Center
1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines, 60016

When: Friday, March 28th, 2008
Noon - 3:00 p.m.

Registration fee: $35
(fee includes luncheon, presentations and handouts)

Reservations: Call 847-635-1934

More information? www.oakton.edu/gogreen

Lt. Governor Pat Quinn speaking with Senator Garrett at the Green Governments Illinois press conference.

Feds concede vaccine linked to girl's autism

I caught this article in the Sun Times on Thursday, which has been in most major U.S. papers and reported on the news. It is especially interesting to many families in our district who have autistic children. A few years ago I introduced legislation requiring that all children two years of age and younger could not be given vaccines with thimerosal (a mercury-containing organic compound often included in vaccines as a preservative). For years, some experts have said thimerosal could be a cause of autism. This theory has been refuted, but today, for the first time, there seems to be some evidence that there could be a correlation. Click here to read to full Sun Times article.

As always, your thoughts are welcome.

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The Capitol Fax Blog

Our blog was linked today by Capitol Fax Blog. Capitol Fax and the Capitol Fax Blog cover Illinois politics and is read by legislators, lobbyists, corporate executives, union leaders, association directors, administration officials, reporters and citizens. Capitol Fax's founder Rich Miller also pens a weekly syndicated column that runs in newspapers throughout Illinois, as well as a regular column in the Chicago Sun-Times. Click here to check it out.

"Do Not Call" Registry (updated 3pm)

Earlier in the day we posted a link to the "Do Not Call" list because we were notified that cell phone numbers were going be released to telemarketers. We got a few comments pointing out that this "Do Not Call" list is an urban myth. We quickly took down the post to investigate further. Now we've put the link back up with more information, because the "Do Not Call" registry is in fact legit. The false information is that a number has to be registered before a certain date and the implication that all cell phones numbers will be released. Cell phone numbers will only be included in a public directory if you decide to opt in. You may register your land line at any time to get put on the "Do Not Call" list without any deadline restrictions. That list will get distributed to telemarketers which are then prohibited from calling anyone on it. Those failing to comply should be reported to www.DoNotCall.gov. To register your home phone number click here.

To clarify:
Myth: Cell phone users MUST register their numbers with the national 'Do Not Call' directory BY A GIVEN DEADLINE to PREVENT THEIR CELL PHONE NUMBERS FROM BEING RELEASED TO TELEMARKETERS

Fact: Cell phone numbers will never be added to the white pages directory unless user decides to be included.

Fact: Registering your home phone (land line) is effective and available anytime.

I hope this helps clear everything up.

President of NIU backs off plan to raze Cole Hall

I didn't think I would put up another post today as I just arrived in Springfield, but after reading today's Chicago Tribune article titled NIU president pulls back from call to raze Cole Hall I decided it was important to link it here. So many of you have e-mailed and called me stating your disapproval of the razing of Cole Hall, and the Governor's intent to rebuild it at a cost of $40 million to taxpayers. Initially, some legislators backed this idea, and the president of NIU was even for it. But, the electorate disagreed, and spoke out loud and clear that this type of spending wan unnecessary and inappropriate.

You can email your opinions directly to NIU at colehall@niu.edu. This is a perfect way for our District to be represented on this issue. And if you'd like to post your comments with us, please do!—Susan

Grading State Governments

A few days ago a constituent brought an interesting AP article titled Report Rates Worst, Best Government to my attention. Click here to download a pdf which charts how Illinois ranked among the other 49 states and here to be directed to The PEW website. Take a look and feel free to weigh in with your comments. I'll be in Springfield until Friday, but will be back with new posts when I return.—Susan

Report Rates Worst, Best Governments
By Ben Evans, AP

WASHINGTON (March 3) - Utah, Virginia and Washington state have the most effective state governments in the country, according to a scorecard released Monday by The Pew Center on the States.

WORST: New Hampshire
Overall state government grade: D+
Note: Rankings based on reviews by a panel of state government experts
The center ranked the states based on how well they manage their budgets, staffs, infrastructure and information.

The states with the highest scores have made accountability and innovation a priority, the report said.

Washington, for example, holds public meetings led by the governor to monitor how its programs are working, while Utah has a sophisticated financial tracking system that provides up-to-the-minute data. Virginia offers its employees incentives for meeting goals and improving service.

New Hampshire — which got the lowest score — is not closely monitoring its costs and performance, Pew said in a press release.

"Effective state government really matters," said Neal Johnson, director of Pew's Government Performance Project, citing infrastructure as evidence. "The Minnesota bridge collapse and the failure of the levees in New Orleans prove that few functions of state government have more direct impact on the daily lives of Americans."

The "Grading the States" report card was the fourth in a series of assessments issued by Pew's Government Performance Project and Governing Magazine. The last was released in 2005.

The rankings are based on reviews by a panel of state government experts.

States were graded on their recruitment and retention of qualified employees, their use of information and technology, management of budgets and purchasing systems, and planning for improvements to roads, bridges and other core infrastructure.

Susan Urahn, managing director of The Pew Center on the States, said the rankings are intended to give states objective information about how they can improve their performance.

At a panel discussion on the rankings in Washington, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue said management practices may not be the sexiest of political issues, but they can significantly impact how efficiently tax dollars are used and how well a government delivers services.

"Although you can't run a government like a business, you can use the principles that work," said Perdue, whose state placed in the top tier in the rankings.

Newest Version of Tax Swap Proposal Coming from Springfield

At our Town Hall Meetings, a majority of the comments and questions I heard pertained to SB 2288, which has layers of taxes and tax credits. It would make major changes to tax and school funding laws by increasing income tax in order to lower property taxes. I have listed the key components for you to review and provide your input. While it’s lengthy, feel free to weigh in on all or separate sections.

I’m not supportive of this bill the way it is drafted, but I am ready to hear your thoughts and observations.

Increases in personal income tax to 5% (from 3%) and in corporate income tax to 8% (from 4.8%). Family Tax Credits are provided to single taxpayers earning less than $26,695 and married couples earning less than $53,694. (As a point of comparison, right now Illinois has the lowest personal income tax rate of the 41 states that have an income tax. Wisconsin’s is 6.75%, Michigan’s is 3.9%, Iowa’s is 8.98%.)

• Reduction in property taxes by $2.9 billion a year (with increases for inflation), with every property owner seeing at least 20% lower property taxes

• Funding of $1 billion a year for debt service on the pension debt and fees on bonds for capital projects throughout the State

• $300 million annually for grants for higher education

• Increases for early childhood education, ranging from $45 million in 2009-2010 to $180 million in 2012-2013

• Increases in the “foundation level” of school funding to $6,044 per student for 2009-2010 (from $5,734) up to $6,974 for the 2012-2013 school year

• Eliminates the question of expanding gambling to pay for schools

Let me know what you think by clicking the comments link below!

Lake County News-Sun article

On the heels of Saturday's town hall meeting in Highland Park, the News-Sun reports on one of the highlights: discussion about the state tax-swap bills. Click the link to the article for the full story:
Frosty reception for state tax-swap bills Garrett, May wary of harm to local schools.

Please add any comments or additional concerns by clicking on the comments link below.

Cited in Sunday's March 2nd Tribune:

The Chicago Tribune article "Trial Knocks on governor's door" quoted me with the statement below:

"The governor came here riding a white horse and he was our ethics czar and he definitely doesn't deserve a pass," said Sen. Susan Garrett (D- Lake Forest). "But I think it's really more important that we as legislators and leaders look into why this continues to happen over and over again."

What are your thoughts on this issue and do you agree? Click the comments link below to voice your opinions.