Legislative Update

We have finally passed the June 30 mark, and are now in 2009 Fiscal Year in Illinois. Although the legislature has passed a budget, there are dissenting opinions on the budget defficit, that vary from $1.5 billion to $2-5 billion. Either way, something will have to be done soon, since the next state paycheck is due by July 15, 2009. There is money left over from the '08 budget that is still in the pipeline, that can also be used to pay bills during this time. There are still many projects that have been promised money that have seen none.

There is no inidication that the governor will call for a special session at this time. No one really knows yet what will happen, since Senate President Jones, the governor's ally over the years, does not want a special session to take place. The payraise commission has recommended a double digit increase in pay for the legislature unless both Houses pass a resolution rejecting it. The House has already passed the resolution, but the Senate has done nothing. The legislature must vote to reject the payraise within 30 session day. For the Senate, the clock is at 26 days,with four days left to vote. If a special session is called, within four days, the Senate must vote to reject the payraise, or it will take effect. If the Senate does not come back until the veto session, the 30 session days will expire at that time. That means the legislature can receive a payraise after the voting takes place for the general election in November, and we, the people, will have two years to forget that the Senate President did not allow a vote.

Meanwhile, the governor, the House Republicans, and the Senators are all asking for support for the "jobs bill." This will give Illinois additional debt of at least $34 billion in bonds. How are these bonds to be paid off? By opening a huge 4,000 position land based casino in Chicago (which doesn't want this particular bill), an additional land-based casino, another riverboat, and additional slots at the existing boats. Never mind that casino gambling in Illinois has dropped by 17% during the last year, and that casino income in neighboring Indiana has also dropped. Additionally, the state will have to lease out the lottery for at least 70-75 years for an additional immediate shot in the arm of $10 billion for this to happen.

Call your state representative and let him or her know that you oppose the funding of the "jobs bill" through expanded gambling. We cannot build Illinois by tearing down the families of Illinois.

To find the information about your state representative, go to the following website and enter your address:

http://www.elections.state.il.us/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx