- Editor's Note: This article was created by aggregating news articles from Illinois Statehouse News that were written by various Illinois Statehouse News reporters.
Illinois Week in Review: Gov. Continues to Slash State Spending
SPRINGFIELD — In an ongoing effort to slash state spending, Gov. Pat Quinn this week signed a bill eliminating free health care for state retirees and revealed he intends to move forward with prison closures throughout Illinois.
Quinn signs bill eliminating free health care for state retirees
Quinn on Thursday signed legislation to end premium-free health insurance for state retirees.
The state spends about $800 million yearly on the insurance program, but the exact savings from the new law will not be known, until a premium rate is negotiated between the state and public labor unions.
“Those who have faithfully served the state deserve access to quality health care, and insurance costs should be more balanced and based on actual retirement income,” Quinn said. “We also have a duty to taxpayers to ensure these plans are cost efficient and put Illinois on the path to fiscal stability.”
Under the previous system, about 90 percent of state employees did not pay health insurance premiums. The benefit created a $54 billion unfunded retiree health-care liability for the state.
Kelly Kraft, Quinn’s budget spokeswoman, said it was still unclear what affect the legislation will have on the unfunded liability.
Unlike the pensions, which have dedicated funds that are invested and used to pay costs, retiree health care is a pay-as-you-go system, draining more and more from the state’s general revenue fund.
“This is a step Illinois must take to right the financial ship. Without critical reforms, the current structure is unsustainable, and taxpayers are on the hook for programs they cannot afford,” said state Sen. Christine Radogno, R-.
Southern Illinois to lose three correctional facilities in statewide closures
Lawmakers and labor leaders gathered Wednesday in Carbondale to deride Quinn as a coward and an enemy to southern Illinois for abruptly revealing he still intends to shutter numerous correctional facilities statewide, including three in southern Illinois.
They said they were shocked Tuesday afternoon by news that Quinn wants to proceed with the closures, even though the Legislature included money for the facilities in the budget it approved at the end of May.
Lawmakers also were concerned that the closures could cause voters in the traditionally Democratic part of the state to flock to Republicans in upcoming elections.
“When you’re doing something like this to southern Illinois, you’re not helping any Democrat, to be honest with you,” said state Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, who was notified by fax of Quinn’s plans to proceed with the closures. “I don’t know what his plans are in the next election, but he has a chance to make this right.”
Among the facilities slated for closure are the Tamms “super-max” prison in Alexander County, the Illinois Youth Center in Murphysboro and the Southern Illinois Adult Transition Center in Carbondale.
“Alexander County is the poorest county in the state. You’re going to take away their biggest employer?” Phelps said.
House lawmakers eager for stronger framework for investigating their own
Two House lawmakers who served on a special committee to investigate criminal allegations against indicted state Rep. Derrick Smith said they believe the House should strengthen its guidelines for such investigations.
State Rep. Frank D. Comerford, D-Chicago, was expelled from the Illinois House of Representatives in 1905.
House lawmakers are allowed to investigate a colleague if at least three representatives request a probe. In the end, lawmakers can choose to expel, censure, reprimand or do nothing at all to the lawmaker. The last representative kicked out of the House was Chicago Democrat Frank Comerford in 1905.
Smith, also of Chicago, is accused of accepting a $7,000 bribe in exchange for trying to steer a $50,000 state contract to a fictitious daycare. Federal investigators caught the transaction on tape. Smith is charged in federal court with one count of bribery.
State Reps. Dennis Reboletti, R-Elmhurst, and Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, sat on a House Special Investigating Committee that investigated the allegations against Smith and determined there was enough evidence to proceed with professional discipline against him.
Reboletti said the group looked to various sources for guidance on how to proceed, including the 1905 case and the conviction and impeachment hearings of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
“We looked at as much precedent as possible and, fortunately, this doesn’t happen very often,” said Reboletti, a former prosecutor. “I don’t think it was as simple as looking at one thing in particular, but also trying to modernize things as thought was appropriate for the Smith situation.”
Reboletti said he anticipates the House rules will be changed to identify the level of misconduct that can trigger an investigation. Theoretically, the way the rules are written, a speeding ticket, a cross word or political ax-grinding could trigger an investigation if at least three representatives request an investigation.
“Just because a representative says something on the House floor or in his or her district, like Comerford did, you don’t want to just base an investigation off of that,” he said. “There has to be a more substantive reason for bringing that course of action.”
Nekritz said she, too, would like to see the House revisit its rules for such investigations.
“I think that we will be looking at this portion of the rules as the new General Assembly is seated next January and try to clean this up,” she said.
Study: Public retiree debt at $203B
Illinoisans are on the hook for $203 billion in public-sector retiree debt, about a third of the state’s gross domestic product in 2011, according to a new report.
“Politicians keep talking about the state pension problem,” said Ted Dabrowski, vice president of policy for the Illinois Policy Institute, a libertarian think tank, said. “Really our problems are much, much larger than that.”
Illinois’ public pension system owes current and future retirees $83 billion more than it has in assets, but that is less than half the problem, according to the institute’s report released Wednesday. State retiree health care and pension systems also are facing:
- $15.5 billion in state pension obligation bonds;
- $54 billion in unfunded state retiree health-care liability;
- $38.2 billion in unfunded local government pension liability;
- $10.7 billion in unfunded local government retiree health-care liability;
- $1.9 billion in local government pension and benefit bonds.
A plan to curb the rising cost of the state’s public pension system by decreasing cost-of-living adjustments faltered this spring, but Quinn and lawmakers are continuing to try and hammer out some solution.
Group pushes for health-care exchange, regardless of ruling
A band of health-care advocates and small businesses are calling for Quinn to create a statewide health insurance exchange in Illinois, regardless of how the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the national law.
“We wished he would have done it two weeks ago,” said Jim Duffett, executive director for the Campaign for Better Health Care, a group that lobbies for cheaper, more accessible health care.
“And we’d like him to do it tomorrow, do it the next day. If the Supreme Court rules on Thursday, then for him to do it Thursday or Friday. He needs to do it.”
The high court is looking at whether parts or all of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are unconstitutional, and is set to announce its decision sometime next week.
The major source of controversy is a portion of the law calling for all Americans to have health insurance. Opponents say forcing people to buy a product transcends the power of the federal government.
The law requires states to create health-care exchanges for people to compare and buy insurance by Nov. 12, or accept a federal model. Legislation in the General Assembly to create such an exchange stalled this spring as the U.S. Supreme Court heard the case.
Illinois has received $32.7 million from the federal government to establish the exchange, and it is unclear what would happen to that money if the national law is overturned.
Quinn earlier this year made it known he was thinking about using his executive powers to create an insurance exchange, but nothing came of it.
— Jayette Bolinski
I'm glad the seniors will not lose the circuit breaker. This was different from the Homestead break. @Tim, no need to name call. I know that we are the only group paying for health care and I was in total agreement that all should pay. But I personally know people that thought I was part of the nonpaying group. That was my only motive for sharing this. @Jim no need to name call. And PLEASE do not lump all of us into the same basket. Teachers and administrators and politicians are not the same. I, too, agree, that the games being played by those with the power to do so must be stopped. Believe me, I didn't have that kind of power. Lee Shell aka Lee Shell @Jim
My name is Tim, and I have no intention of giving anyone on Patch my last name.
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/lemont/news/x1991996058/Man-almost-thrown-out-of-School-Board-meeting "“Your childish antics will not be tolerated,” he told Olenick. “This meeting is for everybody, not just for you. You really have to maintain composure and act in a respectful manner.” Olenick continued to speak over Wood. Wood admonished him. “We’re trying to conduct a professional meeting,” he said. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” Olenick refused and told Wood to “bring it on.” Wood instructed another district official to contact the Lemont police. Police officers showed up at about 8:15 p.m. When officers asked if he wanted Olenick removed from the meeting, Wood said no. “I will defer it at this time, however I will ask that we act mature for the rest of the meeting,” he said. Olenick did not cause any more disruption during the meeting." Looks like Hank has not learned any lessons in maturity in the intervening years.
Ironic a member of the BoE can't figure that out.
Pensions have been increased too much by many on the public payroll which includes the groups you mentioned. I do believe they deserve pensions but not what has been negotiated by unions and the politicians. Sorry but when many can retire in their 50's while those outside public jobs who pay taxes cannot even retire when they reach full retirement age something is wrong. I do see a big difference between the different groups and the pensions may be at the right level for some, but there needs be a review of all and I would suggest to start with those in high 6 figure pensions.
Wherever I go, I look for "senior" discounts and I DEMAND the retailer give it to me based on the above. They always do, they know legally they can not charge me more because I am younger. I will soon be beginning the process of legally challenging the County for the "senior excemption" on property taxes. I suggest ALL do the same!!!
He has nothing of actual substance to say, so he tries to make up for it with distractions.
I think a lot are feeling guilty for voting for Quinn and Obama. Let's get it right next time people.....
http://elder-law.lawyers.com/Are-Senior-Citizen-Discounts-Legal.html People have paid real estate taxes for years, and some are forced out of their homes because of their cost. Much of the tax is used for schools which they nor their own children will use. But the main reason is to irritate people like you.
Gov. Quinn is just another Illinois gangster who is full of himself. I do agree he is worse than the other two in the slammer. But the biggest gangster is Madigan...I hear he has been in office for 40 years! Now why is that? Why do the voters vote for these gangsters? And why can't we vote Quinn out now as he lied about the income tax increase? Every move he makes is destructive.
Tthe problem we have in IL is more than just State Pensions driving us off the cliff, it's this our: 'State Agencies' http://www2.illinois.gov/pages/agencies.aspx There are 86 links on that web page, each going to an agency website full of other links to MORE sub-agencies and sub-sub-agencies to the linked agency. And all of those 'agencies' are filled with BUREAUCRATS that we're paying their salaries, and paying handsomely at that (forget their benefits for now) But when any government cuts are needed who do the Pols always target: Police, 'Firemen', Teachers, Closing prisons, and now it's Seniors too. And its always the same canard to the MSM and brainwashed sheeple: 'Raise Taxes NOW Or We're Doomed'. It's never abolishing an Agency that does nothing useful or cutting the BUREAUCRATS in said agencies that are duplicating work covered by some other agency. But that ever happening in IL would be like the Sun rising in the West as even the lowest File Clerk was 'sent by somebody who knows someone'. But THAT'S where the fat is at to be cut. Fire the do nothing BUREAUCRATS, not the Cops on the street or the teachers in the classroom. (If Madigan's or Quinn's house ever catches on fire, instead of calling the Fire Department maybe they should call the Department of Bureaucracy) /s
Every savings program run by a government agency at any level is the same. They collect money, immediately spend that money to buy votes, and then dump the liabilities on to the next generation. State and local pension plans, State health care plans, Social Security, Medicare... it's all the same. The money is gone, and we end up enslaving the next generation to pay for goodies we voted for ourselves. We were too lazy to keep our politicians disciplined enough to to keep the funding at appropriate levels. It's disgraceful. It was too good to be true and we all should have known it. How did so many get fooled so easily?
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/04/sen-tom-coburns-new-book-the-debt-bomb-warns-of-economic-crisis/
Mandatory Alcohol and Drug Testing of ALL Elected Officials. All royalties for the books they write wile in office be withheld untill they leave office... Your Thoughts?
His entire career has been in government and politics in and around Chicago (before he graduated to the big time and moved to Springfield). His only experience cutting has been in making the politically visible cuts he is making now. His hope is that he can visibly cause enough pain that the taxpayers will just let him raise taxes. Because in his experience that is the way it has always been. A mentor of mine had a sign on his office wall: "Doing what has always been done before may be a dangerous substitute for thinking".
Annoying illness
We need better Commissioners and cut their salaries in half! Also if they don’t show up like frequently absent Joe Cantore from District 2 they should not get paid.