Observations and comments about state government by State Representative Robert W. Pritchard.
In this issue:
· General Assembly Returns for Final Marathon
· Pension Reform Report Due This Week
· Federal Unemployment Insurance Extended
· IDOT Summer Program Offers Jobs
· Grant Competition for Business Ideas
General Assembly Returns for Final Marathon
Legislators will be returning to Springfield this week to consider bills passed by the other chamber and to craft a balanced budget by May 31. Some legislators have been vacationing in anticipation of the 7-day-a-week schedule in May while others of us have been traveling around our districts visiting with constituents about pending legislation, pension reform and spending reductions.
There is clearly a fear among local service providers that budget cuts will end programs and raise income eligibility thus disqualifying many of their clients. A common feeling is that the most vulnerable will be the greatest to suffer.
The healthcare budget will take the biggest cuts under the plan to cut $2.7 billion from the current $9.3 billion Medicaid program. Among the program funding targeted for elimination next year is Medicaid hospice care. These patients are disproportionately minorities and low-income families. A scientific study found cutting hospice services for these very sick clients will force them to more expensive care in emergency rooms and hospitals.
Parents receiving subsidized child care told me last week that lowering the income eligibility for the program will force many to quit work and others to drop out of college where they are developing skills to get better jobs. In both situations, these parents want to be contributing taxpayers and affordable child care is key to their dreams.
Still another group pointed out that amongst all the budget cutting is legislation that would increase the cost for the state to fully comply with federal sex offender registration. They point out that Illinois’ laws are already more strict than most states and full compliance with the federal Adam Walsh Act would cost more than any lost federal allotment.
Yes, the legislature must balance its budget but as I have said for months those cuts must be made with an eye toward unintended cost increases and protection for the most vulnerable. Continue to share your ideas and pray for the gift of wisdom in these deliberations.
Pension Reform Report Due this Week
The Governor’s Pension Reform Task Force is scheduled to issue a recommendation this week on ways to stabilize the state’s public pension system which is teetering on financial disaster. I attended a panel discussion with members from the task force last week to get a preview of their solutions and response from the employee representatives.
The Better Government Association (BGA) brought together a representative of labor, business and two legislators serving on the task force. About all they agreed on was Illinois needs a solution this year. The current underfunding of the public pension system has been largely created by the state not making the required annual payments. When the legislature increased benefits for employees and didn’t bother to fully fund them, “the media dropped the ball” according to BGA President Andy Shaw “by not holding politicians accountable for over promising and under delivering.”
The panel members had no response to the question about how to force the legislature to make required employer pension payments, something they have failed to do over most of the past 40 years. The panel seemed to agree that part of the solution was transferring state responsibility to the actual local employer–school districts, colleges and universities.
Many of the pension reform ideas that legislators have been suggesting in bills or discussions were not mentioned during the forum. These include lowering the cost of living adjustment, incentive to retire after age 67, increasing employee monthly contributions, a hybrid of defined benefit to a certain salary level and defined contribution after that, and setting the final salary for pension calculations over a longer time period.
I agree that the General Assembly will adopt pension reform this year but most likely will not take up the issue until after the fall election. Asking employees to take reduced benefits even if there is a requirement to make the employers’ annual payments will be tested in the courts for its constitutionality.
Labor has proposed increasing tax revenue to help the state make its payment but the audience at the forum clearly did not support that idea nor do most legislators.
Federal Unemployment Insurance Extended
The federal Tax Relief and Job Creation Act extends unemployment compensation through the end of 2012 but requires claimants to meet certain requirements. The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) says individuals seeking benefits must be able to, available for and actively seeking work.
In order to meet the program requirements, IDES says claimants must register with the Illinois JobLink system and engage in a sustained and systematic job search. Due to the new federal requirements, over 7,000 additional claimants will be required to participate in in-person reemployment services and eligibility assessment interviews at IDES local offices every week.
Individuals seeking unemployment compensation who fail to report to a local office risk a suspension of their weekly benefit payments. These new requirements are part of a renewed effort to ensure individuals are doing everything possible to update their skills and are prepared to reenter the workforce.
If my office can be of any assistance in accessing state or federal unemployment programs, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
IDOT Summer Program Offers Jobs
The Illinois Department of Transportation is offering summer job opportunities but the deadline for application is next Monday April 23. There are work experiences in engineering and non-engineering positions lasting from May 16 to August 31.
The Summer Engineering Program offers college engineering students with at least 30 semester hours of credit an opportunity to apply their training to an engineering job. The Technician Trainee Program for non-engineering students offers basic work experiences. Applicants for the Trainee Program must be high school graduates and no engineering training is necessary.
Application forms and further information are available on the department’s website: www.dot.il.gov. Look for “Student Opportunities and Internships” and “Vacancy Announcements.” Applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Monday April 23 at the IDOT Springfield Office or at an IDOT District Office.
Grant Competition for Business Ideas
The Belvidere Chamber of Commerce recently shared news about a competition that encourages start-up business ideas which may stimulate our state’s economy. Any entrepreneur including high school and college students are invited to pitch their ideas for new products, services or concepts in the 6th annual Stateline FastPitch Competition.
Participants get a chance to prove the potential of their business idea, meet people who can help them succeed and maybe even win a cash prize. The competition will be held at the Northern Illinois University Rockford campus on June 20.
The program is made possible through the support of numerous regional organizations, the Illinois Technology Association, Rock Valley College and the EIGERlab. For more information and pre-qualification, visit the website: www.eigerlab.org/events.
This is an excellent example of what the State of Illinois should be promoting to solve our fiscal problems. Let’s grow the economy rather than talk of new taxes for individuals or businesses.
District Office 815-748-3494 or E-Mail to bob@pritchardstaterep.com
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