Observations and comments about state government by State Representative Robert W. Pritchard.
November 17, 2014
In This Issue:
Potential Veto Session issues
First quarter revenue report offers mixed outlook
Proposed raw milk rules affect consumer choice
Fracking rules finally approved
New school report card benchmarks progress
Continued education pays big dividends
Campaign announcements raise lots of questions
George Washington Thanksgiving Proclamation
Potential Veto Session issues
On Wednesday, the House and Senate will be back in action in Springfield for the fall veto session. Every year, legislators reconvene in the fall to review legislation which was vetoed by the Governor during the summer. This year, there are eleven bills which were vetoed by Governor Quinn after the legislature adjourned the spring session on May 30.
Under the Illinois Constitution, the Governor may veto a bill in whole or in part. Like the President, the Governor has the power to issue a total veto of a bill, which rejects the bill in its entirety. But unlike the President, the Governor of Illinois also has several other options for vetoes, including an amendatory veto, which allows him to veto part of a bill and enact the remainder, or a reduction veto, which he can use to cut certain spending out of the budget while signing the rest into law.
When any type of veto is issued, the bill goes back to the chamber where it originated, and the sponsor of the bill can file a motion to override the Governor’s veto. If three-fifths of the House and the Senate vote in favor of the motion, the Governor’s veto is overridden and the bill becomes law. In the House, that requirement is 71 votes, and in the Senate it is 36.
Among the vetoed legislation that could be over-ridden are HB3796 dealing with voluminous freedom of information requests, HB4075 regulating taxi cabs, HB4606 exempting some landfills from the local siting process, and SB930 raising truck speed limits. Also for possible consideration are SB2664 which limits the past-due assessments for purchasers of foreclosed condo units, and SB3507 which limits water and sewer connection fees.
It is possible for other legislation to come to the floor for action as well in the veto session, but unlike in the spring, legislation must pass with a three-fifths supermajority if it has an immediate effective date, as opposed to the standard majority vote needed before May 31.
At this time, it is still unclear which pieces of legislation might move during the two-week fall session. One issue everyone has their eyes on is the question of the expiring 2011 temporary income tax increase, which is set to roll back at the end of this year. If no action is taken, the 5 percent income tax rate will roll back to 3.75 percent on January 1, and the 7 percent corporate income tax rate will change to 5.25 percent. During the spring, Governor Quinn and Democrat leaders urgently spoke of the need to extend the tax increases to pay for billions in additional spending which has been added since the temporary tax hike was enacted. With the election of Bruce Rauner as governor, I do not expect this issue to be raised in the veto session.
Another bill being closely watched is Senate Bill 16, an attempt to overhaul the state’s education funding formula. The bill would strip state funding from many districts and route it to others, causing half the school districts in our area to either raise property taxes or cut instruction. The bill sets a low amount of funding per student and a weighted formula for extra funding based on the number of low income, English language learners and special education students.
The bill will be heard in the Elementary and Secondary Education committee on Tuesday but is not expected to pass this year. Superintendent Fred Hide from District 300 which includes Hampshire will be my guest to testify on the bill’s likely effects on his diverse district and the experience he has with a similar funding system in Florida. I will be working for a fairer way to adequately fund education without shifting more of the burden onto property taxpayers or having to take services away from students.
Since voters approved three advisory referenda in the general election, I expect at least the minimum wage question to come before the lame duck session. In the spring, there were not enough votes to pass any of these three measures on their merits and their potential impacts to the economy.
This summer, the Supreme Court ruled that forcing state retirees to begin paying health insurance premiums was unconstitutional. The state had already collected $59.2 million from retirees. We could see legislation to streamline the reimbursement process for those retirees.
The ongoing debate about the management of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) in Springfield could see some action this week. Unlike other presidential museums around the country, the ALPLM is not part of the federal National Archives system, but is instead run by the state of Illinois. Control is split between the museum’s board and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, as well as a private foundation. Accusations of mismanagement and a decline in donations to the museum have led legislators to look at overhauling the management structure at the ALPLM. A bill was recently filed by House Speaker Madigan to create a separate oversight agency for the museum. An earlier effort to revamp the leadership late in the spring session was not acted upon by the Senate.
There are any number of other issues that could come up for action including business EDGE tax and manufacturer’s purchase credits, codifying agreements for the Illiana Expressway construction project near Joliet and police body camera funding. The House is scheduled to be in session November 19 and 20, and then come back December 2 to 4. Visit www.ilga.gov for committee schedules and other session information.
First quarter revenue report offers mixed outlook
The Department of Revenue has released its first quarter economic report for FY 2015, and while it contains good news on the Illinois economy, its findings on tax receipts are mixed. The report indicated that unemployment in Illinois has declined over the past year from 9.2 percent in August 2013 to 6.7 percent in 2014, the lowest level since July 2008. “Professional and business service sector” jobs led the improvement. The Illinois economy is expected to grow 1.3 percent in the next six months.
Individual income tax collections in the first quarter were about on track with FY15 projections while corporate income tax receipts have been falling since March and were $128.6 million below what the Department had forecast. Sales taxes were up $52 million from the forecast reflecting improved labor and housing markets, consumer confidence and retail sales. The full report is available at http://tax.illinois.gov/AboutIdor/TaxResearch/QuarterlyRevenueReport2015Q1.pdf.
Proposed raw milk rules affect consumer choice
The Illinois Department of Public Health proposed a rule earlier this year which would ban the private transfer and sale of unpasteurized or “raw” milk by farmers to consumers. Sales of unpasteurized milk are already banned in grocery stores. Citing concerns about the outbreak of food-borne illnesses, the Department proposed the new rule and set an October 20 deadline for public comments.
More than 800 comments were received, spurring the Department to extend the public comment period. The new rules will be submitted for review to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) on December 4. A final rule will likely not be issued until next year.
Opponents of the rule responded with comments that raw milk is healthier than pasteurized milk and that there are no greater risks of illness. Some consumers were unhappy about the department’s attempts to limit their purchase options.
The key is knowing the conditions under which the milk is produced. Growing up on the dairy farm, our family consumed fresh, unpasteurized milk every day without illness. However, our cows were tested for disease regularly and milking sanitation was a high priority.
Fracking rules finally approved
After taking more than a year to write the rules and review thousands of public comments, the Department of Natural Resources has finally submitted and received approval for hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in Illinois. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules approved the regulations on November 6.
SB 1715 which legalizes and regulates fracking was crafted after months of negotiations between business and labor, environmentalists and state officials. Once the final rules are filed with the Secretary of State’s office and pending any legal action by opponents, companies can begin applying for permits to start fracking in Illinois. Several companies have grown tired of waiting and cancelled all their leases with landowners to drill for gas and oil.
New school report card benchmarks progress
School report cards used to just label student success or failure in their courses but not anymore. Illinois’ new school report cards tell parents and educators whether students as freshman are on track to graduate from high school and in years to come will show how past students have progressed in college. It’s a great window into the quality of education each of our school districts provides its students.
The latest report card shows 88 percent of freshmen in Illinois are on-tract to graduate from high school while thousands of other students need tutoring and other help right away. The report card now clearly demonstrates how well elementary schools are preparing students for high school and how well high schools prepare students for their all-important continued education.
Many school districts are doing a great job at preparing students but others—even those spending significantly more money per student—could do better. The report card is a significant addition to the debate over school funding, school leadership and efforts to focus on each student’s needs. Take a look at your school’s report card at www.isbe.net, click on school report card and then type in your school’s name.
Continued education pays big dividends
Northern Illinois University’s Center for Governmental Studies just released a unique economic impact analysis matching employee-level wage data to community college training. It concludes that an Illinois community college education increases earnings over a lifetime by over $570,000, even during a recession.
In fact, just taking courses at an Illinois community college increases a student’s earnings 25.3 percent over pre-enrollment wages according to the study. The NIU study found that Illinois community colleges add skills to our workforce and boost business competitiveness. Nearly 9 out of 10 Illinois community college graduates remain in Illinois after completing college and contribute to the State’s economy.
One can conclude from this research that the state’s investment in community colleges stays right here in Illinois where community college graduates generate billions of dollars in state and federal tax revenues and provide a skilled workforce for the jobs of the 21st century. The full study is available at: http://64.107.108.133/pdf/eis/EIS_Report_2014.pdf
Campaign announcements raise lots of questions
If you were like many citizens who tuned-out of the political campaign ads this fall, you probably missed Governor Quinn’s announcements of the state awarding millions of dollars ($300 million in all) to individual private universities. These are good universities and the projects may have been worthwhile but given the state’s underfunding of public colleges and universities, one has to ask the appropriateness of funding private universities even in a capital bonding bill.
According to the news reports, DePaul University was given $11.46 million for an academic building, Columbia University received $7.2 million to improve their curricula, Robert Morris University received $2.9 million and Roosevelt University $2.62 million.
In addition, you have to question the timing of the announcement. I’m not alone in feeling that elected officials should not dole out public money just before elections to potentially influence voter opinions about the official. Representative Anthony DeLuca, a Democrat from Chicago Heights, agrees and has introduced HB6310 that would ban constitutional officers and general assembly members from making public announcements of any state grant or funded project within 60 days of a general election. I’m a cosponsor. I doubt the bill will receive a hearing but citizens should demand it.
Count your blessings
As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day next week, take time to review the original purpose as declared by President George Washington in 1789. I hope you and your family have much for which to be thankful!
Bob Pritchard
http://www.ilhousegop.org/
By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation:
Whereas, it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor; and
Whereas, both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness;
Now therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—that we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—
for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation—
for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war (Revolutionary War)—
for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—
for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted—
for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general
for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed—to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord—to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us–and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789, –G. Washington
Bob Pritchard
District Office 815-748-3494 or E-Mail to bob@pritchardstaterep.com
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