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Springfield Update
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Legislative Session
The Senate met last week to consider amendatory vetoes that the Governor made to two House Bills (5285 and 4201). We
approved the amendatory veto of HB5285 which enables unmarried,
dependents to remain on their parents' health insurance plans until the
age of 26 (or until the age of 30 for disabled veterans). In classic
Springfield style, this amendatory veto represents good public policy
through a substantially compromised and potentially unconstitutional
vehicle.
Under
the Illinois State Constitution, the Governor has authority to make
amendatory vetoes to any Bill approved by both Houses of the General
Assembly. This amendatory veto authority has generally
been interpreted by Illinois courts to be limited to technical changes
and/or very specific policy disagreements that relate to the Bill
presented. We need to limit the Governor's amendatory
veto power in this way to prevent the Governor's executive power from
totally subsuming the role of our legislative branch of government.
In the case of HB5285, the Governor has probably gone too far in rewriting a Bill. I
personally decided to vote for the Governor's amendatory veto both
because I support the broad purposes of expanding health care for more
Illinois residents and because I believe we need the Illinois Supreme
Court to resolve if the Governor has constitutional authority to make
such sweeping changes to a Bill. In all likelihood, the
next step for this piece of legislation will be a court challenge to
the Governor's authority to make such a broad amendatory veto change.
The
second amendatory veto to HB4201 which would have exempted disabled
military veterans from paying property taxes was not accepted by the
Senate.
New Senate Leadership
Senate President Emil Jones recently announced his retirement from the State Senate effective in January 2009. Senator Jones' retirement presents a major opportunity to reshape Illinois' political landscape. The Senate must use this chance to improve both the substance and process of how we make decisions.
My vote for the next Senate President will be based on two core criteria. First,
the Illinois State Senate must continue its record of support for
progressive issues such as human rights, educational funding reform,
and more and better health care for all of our residents. Equally
important, however, the next Senate President must have a much more
open and transparent leadership style that allows more rank and file
Senators to participate in policy formation. Illinois voters want and deserve more access to how and why decisions are being made by their elected representatives.
In
addition to making my vote for the next Senate President conditioned on
a more open and transparent leadership style, I have begun to work on
reform of the State Senate rules. Our Senate rules determine who leads us in the Senate and how, when and if legislation is considered for a vote. Many
of my Senate colleagues understand we all need to play a larger role in
decisions about what is voted on and when in order to better represent
our constituents and be held accountable for these decisions. I
am optimistic that we will obtain better Senate rules that will both
strengthen my role as your representative in Springfield and hold me
more accountable for results.
I
will keep you apprised of new developments as my efforts to help elect
a progressive Senate President that believes in transparent government
continue.
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Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival
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Visit our Table at the Arts Festival!
State Senator Heather Steans and State Representative Harry Osterman are sponsors of the Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival. Office Staff will be at a booth (Number 72) on Morse Avenue from 12-8PM on Saturday and Sunday. Stop by to pick up free information on state services and discuss your concerns.
What: The Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest (GAAF) is a free, weekend-long
event that features artists, open studios and live entertainment on
three outdoor stages. Experience art, theater, music, as well as food
and drink, on the cobblestone streets of the Glenwood Avenue Arts
District in Chicago's historic Rogers Park neighborhood.
Where: The Glenwood Avenue Arts
Fest takes place in the Glenwood Avenue Arts District on Chicago's
North Side, in the heart of Rogers Park, on Glenwood Avenue, 6900 -
7000 North (between Farwell and Lunt) and the 1400 block of Morse
Avenue, steps from the Morse Avenue stop on the CTA Red Line.
When:
Festival:
Saturday and Sunday, August 23-24, 2008, 12 noon to 8 p.m., 6900-7000
North Glenwood Avenue and the 1400 block of Morse Avenue.
Visit www.heathersteans.com for more upcoming events!
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| Office Contact Information
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If you would like to contact Heather Steans' district office with any comments, concerns or questions, use the following contact information:
Phone: 773-769-1717
Fax: 773-769-6901
E-mail: hsteans@senatedem.ilga.gov
Office Address: 5533 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL (Open from 9am to 5pm, but please call first to make sure someone is available to meet with you.)
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Heather Steans