Dear Neighbor,
With more unfinished work than finished work from the 2009
Legislative Session, this is unfortunately a legislative update rather than the
wrap-up it should be. It is appalling
that we do not yet have a realistic budget for the state. I am heartened that we are returning to Springfield tomorrow to
continue work on the budget, but am concerned that a solution that the four
caucuses and the Governor will agree to is not yet in sight. I will keep you updated on the progress of
our budget, and in the interim below I provide updates on ethics reform and Illinois' financial
crisis. At a later date I will provide
an update on the significant legislation I sponsored and passed this Session.
Ethics Reform
The Illinois General Assembly sent to Governor Pat Quinn a
set of bills that are designed to change our culture of corruption in Illinois. While I do not believe we went far enough
with the reforms we passed, we made significant contributions to ending
corruption by:
- Reforming
the state's procurement process to enhance disclosure, boost transparency,
and require expert, professional oversight and management. (SB51 - click here to read the bill).
- Strengthening
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to ensure citizens get better,
timely access to government documents and information. (SB189 - click here to read about the bill).
- Altering
the process to appoint members to Illinois
boards and commissions to prevent insider deals that have plagued the
state. (SB364 - click here to read about the bill).
- Establishing
the state's first limits on campaign contributions. (HB 7 - click here to read about the bill).
I do not think our work on ethics reform is close to done,
however. I argued for stronger campaign
finance reforms - I carried a bill that would provide lower campaign
contribution limits in sync with federal limits, for example, as well as lived
by these federal limits in my own election campaign - but was
unsuccessful. Ultimately, I voted for
the contribution limits bill because I believe it will be easier to strengthen
this existing law moving forward than to begin from scratch. I am committed to accomplishing the broader
reforms we know must happen.
Budget and Capital Plan in Limbo
While our work on ethics reform was incomplete, our budget
work has to date failed. Under the
leadership of our Senate President, John Cullerton, the Senate and House passed
a $31 billion capital plan aimed at helping to stabilize the state's economy
and create jobs. Getting this bill
passed through both chambers is a feat that has not been accomplished in 10
years. However, this bill has some
technical issues that need to be cleaned up and remains unsigned by the
Governor. The Governor may hold up the
bill until a complete operating budget is passed.
And our operating budget remains a disaster. While the Illinois Senate narrowly passed tax
reforms that could have balanced the budget, increased support for education,
and reduced regressive property taxes, the House of Representatives did not
pass these funding reforms. Instead we
adjourned the Spring Session without passing a realistic financial plan for
this fiscal year.
The budget we sent Governor Quinn funds contractually
mandated state operations, appropriates federal funds, and provides 50% of
dollars to grant programs overseen by the state compared to dollars spent on
these programs in the current fiscal year.
This results in massive cuts to early childhood programs, scholarships,
and social services programs (e.g. substance abuse treatment, senior citizen
care, mental health services, programs for developmentally disabled, etc.). This is an incomplete and unconscionable
budget. The Governor wants a complete
budget and has thus called us back to session tomorrow. I fully agree that we need a workable budget
now and one that does not solve our financial problems on the backs of our
neediest citizens.
The fate of State government finance is as precarious and
unresolved as it ever has been. In the
brief time I have been in the legislature, I have always attempted to work
openly with my Republican colleagues because my experience and intuition tells
me that compromise improves the outcome and consensus around difficult
issues. Failure to pass a budget before
our May 31, 2009 deadline now forces us to compromise with our Republican
colleagues because we need super majorities to pass budget legislation in both
chambers (36 votes in the Senate and 71 in the House). My belief in compromise will be thoroughly
tested in the weeks and months ahead.
Clearly the state needs a balanced budget now to preserve
our economy, prevent disastrous outcomes to our neediest citizens, and restore
financial stability. During these
challenging times both your criticisms and support helps me make better
decisions and communicate with my colleagues how our log jam is undermining
productive services. Please keep the
responses coming even when I need to hear negative feedback. My email is hsteans@senatedem.ilga.gov or reply to this e-mail and my
phone is 773-769-1717.
Sincerely,
Heather Steans
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