Senate lawmakers are scheduled to return to Springfield April 17 and are expected to turn their attention to legislation introduced by House lawmakers, having spent the beginning of the legislative session considering and voting on Senate bills, State Sen. Tom Johnson (R-West Chicago) explained.

The legislature now begins the second half of the annual process, as Senators review bills that were introduced and passed by the Illinois House of Representatives, while House members review measures that passed the Senate. A bill must pass both the House and Senate and be signed by the Governor to become law.

During the week, legislators caught up on work in their district offices, and the bipartisan Special Senate Committee on Enterprise Zone Extensions wrapped up a series of statewide hearings in Peoria on April 9. 

Employment growth and economic development were the focus of legislative hearings on proposed enterprise zone extensions. Testifying before the committee April 9 were local government and economic development officials, as well as representatives from central Illinois businesses, including Peoria-based Caterpillar Inc. Meetings were also held in recent weeks in Carbondale, Chicago and Rockford.

Illinois’ fiscal challenges have been well-documented in recent months, leading many lawmakers to question Gov. Pat Quinn’s Feb. 22 budget address, which State Sen. Tom Johnson (R-West Chicago) said increases state spending by almost $550 million, expands state programs, and offers no suggestion on how to pay down Illinois’ tremendous bill backlog or roll back the Democrats’ 2011 income tax hike.

Gov. Quinn adopted a somber approach to his budget address, an approach that many lawmakers felt was lacking during his recent State of the State speech. A number of legislators said they were pleased the Governor acknowledged Illinois’ serious economic woes, unveiling a spending plan that largely reflected the more conservative outline his budget office released in January.

Echoing his January budget documents, Quinn proposed a freeze to almost all state spending, including the big-ticket items of healthcare, welfare and education. However, while the goals were admirable, Senator Johnson said the budget plan offered little detail on how to achieve those goals.

As lawmakers prepare to return to Springfield for Gov. Pat Quinn’s annual budget address on Feb. 22, State Sen. Tom Johnson (R-West Chicago) says he is looking forward to an in-depth account of the Governor’s plan for Illinois’ finances, including more detail on how Quinn proposes to accomplish the goals laid out earlier this month in his State of the State speech.

Following the State of the State address, lawmakers from both parties noted that though the Governor’s address was full of uplifting rhetoric and compelling ideas, they were disappointed he glossed over the daunting fiscal obstacles facing Illinois. Most officials said they would have liked specifics on how the Governor’s proposals would be financed, considering the state’s current economic challenges.

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, Senator Johnson hopes for more detail on how Quinn plans to reduce the state’s projected deficit. Even after the 67 percent income tax increase, Illinois is still on an unsustainable path, with debt and unemployment continuing to rise, and the state’s credit ratings continuing to be lowered. When taking into account the financial obstacles facing Illinois, Senate GOP legislators are also interested to learn how Gov. Quinn intends to phase out the tax increase as planned.

Illinois' problems with job creation were highlighted during the week when long-time Illinois company, Caterpillar, acknowledged the state's poor business and economic climate would have prevented them from considering Illinois for a significant expansion, said State Sen. Tom Johnson (R-West Chicago).

In other news, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced plans to push for a statewide handgun registry that could make felons of downstate and suburban handgun owners, and the state’s Medicaid program continues to draw attention.

Gov. Pat Quinn delivered a State of the State address on Feb. 1 that left many lawmakers scratching their heads, as State Sen. Tom Johnson (R-West Chicago) said the Governor painted a rosy picture of state finances, while glossing over projections that within five years the state is on track to face deficits exceeding the state’s entire annual General Funds budget.

The Governor’s address followed on the heels of a Civic Federation study released this week outlining a bleak financial future for Illinois. The Civic Federation study is at least the third major report in recent weeks to independently verify what Senate Republicans have warned for years—Illinois must take decisive steps to rein in spending, or the state will face multi-billion dollar deficits before the end of the decade.

And even as state budget projections show that in Fiscal Year 2017, the state’s Medicaid backlog could reach $21 billion, lawmakers discovered this week that the Quinn Administration is actively pursuing an expansion of Medicaid in Cook County.

On Wednesday, February 1, Governor Pat Quinn treated Illinois legislators to a preview of his 2012 legislative agenda when he delivered his “State of the State” address.  According to State Senator Tom Johnson (R-West Chicago) the Governor made some big promises.

“Governor Quinn gave a nice speech today with some lovely goals in it.  I look forward to hearing more details about how he plans to accomplish those goals,“ says Johnson.  “I sincerely hope that this is the year we quit messing around and get down to business to fix this state.”

Johnson pointed to issues like public pensions, taxes, and the Medicaid system as areas that must be addressed in the coming year. “Our obligations to state workers and retirees, and Medicaid are astronomical.  They consume a huge and ever growing amount of state revenues at a rate that is unsustainable.

Senate Republicans are looking forward to Gov. Pat Quinn’s annual “State of the State” address on Feb. 1, which State Sen. Tom Johnson (R-West Chicago) hopes will provide insight into the Governor’s priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

State budget forecasts recently released by the Quinn Administration and Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka underscore the importance of addressing Illinois’ multi-billion dollar deficit and burgeoning bill backlog. But while the state’s budget woes remains a top priority for lawmakers, media reports indicate the Governor will likely turn his attention to other important—and contentious—issues like public pensions, taxes, and the Medicaid system.

Illinois’ obligations to its state workers and retirees, and to its taxpayer-financed health care programs, are gobbling up state revenues at an unsustainable rate. Those commitments are increasing each year, and without serious changes threaten to overwhelm available revenues. Senate Republicans are interested in learning more about Gov. Quinn’s plans to tackle Illinois’ Medicaid and pension system obligations.

Senate Republicans announced this week they will voluntarily walk away from the controversial and scandal-prone Legislative Scholarships Program, State Senator Tom Johnson (R-West Chicago) said. The Senate Republicans hoped their decision will pressure their Democrat colleagues to also give up the costly and politically-charged perk.

Also during the week, Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka released a new report that estimates that one year after the state raised personal income taxes by 67 percent, Illinois has a bill backlog of about $8.5 billion.

Meanwhile, Gov. Pat Quinn announced plans to close a state-run developmental center in Jacksonville and a mental health center in Tinley Park in 2012. The Governor also indicated he plans to close three other developmental disabilities facilities and possibly additional mental health facilities over the next several years.

And, just weeks after lawmakers voted for a pension reform to block highly-paid union executives and lobbyists from cashing in on taxpayer-funded pensions, the Better Government Association revealed that other private sector lobbyists are also in line to score benefits from Illinois' public pension systems.
 

Friday, January 13, the 67 percent tax increase passed in the waning hours of the 96th General Assembly will turn one year old, a birthday that State Senator Tom Johnson (R-West Chicago) says is not an occasion to celebrate.  According to Johnson the tax increase has only added to our financial problems instead of solving them as promised. 

“One of the first votes I cast as a state senator was my vote against this tax increase,” says Johnson.  “At the time I said this increase was just business as usual and that it would allow spending to continue at the same exaggerated rate.  The past year has proven me right”

The tax hike took the equivalent of a week’s pay out of the pocket of average individuals in Illinois.  The average family has had to operate with about $1000 less a year because of the increase.

This week, budget projections released by the Quinn Administration offer a grim preview of the state’s fiscal situation, though State Sen. Tom Johnson (R-West Chicago) said that a Senate Republican plan could serve as a commonsense road map to financial recovery.

The need to address the state’s dire budget situation was further underscored by a new report released by the credit rating agency, Fitch Ratings. In a Jan. 5 report, Fitch emphasized the importance of reining in the state’s Medicaid and pension obligations, and pursuing long-term solutions to finance state government operations.

Illinois’ ongoing budget woes continue to be the preeminent issue facing state leaders. Senator Johnson said that when the 2012 legislative session gets underway later this month, one issue is likely to overshadow all others – the continuously weak position of the Illinois state budget.

That was reinforced when the Governor's Office of Management and Budget on Jan. 3 released preliminary revenue and spending projections for the next three fiscal years. While Governor Quinn isn't scheduled to deliver his formal budget address until February 22, the projections emphasize the severity of the financial challenges facing Illinois.

More than 200 new laws, covering everything from local library boards to murder, will go into effect on January 1, according to State Sen. Tom Johnson (R-West Chicago).

Among the more notable measures are bills that would give citizens greater access to government information through the Internet, encourage the use of alternative energy sources, reduce regulations for home-based food businesses and allow motorcyclists to proceed through a red light if the tripping device fails to turn the light green after a reasonable time.

State lawmakers will return to Springfield beginning Dec. 12 and try once again to approve a package of tax law changes designed to prevent several major employers from fleeing the state, state Senator Tom Johnson (R-West Chicago) said.

The Illinois House plans to convene on Monday, Dec. 12, with the Senate going into session the next day. Senator Johnson said that while Republican lawmakers continue to negotiate with the Governor and the Democrat majority to craft the changes, there is frustration among GOP lawmakers who warned their Democrat colleagues last year that the 67% tax increase approved in January 2011 would have a disastrous effect on Illinois' jobs climate.

Threatened closures of seven state facilities were averted when lawmakers returned to Springfield Nov. 29 and approved a compromise plan that rearranged the state budget but did not increase total spending for the cash-strapped state, State Sen. Tom Johnson (R-West Chicago) said.

However, no agreement could be reached between the Senate and House on a legislative package designed to provide tax benefits for major Illinois corporations that have threatened to leave Illinois unless the state offers compelling financial incentives.

In other major legislative action during the week, lawmakers passed targeted pension reforms aimed at ending abuses by some union officials and approved a series of critical work-rule changes at Chicago's McCormick Place exhibition authority.