As we enter a new month, college basketball's March Madness is ending with a national champion while the General Assembly begins its spring sprint to passing legislation and a budget. The House and Senate will be holding an intense session schedule with final votes on several hundred pieces of legislation in April and May. Not even preliminary budget meetings have been held which foretells of another long budget development process this year.

Whether you are coming to Springfield for a professional organization lobby day or just have an opinion about pending legislation, give me a call. I also invite you to one of the district budget discussions mentioned later in this report.

 Balancing the Budget

I recently attended a House budget hearing in Rockford which indicated state expenses have increased by almost $30 billion since 1995. Nevertheless, group after group at the meeting requested additional funding. Not a person testifying in over two and a half hours mentioned any ways to make government more efficient and cut spending.

According to the Taxpayer Federation of Illinois, obligations to our pension, health care and Medicaid programs alone are growing faster than the state's revenue growth. When Governor Edgar came to office in the early 1990's he too faced a big budget deficit but eight years later we had worked our way out of the hole. We can do it again.

Senator Burzynski and I will be hosting budget discussions at three locations in the district over the next month to explore capital needs, budget choices and ways to fund state programs. We need your input and creative ideas. I hope to see you there.

The hearings will all start at 7 p.m. in the city council chambers:

April 22 – Rochelle City Hall , 420 N. 6 th Street

April 24 – Sandwich City Hall , 144 E. Railroad Street

May 5 – DeKalb City Hall , 200 S. 4th Street

 Revenue Increase to Pay Bills and Lower Property Taxes

A Senate bill has moved out of committee that bears watching since it seeks to address a number of the state's funding challenges and capital needs without expanding gambling. The bill is a long way from passing in the Senate but a number of education and childcare groups are lining up support.

SB2288 proposes a $7.3 billion income tax increase to fund $2.9 billion in property tax relief and bonding for a $13 billion capital program. There is also funding for higher levels of state reimbursements for education and an education capital program, around $1 billion to supplement pension payments, and money for a refundable family tax credit.

The plan does not provide needed reforms in the way school funding is distributed or $3 billion in other so called structural deficits. A bipartisan group of legislators from the House and Senate are continuing to negotiate changes in the bill.

 Constitutional Convention Vote This Fall

Our state constitution provides for a vote on holding a Constitutional Convention (con con) every 20 years. Such a vote is scheduled for the general election in November. Of course the General Assembly can pass constitutional amendments at any time and there is a process for citizens to initiate amendments as well.

A con con allows delegates, two from each Senate district, to propose changes and updates to the state's constitution which then are put to a vote by citizens. Several groups are calling for a convention to deal with issues the legislature has been unable to address. Mentioned are such changes as cutting property taxes, adopting a progressive income tax, correcting the pay-to-play atmosphere in state contracting, objective legislative redistricting, and recalling elected officials.

Other groups are starting to discuss the political tone a con con might take this time, the cost for holding a con con and the possibility of making constitutional changes they don't want. I encourage you to watch for news articles and discuss the issue at organization meetings.

The last convention, held in 1969-1970, cost the State of Illinois between $14 million and $30 million. Holding a convention would be a large undertaking that could cost more than $80 million at a time when the state is already billions of dollars in debt.

Youth Will be Required to Have ID at Livestock Fairs

As fair season approaches, livestock exhibitors, including 4-H and FFA participants, will be required to register for a farm ID number. The ID is part of a voluntary National Animal Identification System to help prevent the spread of diseases among animals and contain terrorist attacks on our food supply.

Though the national program is voluntary, former Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke announced last October that youth planning to show livestock at fairs this summer must obtain a farm ID number from his office. His actions create a conflict between youth who wish to show and parents or livestock producers who do not want to sign up for premise tags.

Legislation has been introduced to remove the mandatory requirement but it wouldn't take effect this year. HB 5776 has passed the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee and currently awaits debate on the House floor.

Efforts to Deflate Gas Prices

Gas prices have risen from an average of $1.80 per gallon in January of 2005 to $3.33 on March 27, 2008 and diesel fuel is now $4.12 per gallon. As high as this seems by historical standards, experts are pointing to nearly a dollar higher prices over the summer.

You, like millions of other families and businesses, may be evaluating shorter travel routes, combining trips and using school and public transportation where available. More and more businesses are passing along their increased fuel costs in the form of surcharges on consumers. Something has to be done to slow the price increase and avoid a real recession where consumers pay so much of their disposable income on fuel and food that they have little left for other items or activities.

I have been dusting off the proposals of the Republican Motor Fuel Task Force of 2006 and joining in re-introducing the legislative ideas. House Bill 6318 would suspend the state sales tax on motor fuel in Illinois between May 1 and September 15 during the most expensive and highest travel months. The proceeds are not used for road repairs but rather are a windfall for the general fund and allow the Governor to “discover” unanticipated revenue for his new programs.

House Bill 4696 encourages more production of ethanol by providing grants and incentives for ethanol manufacturing and fuel stations which offer public retail sales of motor fuel. This bill would cost the state some money up front but would be an investment that results in a payback of higher tax revenue from the jobs created and new production.

A 2006 study conducted for the Renewable Fuels Association indicated that the U.S. ethanol industry created 153,725 new jobs as well as $32.2 billion in gross output and $17.7 billion in Gross Domestic Product. I believe the grant program would be well worth the increase in jobs, the increase in revenues, and the lower prices at the pump.

Circle Your Calendar for April 21

Back by popular demand is my second wine and cider tasting reception at Kishwaukee Country Club. Four local wineries and an orchard will be joined by providers of special cheeses from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Come sample Illinois produced products and other specialty items while we discuss your suggestions and concerns. Call 815-754-0599 for more information.