We are in the final month of scheduled legislative session, but there seems to be no end in sight. The leaders of the state are barely speaking to each other and have been working to sabotage one another in order to gain more power and get their way on certain issues and initiatives. It has become clear that Speaker Madigan's strategy for controlling the budget process is to pass appropriation bills department by department with the assurance that the total will be way over budget.

 Senate Disregards Wishes of Populace

It's common knowledge how Senate President Jones twisted Democratic arms to defeat the elected official recall constitutional amendment last week despite overwhelming popular support for the measure. We are just now starting to hear about the promises made to get those “no” votes.

The truce in the Governor's war on agriculture was pretty transparent. His office quickly announced the release of agricultural funding for Extension, 4-H, C-FAR, conservation districts and other ag programs. Just a few days ago he justified the withholding of nearly the entire budgets for these programs on the grounds that the state was broke. Governor, what changed in two days besides the vote on recall?

There are reports that efforts to close a state prison in a Democratic senator's district were suddenly refocused on a prison in a Republican's district when the Democrat failed to show-up for the vote on the recall issue. Other stories are circulating about moving an entire government department from Springfield to Benton , to help boost the local standing of a senator after his “no” vote. Stay tuned for more reports about wasting public funds.

 Majority Party Refuses to Discuss Ways to Save Dollars at the Pump

Apparently the House leadership is not concerned about rising gas prices or efforts to offer some relief to consumers. Last week, House Republicans urged the leadership to release legislation for a vote which would suspend the state sales tax on gasoline during the summer months. Speaker Madigan actually spoke during the debate and indicated he is not willing to consider gas tax relief for consumers because he would rather the state continue to collect the windfall in revenues. None of this sales tax money is used for road repairs.

While there are few options for state government to stem the rise in gas prices near term, a sales tax holiday would send a message. We also need to seriously look at more fuel efficient vehicles, impediments to expanding oil refining capacity, and the ban on drilling for oil in U.S. territories.

It's past time for a serious discussion about fuel prices and solutions to help consumers manage the resulting rise in prices of things influenced by fuel costs. It appears the Republicans will have to hold these discussions on our own, just like we did in 2007.

Higher Ed Funding Cuts Point to Increased Tuition

During a higher education committee meeting last week, we probed the governor's threat to withhold a significant portion of funding for state colleges and universities. The governor has advised institutions to be prepared for an 8 percent cut of their 2008 budgets with only two months left in the fiscal year.

Our colleges and universities simply cannot cut enough expenses this late in the fiscal year besides having to comply with unfunded mandates like installing fire sprinklers in all dormitories. So they are left with few choices but further increases in student tuition.

Northern Illinois University President John Peters testified recently that graduates leave the university with an average $20,000 in loans that have to be repaid. We should be encouraging our youth to continue expanding their skills and knowledge following high school, not raising the cost of this education.

There is also talk that the governor will, for the first time in many years, not authorize full funding to elementary and secondary school districts before June 30. My bill to require full payment in the current fiscal year is moving slowly in the Senate but even if passed will not help districts this fiscal year.

Providing Funding to Increase Staff at LaSalle Veterans' Home

I co-sponsored HB 4807 which passed the House last week to provide $8.2 million to fully fund and staff the LaSalle Veterans' Home. Currently the Home is staffed at 89 percent and a new addition is not being fully utilized.

The state makes promises to veterans for education and retirement care and then the governor won't release the necessary funding. We must begin to meet our promises to our veterans who sacrificed so much for our safety and freedom.

House Disapproves of Governor's Executive Order

HR 1188 also passed last week disapproving of the governor's executive order number 1. The executive order would have consolidated certain common administrative functions from a number of agencies into three shared service centers.

The governor claimed the merger of functions could save the state millions of dollars but in committee discussions he failed to show any cost savings from two past consolidations. I expressed concerns not with his efforts to save money, but rather failing to involved employees in the process, and verify that costs savings are achieved. It just seems he wants to consolidate power and make it more difficult for citizens to get services.

 I'm in Springfield so feel free to contact me there if I can be of assistance.