Springfield, Ill – State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) offered the
following comments after Republican lawmakers offered a “bridge” spending plan
that will allow government to keep functioning.
“We
are offering this ‘bridge’ plan as a means to protect our state’s most
vulnerable citizens and time is a luxury that we don’t have,” Luechtefeld said.
“The current fiscal year ends in less than a week, thus many human service
providers must have a spending plan in place in order to keep their doors
open.”
Luechtefeld
reiterated that this plan provides temporary solution to enable services to
continue for the next several months.
“Illinois citizens
demanded a permanent fiscal plan that holds the line on spending and does not
expand programs,” Luechtefeld said. “A permanent spending plan must be approved
in conjunction with ethical reform measures, like campaign finance reform,
enhanced transparency and must allow citizens to elect their legislators and
Congressional members without a gerrymandered map.”
Senate Week in Review: June 15-19
Okawville, Ill. – As the end of the current fiscal year rapidly approaches, Gov. Pat Quinn and lawmakers agreed to return to Springfield on Tuesday, June 23.
State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) said that although there has not been substantial progress on resolving the state budget, lawmakers are expected to address some technical changes to the capital infrastructure plan that must be made before the legislation can be signed into law. Senator Luechtefeld did applaud Governor Quinn for making the “call” for a special session broad enough to encompass critical structural and ethical reforms needed to move Illinois forward.
Because a special session can only address the issues laid out in the Governor’s proclamation calling the legislature into session, Luechtefeld explained that is was important that the proclamation be broad enough to include key reforms needed to address the underlying causes of the gridlock that has become routine in Illinois over the last six years.
Okawville, Ill. – The General Assembly may have passed a stop-gap budget on May 31 that will keep state government functioning, but the state’s legislative leaders have gone back to the drawing board to negotiate a new budget that will keep Illinois operating long-term.
The four ranking Republican and Democrat leaders in the House and Senate have met several times this week, working together to identify areas to cut and reform. It is likely that the leaders will take look to suggestions from the Taxpayer Action Board, which Gov. Pat Quinn established to examine state government and identify long-term solutions to the state’s financial and operational problems.
The Board presented its final report on June 4 after reviewing areas of state government including pensions and healthcare, Medicaid, education, human services, government administration and public safety and regulatory operations. The panel’s report identified reforms and cuts that could initially save taxpayers $500 million a year, but could ultimately save $2 billion to $3 billion annually.
Among the suggestions advanced by the Board was a 2 percent to 3 percent across-the-board cut in current state operating funds, freezing spending at last years levels in all departments that haven’t seen reduced spending, and limiting the payroll burden through means such as a pay freeze for all state employees or eliminating certain paid holidays. The panel also suggested the state revamp its approach to long-term care, moving from institutionalized care to more community-based long-term care services. This would save the state money and provide more appropriate care for those in the system.
The Board acknowledged that the state’s Medicaid system is growing rapidly, with approximately one in five residents receiving benefits. As the largest state expense, Medicaid accounts for over 40 percent of GRF appropriations. In order to reduce these cost and improve access to and quality of health care for Medicaid patients, the Board suggested the state transition to a Primary Care Case Management system of health care that would provide beneficiaries with a “medical home”—a proposal long supported by the Senate Republican Caucus.
Reforms to the state’s pension system were also advanced as ways to reduce cost, including increasing the retirement age to 67 and introducing a new pension plan for new hires while increasing contributions for current employees. The report also supported lengthening the time period used to determine fin al salary and implementing a system that isn’t susceptible to artificial inflation near retirement, and avoiding the temptation to defer pension payments.
Senator Luechtefeld stressed that while the short-term gains aren’t enough to address Illinois’ current budget deficit, the long-term gains that would be realized by implementing many of the suggestions advanced by the Board are significant.
Luechtefeld invites constituents to Carbondale CUB Fair
Okawville, Ill – State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) is sponsoring a clinic to inform Carbondale area citizens about how they can save money on their phone bills.
The Illinois Citizens Utility Board (CUB) will be on hand to discuss tips and tricks regarding phone bills and they will have staff available to go over a person’s phone bill to help them save money.
The free CUB Clinic will be held on Wednesday, June 10, 2009, starting at 11:00 am, at the Carbondale Civic Center located at 200 South Illinois Ave in Carbondale.
Constituents are asked to please RSVP to Sen. Luechtefeld’s office by 618-243-9014 or E-mailing
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Luechtefeld denounces weakened reform package
Springfield, Ill – Supporters of real ethics reform lost out as the Chicago controlled General Assembly failed to rein in quality campaign finance reform, according to State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville).
House Bill 7 was passed by a 36-22-1 vote Thursday night with all Republicans voting “No” or “Present” in protest over the vastly weakened proposal that was described during debate as being “fatally flawed.”
“Taxpayers demand that we clean up the corruption problem in Illinois before we even think about higher taxes,” Luechtefeld said. “We can only get serious about reform if the Governor, House Speaker and Senate President want to make it a priority.”
The legislation had drawn opposition from virtually every major reform organization in Illinois, including Patrick Collins, the head of the Illinois Reform Commission, as well as the organizations Change Illinois and the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.
Chicago Democratic leaders took a pass on the opportunity to enact tough new campaign finance laws just four months after Governor Rod Blagojevich was removed from office, in large part because of campaign finance abuses.
Okawville, Ill – State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) is sponsoring a clinic to inform Carbondale area citizens about how they can save money on their phone bills.