Senate Week in Review: Aug. 2-6
SPRINGFIELD — Republican legislative leaders called for further investigation into Gov. Pat Quinn’s “MGT Push” prisoner early-release program, the governor announced more budget cuts, and Illinois parents geared up for a sales tax holiday on school goods, according to state Sen. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria.
On Aug. 5, Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, and House Republican Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, announced the formation of the Illinois Joint Investigatory Committee on Early Release to resolve questions about the details and community impact of Quinn’s “MGT Push” prisoner early release program. The first hearing is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 11 in Arbor Hall, Second Floor Auditorium, Illinois Central College North Campus, 5407 N. University, Peoria.
Risinger said lawmakers and the public have been seeking answers about “MGT Push” since December 2009, but have been unsuccessful in getting the Quinn Administration to respond. To date:
Although Quinn appointed former judge David Erickson to conduct an extensive review of release practices in December, no report has ever been issued.
In January, state Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, formally requested that the Senate and House convene a Committee of the Whole.
On Jan. 7, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees called for a task force to “answer urgent questions” about the Early Release Program.
On Feb. 22, state Rep. David Reis, R-Olney, submitted a letter to Quinn with a list of questions pertaining to the Early Release Program.
On March 5, legislators from both parties filed House Resolution 991 to create a non-partisan Early Release Investigative Committee. That resolution was bottled up by the House Democrat leadership.
When it was revealed that some of those prisoners released early had gone missing, Dillard, state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, and state Rep. Dennis Reboletti, R-Addison, again called for a House-Senate investigation.
In an editorial on July 8, the Peoria Journal-Star demanded that lawmakers “press Corrections Director Michael Randle on the repeated slip-ups, demanding a step-by-step explanation of how every problem will be addressed before more Illinoisans are put at risk.”
Weeks after Quinn announced plans to cut Illinois’ budget by $1.4 billion, he released the remainder of his proposed cuts Aug. 4.
On July 1, the governor used his veto power on House Bill 859 to reduce Fiscal Year 2011 state appropriations by $155 million. On Aug. 4, Quinn provided a rack-up of his $1.4 billion in vetoes and reserves by agency. Though there were very few specific details, the cuts were outlined at www.budget.illinois.gov.
While Senate Republicans are supportive of the governor’s plan to scale back state expenditures in the face of a $13 billion budget deficit, they noted that without additional detail, the governor’s claims regarding what he will cut cannot be verified. Lacking this detail, it’s impossible to determine whether Quinn’s planned budget reductions will trim down state spending, or if these cuts will be made in other areas — such as Medicaid or group insurance — and simply push costs off into future fiscal years.
Senate Republicans question whether Quinn has the resolve to follow through with his promises to cut the budget. Since taking office, the Governor’s actions have demonstrated that he has not been willing to reduce spending in any meaningful way.
GOP senators point to a similar scenario last year, wherein the Governor promised to cut $1 billion from state spending, even providing a list of cuts that were to be made. However, the vast majority of those budget reductions never happened. In fact, Quinn ended up overspending by $2 billion and increased Illinois’ backlog of bills from $4 billion to $6 billion.
Illinois’ “Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday” will begin Aug. 6 and run through Aug. 15.
During this time, shoppers won’t be charged the state’s 5 percent sales tax on certain school supplies, clothes and shoes, though local sales taxes will still apply.
Qualifying items include clothing and shoes that cost less than $100 per item, as well as basic school supplies, like book bags, notebooks, lunch boxes, etc.
Notable non-qualifying items include clothing costing more than $100, certain sports equipment and recreational footwear, computers and computer supplies, certain specialized art supplies, and electronics, such as cameras, video cameras, and cell phones.
The new law is intended to provide financial relief to Illinois’ working families at a time when money is tight. Supporters of the sales tax holiday note that the new law will help families afford the cost of school supplies and clothing, which is often expensive. They also said that the measure will benefit Illinois businesses.
The governor also signed a number of other bills into law this week. Risinger said he does not support each and every measure, but lists the legislation and a brief summary to keep central Illinois citizens informed.
Legislation signed into law this week includes:
Annual Interest Rate (SB 1118/P.A. 96-1421): Allows for the annual rate of interest on business loans to be based on 360 days, which increases convenience for banks by allowing for equal payments.
Debt Settlement (HB 4781/P.A. 96-1420): Creates the Illinois Debt Settlement Consumer Protection Act, which implements consumer protections against debt settlement companies and provides that debt settlement providers may charge a one-time up front fee of $50 and caps fees at 15 % of the savings resulting from settling a debt.
Home Relief Programs (SB 3739/P.A. 96-1419): Creates the Foreclosure Prevention Program and the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Program, and extends the sunset for the Homeowner Protection Act to July 1, 2013.
Property Tax Cap (SB 3638): Caps annual increases in residential assessments at 7 percent for each of the next three years via alternative homestead exemptions, with maximum exemption amounts restricted to $20,000 this year, $16,000 next year, and $12,000 the third year. Creates seven Taxpayer Action Boards to help the Illinois Department of Revenue monitor newly-expanded property assessment notices statewide. Expands the disabled veterans’ homestead exemption. Requires annual re-application in Cook County for the senior citizens general homestead exemption; and changes the returning veterans’ homestead exemption.
Race to the Top (SB 3681/P.A. 96-1423): Makes miscellaneous changes to the School Code, including adding “home-school” to the Code; creates a School Financial Panel Article.
Tax Check-offs (SB 3702/P.A. 96-1424): Creates four new income tax check-offs, including the Illinois Route 66 Check-off, the Habitat for Humanity Check-off, the Disabled Veterans Property Tax Relief Check-off, and the State Parks Check-off.
Utilities/Cable Audits (SB 2612/P.A. 96-1422): Authorizes municipalities that impose certain taxes or fees on, or which are collected by, public utilities and cable TV companies, to conduct audits of those utilities/cable companies to determine the accuracy of the taxes or fees paid to the municipality.
