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Senate Week in Review: May 31 – June 4, 2010 |
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 Although Governor Pat Quinn has said lawmakers are likely to resume work on the state budget before the end of June, it remains uncertain when lawmakers will return to Springfield.
Senator Dale Risinger said Governor Quinn continues to push for additional borrowing to fund higher state spending, and neither he nor his party’s legislative leaders have shown any serious interest in Republican alternatives that could save the state money and eliminate the need for additional borrowing.
Senator Risinger said Republicans have been wrongly accused of not helping to identify solutions to the state’s budget problems, because the fact is Republicans have never refused any negotiation. When invited to the table, they’ve bargained in good faith even as others walked away.
For years, Senate Republicans have pushed the majority to reduce spending and stop creating new programs. The Senate GOP has encouraged Medicaid reform, submitting numerous cost-saving Medicaid measures that have been stalled by the Democrat majority.
Republican lawmakers also pushed for commonsense workers’ compensation reforms to fight fraud and reduce the cost of doing business—without affecting benefits. However, the suggestions were declined.
Senate and House committees are filled with Republican proposals to cut spending and reform state programs. They were halted by the state’s Democrat leaders. Republicans have also been frustrated because, as the trial of former Governor Rod Blagojevich gets under way, programs and policies that directly led to his impeachment have been left untouched and even expanded during the Quinn Administration.
In contrast, looking at the accomplishments of the last two years, most have been bipartisan and in some cases, the final product directly mirrors recommendations first made by Republican legislators.
Changes to the state’s pension system to make them more affordable were first pushed by Senate Republicans. Other examples of bipartisan cooperation include reforms of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (McPier), the 2009 infrastructure improvement program, financing changes that allowed mass transit in the Chicago region to keep running, a new law to encourage broadband expansion, and the bipartisan CLEAR Commission, which works to update the state’s criminal code.
And, when looking at the record, many of the failures of the past year-and-a-half could be attributed to the Governor and his party’s legislative leaders. Strong bipartisan support in the legislature rescued the McPier reform after the Governor used his amendatory veto power to put campaign contributions and personal power ahead of the best interests of the state. Illinoisans had to settle for loophole-ridden campaign finance reform after Democrat party leaders insisted on exemptions to protect their power and influence.
Similarly, non-partisan gerrymandering reform pushed by the League of Women Voters and other independent groups won support from Republican lawmakers only to be blocked by the Senate President and Speaker of the House. A Republican-led proposal to end legislative scholarships also fell victim to partisan politics. And business and civic groups submitted ideas to the Senate’s Deficit Reduction Committee, which were never implemented.
Democrat leaders say Republicans “dropped out” of the program, but the reality is that the House and Senate Democrats who control state government have ignored Republican suggestions for years. In fact, this spring Republican Caucus leaders were left out of the budget negotiation process by Governor Quinn, the Speaker of the House and the Senate President.
 The Republican plan is to scale back state government and stop creating new programs. Illinois must also reform the state’s largest expenditure – Medicaid – and create a better jobs climate by advancing litigation and workers’ compensation reforms. The Senate GOP has called for reducing the cost of doing business for employers as a way to draw industry and grow jobs—because stimulating revenue through growing Illinois’ economy is the best way to close the state’s budget deficit.
Senator Risinger said despite the rhetoric, Republicans have offered a budget approach—it’s just one the other party isn’t willing to discuss. |
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Contact information
Senator Risinger's e-mail
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Legislative offices
Peoria
5415 North University
Suite 105
Peoria, IL 61614
309-693-4921
309-693-4923 fax
Galesburg
4 Weinberg Arcade
Galesburg, IL 61401
309-343-8176
309-343-2683 fax
Princeton
400 N. Main St.
Princeton, IL 61356
815-872-1964
815-872-1965 fax
Springfield
M103F State Capitol
Springfield, IL 62706
217-782-1942
217-782-9586 fax
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