DEMOCRAT REDISTRICTING PLAN FALLS SHORT

Senate Democrats introduced a redistricting reform plan this week to change the way legislative district maps are drawn in Illinois, but it falls short because it still allows politicians to draw their own districts and does nothing to encourage bipartisan compromise.

Senate and House Republicans have introduced legislation (SJRCA 104 and HJRCA 56) that takes the drawing of legislative districts out of the hands of politicians and gives the task to a bipartisan commission. Both measures are backed by reform groups.

The Republican plan also requires a two-thirds vote to approve redistricting maps, while the Democrat plan allows a map to be adopted by a simple majority vote.

STATE’S BOND RATING DOWNGRADED AGAIN

A major credit rating agency this week downgraded the state’s general obligation bond rating, warning that the rating could drop further if nothing is done to address Illinois’ massive deficit and multi-billion-dollar bill backlog.

Despite recent action by state lawmakers to ward off the possible downgrade—passing a pension reform measure to show Illinois is working to get its fiscal house in order—Fitch Ratings downgraded the state’s rating while maintaining a continued Rating Watch Negative. On March 26, Standard & Poor placed Illinois on a negative credit watch, and Moody’s Investors Service has also affirmed its negative outlook.

While commending the pension reforms, Fitch Ratings focused more on the overall fiscal mismanagement of the state under Governor Pat Quinn and legislative Democrats. In issuing the downgrade, the rating agency said, “The rating downgrade reflects the magnitude and persistent nature of the state’s fiscal problems and the likelihood that the budget to be enacted for fiscal year (FY) 2011 will not sufficiently address either the annual operating deficit or accumulated liabilities.”

Fitch highlighted Quinn’s plan to borrow nearly $5 billion more than the state will take in, and defer payments to state vendors, in order to avoid difficult budget decisions.

KUDOS

Kudos to all the central Illinois individuals and groups that come to the State Capitol and talk with me and other state officials about the issues important to you!

A group of nursing students from Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) in Bloomington came to the Capitol March 24 to participate in Illinois Nurses Association Student Lobby Day in Springfield. Thanks to Dr. Victoria Folse, Director and Associate Professor of IWU’s School of Nursing, and the students for taking the time to meet with me.

I am proud to say that I am an IWU graduate.

Illinois lawmakers have approved long-awaited reforms to state and local pension systems as one means of addressing the state’s massive debt, according to Senator Bill Brady.

Senate Bill 1946 applies to all state and local pension systems with the exception of Chicago fire and police, and downstate/suburban fire and police. It does not affect current employees and retirees, and applies only to employees hired after the bill becomes law.

 Senator Brady said legislators of both parties supported the package as a means of trying to correct the state’s fiscal crisis and keep the current pension systems from collapsing.