HAPPY NEW YEAR!

On behalf of my family and the staff at my legislative and business offices, I wish you and your family and friends a Happy New Year!

COMMISSION VOTES TO SELL THOMSON PRISON

A state commission has approved the controversial sale of Thomson Correctional Center, giving Governor Pat Quinn a legislative green light to proceed with the sale of the facility.

On January 6, legislative members of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) voted 7-4 to sell Thomson Correctional Center to the federal government. If the sale takes place, the facility will house federal detainees formerly located in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba—including suspected terrorists.

I am a member of COGFA and I voted “no” because of concerns over the proposed sale, including criticism related to the accelerated pace of the sale, safety issues relating to the incarceration of suspected terrorists, and financial concerns that Illinois receive a fair price for the sale of the facility.

Students who will be attending state universities in Illinois and are interested in applying for the General Assembly Scholarship program must submit their applications to the office of Senator Bill Brady by March 1.

Students whose permanent addresses are located within the 44th District are eligible. Eight one-year tuition waivers – for fall 2010, spring and summer 2011 – are available to undergraduate or graduate students who will be attending state universities, with scholarships specifically designated for nursing, agriculture, and a veteran or the child of a veteran.

A panel of community and education leaders will evaluate applications and select scholarship recipients. Senator Brady will not be involved in the decision-making process.

Senator Bill Brady has sent a letter to Governor Pat Quinn, asking him – again – to answer questions about a plan to sell Thomson Correctional Center to the federal government for use as a facility for housing suspected terrorists.

“After his initial enthusiasm about selling Thomson, we have not heard much from the Governor despite repeated requests for information. Last month, I asked that he attend a December 22 meeting of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability held in Sterling to discuss the matter. No response,” Senator Brady said.

“Two weeks later, I asked for a second Commission meeting, so we could get this information from the Governor. Again, no response," he continued. "Today, I sent him a letter with questions that must be answered before any vote is taken – especially in light of the controversial standards by which Corrections released more than 1,700 inmates back onto the streets of Illinois.”

The American Lung Association has created a Web site to help citizens research and locate the flu vaccination clinic closest to their home. Flucliniclocator.org is an excellent utility to help us all prepare for the upcoming flu season.

The site provides information on regular flu vaccinations clinics. For information on H1N1 flu vaccinations, the American Lung Association recommends visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site.