Harrisburg, Ill. (Feb. 29, 2012) – Severe weather and a deadly tornado that claimed six lives caused extensive damage in Harrisburg and other areas in Southern Illinois while leaving about 14,000 Ameren Illinois customers without service early this morning.
To restore electric service, Ameren Illinois activated its Emergency Operations Center and deployed more than 430 personnel in Southern Illinois, including 255 linemen. In addition to Ameren Illinois co-workers, personnel from Ameren Missouri and allied contractors are assisting in the service restoration effort.
At 5:30 p.m. today, about 2,800 customers in Southern Illinois are still without power. Due to the extensive infrastructure damage caused by the tornado, Ameren Illinois estimates that all customers will have service restored by the end of the day on Friday.
To assist customers in and around hard-hit Harrisburg, Ameren Illinois will operate a Customer Service Center at the Harris Pruett Building, 107 E. Church St., Harrisburg, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Some customers may need to make repairs to the electric service facilities they own, such as the meter base, weatherhead or point of attachment. This work should be performed by a professional electrical contractor. If necessary, these repairs must be completed before service can be safely restored. A detailed explanation of this work is available at IllinoisOutage.com or customers may call 1-800-755-5000 for assistance. Customers also may visit the special Ameren Illinois Customer Service Center in Harrisburg on Thursday for assistance.
Ameren Illinois issued a safety warning to all residents in the impacted areas to be on alert for downed electrical wires. Residents are warned to stay away from downed wires. Furthermore, people should stay away from brush, downed trees and limbs and any debris that may conceal downed power lines.
If you see a fallen or sagging wire, assume that it is still energized and dangerous. Electric power lines can carry power even after being knocked to the ground. Stay away and warn others to do the same. Call Ameren Illinois at 1-800-755-5000 to report downed wires.
Customers planning to use a portable generator must first open the main breaker or remove the main fuses before connecting the generator to the electrical systems. Failure to do this could seriously injure utility crews working on outside power lines or anyone else who may come in contact with wires. It also could cause damage to a neighbor's property or the customer's own equipment. Customers should never use a portable generator indoors, including in a home, garage, basement, shed or partially-enclosed area – even with ventilation because of the threat of deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
Outage information is available at IllinoisOutage.com. Users can find outages listed by zip code and by county. The website also includes safety and weather information.
Those using mobile devices are invited to visit www.Ameren.Mobi for outage information. This site is specially designed for mobile devices.
Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and 813,000 natural gas customers in downstate Illinois, and our mission is to meet their energy needs in a safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Our service area covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com.
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Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tres Rutherford Says State's Investment Portfolio Holds No Investments Tied to Iran
CHICAGO – February 29, 2012 – Following a thorough scan undertaken at his directive, Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford announced today that the entire state’s investment portfolio under his management is devoid of any holdings in companies conducting business with Iran including, but not limited to, oil, petroleum, and mineral-extraction activities.
“Divestiture from Iran was a policy I supported when I served in the Illinois General Assembly and I continue to support today as the state treasurer. Keeping dollars from rogue countries like Iran helps with global security and our own state’s financial well-being. Financial prudence requires me to steer clear of any investments involved with Tehran’s energy sector. After all, this is a country that violently suppresses any political dissent within its own borders, supports international terrorism, reportedly hatched an assassination plot against foreign diplomats in our nation’s capital, and continues to foster instability throughout the Middle East,” said Rutherford.
“The state’s Iran divestment program from our state pension funds was a success, both extracting us from substantial risk and selling our assets in a manner that was profitable for the taxpayers of our state. I am proud to be able to declare that all state funds under my authority are in no way assisting Iran’s continuing drive for nuclear weapons, in flagrant violation of international law,” Rutherford said.
Jay Tcath, executive vice president of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, which was at the forefront of the advocacy campaign to pass that Iran divestment law in Springfield, praised Rutherford’s initiative, saying, “While that 2007 Illinois law compelled the state’s pension funds to divest from Iran, and some $133 million ultimately was divested, there was no such obligation placed upon state funds managed by the treasurer’s office. Nonetheless, Treasurer Rutherford committed to make any investment adjustments that were determined to be necessary. Divestment and other economic measures are essential components of efforts by the United Nations, the European Union, the U.S. Administration and Congress to peacefully prevent the terrorist-supporting state of Iran from acquiring nuclear weapon capability. It is both substantively and symbolically important that State Treasurer Dan Rutherford is advancing that noble cause.”
Rutherford also pledged to voluntarily uphold another part of the 2007 Iran divestment law: Each bid for a contract with the treasurer’s office must include a disclosure if the firm has any business dealings with the government of Iran.
This commitment to ensure that state funds are not being invested in ways that place undo risk on taxpayers’ dollars or undermine important American values or national interests is consistently upheld by Rutherford, who as a state senator co-sponsored legislation to divest all Illinois pension investments away from any companies doing business with Sudan.
# # #
“Divestiture from Iran was a policy I supported when I served in the Illinois General Assembly and I continue to support today as the state treasurer. Keeping dollars from rogue countries like Iran helps with global security and our own state’s financial well-being. Financial prudence requires me to steer clear of any investments involved with Tehran’s energy sector. After all, this is a country that violently suppresses any political dissent within its own borders, supports international terrorism, reportedly hatched an assassination plot against foreign diplomats in our nation’s capital, and continues to foster instability throughout the Middle East,” said Rutherford.
“The state’s Iran divestment program from our state pension funds was a success, both extracting us from substantial risk and selling our assets in a manner that was profitable for the taxpayers of our state. I am proud to be able to declare that all state funds under my authority are in no way assisting Iran’s continuing drive for nuclear weapons, in flagrant violation of international law,” Rutherford said.
Jay Tcath, executive vice president of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, which was at the forefront of the advocacy campaign to pass that Iran divestment law in Springfield, praised Rutherford’s initiative, saying, “While that 2007 Illinois law compelled the state’s pension funds to divest from Iran, and some $133 million ultimately was divested, there was no such obligation placed upon state funds managed by the treasurer’s office. Nonetheless, Treasurer Rutherford committed to make any investment adjustments that were determined to be necessary. Divestment and other economic measures are essential components of efforts by the United Nations, the European Union, the U.S. Administration and Congress to peacefully prevent the terrorist-supporting state of Iran from acquiring nuclear weapon capability. It is both substantively and symbolically important that State Treasurer Dan Rutherford is advancing that noble cause.”
Rutherford also pledged to voluntarily uphold another part of the 2007 Iran divestment law: Each bid for a contract with the treasurer’s office must include a disclosure if the firm has any business dealings with the government of Iran.
This commitment to ensure that state funds are not being invested in ways that place undo risk on taxpayers’ dollars or undermine important American values or national interests is consistently upheld by Rutherford, who as a state senator co-sponsored legislation to divest all Illinois pension investments away from any companies doing business with Sudan.
# # #
Ameren Warns of Down Power lines in Harrisburg Area
Harrisburg, Ill. (Feb. 29, 2012) – Severe weather including a reported tornado left downed wires, broken utility poles and many customers without power Monday morning, creating safety hazards in portions of Southern Illinois.
Ameren Illinois officials issued a safety warning to all residents in the impacted areas to be on alert for downed electrical wires. Residents are warned to stay away from downed wires. Furthermore, stay away from brush, downed trees and limbs and any debris that may conceal downed power lines.
If you see a fallen or sagging wire, assume that it is still energized and dangerous. Electric power lines can carry power even after being knocked to the ground. Stay away and warn others to do the same. Call Ameren Illinois at 1-800-755-5000 to report downed wires.
Ameren Illinois has dispatched field personnel to assess damage and restore service as quickly as possible. Approximately 12,000 Southern Illinois customers were without electrical service at 8:00 a.m. today.
At this time, Ameren Illinois field personnel are patrolling the impacted areas to determine the extent of damage. In addition to broken utility poles and downed wires, there are downed tree limbs and trees, damaged buildings and debris as well as blocked streets in impacted areas. In addition, Ameren Illinois is assisting the Saline County Emergency conduct a search and rescue in Harrisburg.
Ameren Illinois is unable to provide estimated restoration times until the full extent of the damage to the distribution system is known.
The hardest hit areas include Saline County with 6,530 customers without service, Gallatin County with 2,460 customers, Pulaski County with 1,240 customers and Union County with1,260 customers.
Customers planning to use a portable generator must first open the main breaker or remove the main fuses before connecting the generator to the electrical systems. Failure to do this could seriously injure utility crews working on outside power lines, and/or it could cause damage to a neighbor's property or the customer's own equipment. Customers should never use a portable generator indoors, including in a home, garage, basement, shed or partially-enclosed area – even with ventilation because of the threat of deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
Outage information is available at IllinoisOutage.com. Users can find outages listed by zip code and by county. The website also includes safety and weather information.
Those using mobile devices are invited to visit www.Ameren.Mobi for outage information. This site is specially designed for mobile devices.
Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and 813,000 natural gas customers in downstate Illinois, and our mission is to meet their energy needs in a safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Our service area covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles.
Ameren Illinois officials issued a safety warning to all residents in the impacted areas to be on alert for downed electrical wires. Residents are warned to stay away from downed wires. Furthermore, stay away from brush, downed trees and limbs and any debris that may conceal downed power lines.
If you see a fallen or sagging wire, assume that it is still energized and dangerous. Electric power lines can carry power even after being knocked to the ground. Stay away and warn others to do the same. Call Ameren Illinois at 1-800-755-5000 to report downed wires.
Ameren Illinois has dispatched field personnel to assess damage and restore service as quickly as possible. Approximately 12,000 Southern Illinois customers were without electrical service at 8:00 a.m. today.
At this time, Ameren Illinois field personnel are patrolling the impacted areas to determine the extent of damage. In addition to broken utility poles and downed wires, there are downed tree limbs and trees, damaged buildings and debris as well as blocked streets in impacted areas. In addition, Ameren Illinois is assisting the Saline County Emergency conduct a search and rescue in Harrisburg.
Ameren Illinois is unable to provide estimated restoration times until the full extent of the damage to the distribution system is known.
The hardest hit areas include Saline County with 6,530 customers without service, Gallatin County with 2,460 customers, Pulaski County with 1,240 customers and Union County with1,260 customers.
Customers planning to use a portable generator must first open the main breaker or remove the main fuses before connecting the generator to the electrical systems. Failure to do this could seriously injure utility crews working on outside power lines, and/or it could cause damage to a neighbor's property or the customer's own equipment. Customers should never use a portable generator indoors, including in a home, garage, basement, shed or partially-enclosed area – even with ventilation because of the threat of deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
Outage information is available at IllinoisOutage.com. Users can find outages listed by zip code and by county. The website also includes safety and weather information.
Those using mobile devices are invited to visit www.Ameren.Mobi for outage information. This site is specially designed for mobile devices.
Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and 813,000 natural gas customers in downstate Illinois, and our mission is to meet their energy needs in a safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Our service area covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles.
Ameren Says 12,000 without power in Southern IL
Ameren Illinois has activated its Emergency Operations Center to direct service restoration efforts in the wake of the early morning storms that and reported tornado that hit Southern Illinois. A total of about 12,300 Ameren Illinois customers are without electric service at this time.
Sen Kirk's Office Issues Statement on Harrisburg Tornado
VIDEO COURTESY OF WSIL-TV
CHICAGO – The Office of United States Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today released the following statement in response to the severe storm that devastated parts of Southern Illinois Wednesday morning:
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the thousands of people in Southern Illinois, and throughout the Midwest, who experienced the devastation and destruction brought on by this morning's storms. The Office of Senator Kirk expresses deep appreciation and tremendous gratitude for the hundreds of emergency response personnel and volunteers who have taken rescue and cleanup efforts upon themselves. We are working closely with the members of the Illinois delegation, will be following all future developments, and stand ready to do anything we can to assist in this difficult time."
If you or someone you know has been affected by Wednesday's storms, you can apply for assistance from FEMA here, or contact Senator Kirk's Office directly at 217-492-5089 or 312-886-3506.
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CHICAGO – The Office of United States Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today released the following statement in response to the severe storm that devastated parts of Southern Illinois Wednesday morning:
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the thousands of people in Southern Illinois, and throughout the Midwest, who experienced the devastation and destruction brought on by this morning's storms. The Office of Senator Kirk expresses deep appreciation and tremendous gratitude for the hundreds of emergency response personnel and volunteers who have taken rescue and cleanup efforts upon themselves. We are working closely with the members of the Illinois delegation, will be following all future developments, and stand ready to do anything we can to assist in this difficult time."
If you or someone you know has been affected by Wednesday's storms, you can apply for assistance from FEMA here, or contact Senator Kirk's Office directly at 217-492-5089 or 312-886-3506.
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Medicaid and Runaway Pension Costs FINALLY Move to the Front Burner
So the Governor's FY 2013 Budget is now delivered. The GOP was largely okay with the Gov's address, noting the proposed reforms to the state pensions and Medicaid are critical to getting the state's finances back on track.
Where the GOP's criticism does focus is on the lack of details. The Gov's address, and Budget briefing for the press, left a lot of details still to be determined.
Sen Radogno was also critical of the increase in state spending. And that could have been cut -- but we should note the increase in spending is driven largely by two factors that increase automatically - Pensions, and Medicaid.
Thus, the Governor called for reforms that will alter the automatic spending increases in these two programs. But again... how that should be done, the Gov doesn't say, but proposes a committee of lawmakers should make a proposal on April 17th.
Illinois would have been much better off had this address been delivered 10 years ago. But at least the critical need to address these programs that continue to eat away at the state budget, has FINALLY been proposed.
But the GOP lawmakers add, if the Gov is serious about repairing the Medicaid system that bleeds money -- he might start by signing the request for waivers from the US Govt. The GOP notes the bipartisan agreement on reforming Medicaid, that was reached last year, has yet to accomplish anything, because Gov Quinn -- after an entire year -- has yet to request these Federal waivers.
Where the GOP's criticism does focus is on the lack of details. The Gov's address, and Budget briefing for the press, left a lot of details still to be determined.
Sen Radogno was also critical of the increase in state spending. And that could have been cut -- but we should note the increase in spending is driven largely by two factors that increase automatically - Pensions, and Medicaid.
Thus, the Governor called for reforms that will alter the automatic spending increases in these two programs. But again... how that should be done, the Gov doesn't say, but proposes a committee of lawmakers should make a proposal on April 17th.
Illinois would have been much better off had this address been delivered 10 years ago. But at least the critical need to address these programs that continue to eat away at the state budget, has FINALLY been proposed.
But the GOP lawmakers add, if the Gov is serious about repairing the Medicaid system that bleeds money -- he might start by signing the request for waivers from the US Govt. The GOP notes the bipartisan agreement on reforming Medicaid, that was reached last year, has yet to accomplish anything, because Gov Quinn -- after an entire year -- has yet to request these Federal waivers.
Senator Johnson (R) Says Gov Quinn Again Increasing Spending, When Cuts Are Needed
SPRINGFIELD, ILL-- After months of dismal news for Illinois, including a downgraded credit rating and report naming Illinois the most corrupt state in the nation, during his budget address on February 22, Governor Pat Quinn announced he will be increasing spending and expanding programs in FY13.
“I was hoping the Governor would take off the rose-colored glasses and accept that Illinois’ economy is dying and offer us specific actions and spending cuts he is pursuing to revive it,” said Sen. Christine Johnson (R-Shabbona).
“Instead, we got a proposed budget that increases spending and expands programs with, par for this administration’s course, little explanation on where the money will come from.”
Although the Governor’s Office had been telling reporters and legislators he was going to reduce spending back to the 2008 level, the budget outlined Feb. 22 actually spends $3.4 billion more than 2008.
The Governor’s numbers show the administration will increase total spending not just from 2008, but from last year as well. The budget presented would spend $550 more than in FY2012 - creating a path that Sen. Johnson says will make it nearly impossible to phase out of the 2011 67 percent income tax and 45 percent corporate tax hikes in three years as promised.
The budget presented will spend 99.5% of available revenues, leaving only $160 million in cash left over to pay the $8.5 billion the state owes in bills. Though the tax increase was supposed to take care of the bill backlog, no plan to reduce this debt was presented in the budget address.
The Governor’s budget expands Early Childhood Education by $20 million and MAP grants by $50 million. It also expands the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative, a program focused on a handful of Chicago neighborhoods, increasing its funding to $36 million, 200% more than it received in FY12.
“As the former President of the Illinois County Treasurer Association, I am shocked that the Governor would increase GRF spending for new programs and only leave enough money to pay off 2% of the $8.5 billion we owe in bills,” Sen. Johnson said.
In five years, estimates put the state backlog at $35 billion, or about $2 billion more than the state's entire annual general fund.
“I am even more offended as a taxpayer that the Governor would implement the greatest tax hike in our state’s history, supposedly to pay off the backlog and then turn around and increase spending a year later. It’s like the state is taking more of our citizen’s money to pay off its credit card and using the cash to go shopping instead,” Johnson said.
Sen. Jonson said she was also concerned that the Governor’s budget offers no specific proposals on pension or Medicaid reform, two of the state’s biggest problems.
“While I was glad to hear the Governor key in on skyrocketing public pension payments, he offered little in the way of reforms and continued to promote the idea of pushing more costs onto local property taxpayers,” Johnson said.
The Governor’s human services agency has admitted the state will face a $21 billion Medicaid backlog in five years. The FY13 appropriation was held flat at the same level as FY12 with no built-in cost for inflation, anticipating $2.7 billion in cuts. Without cuts, specifics of which were absent from the Governor’s plan, this $2.7 billion will be added to the state’s bill backlog, Johnson explained.
“One out of every two infants in this state is born on Medicaid. We are enrolling about 150,000 people to the program every year. That is like adding the entire population of Joliet to our Medicaid responsibilities every 12 months. We need a detailed, practical plan to reduce this unsustainable growth,” Johnson said.
Sen. Johnson also disagreed with the Governor’s plan to close 14 state facilities throughout Illinois, including Singer Mental Health Facility in Rockford which she says will cost many of her constituents their jobs.
“This is Governor Quinn's fourth budget. He cannot blame the problems Illinois faces today on previous administrations or national trends. Unemployment in that nation has going down, yet unemployment in Illinois is up,” Sen. Johnson said.
“We are facing these problems because the Governor has continued to take the state down a path of his choosing. Today, he has chosen to use our tax increase money to expand the government instead of making our focus paying off our bill backlog. I can only hope he will bring the GOP into this discussion, and reconsider the road of debt he is taking us down before it is too late,” Sen. Johnson said.
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“I was hoping the Governor would take off the rose-colored glasses and accept that Illinois’ economy is dying and offer us specific actions and spending cuts he is pursuing to revive it,” said Sen. Christine Johnson (R-Shabbona).
“Instead, we got a proposed budget that increases spending and expands programs with, par for this administration’s course, little explanation on where the money will come from.”
Although the Governor’s Office had been telling reporters and legislators he was going to reduce spending back to the 2008 level, the budget outlined Feb. 22 actually spends $3.4 billion more than 2008.
The Governor’s numbers show the administration will increase total spending not just from 2008, but from last year as well. The budget presented would spend $550 more than in FY2012 - creating a path that Sen. Johnson says will make it nearly impossible to phase out of the 2011 67 percent income tax and 45 percent corporate tax hikes in three years as promised.
The budget presented will spend 99.5% of available revenues, leaving only $160 million in cash left over to pay the $8.5 billion the state owes in bills. Though the tax increase was supposed to take care of the bill backlog, no plan to reduce this debt was presented in the budget address.
The Governor’s budget expands Early Childhood Education by $20 million and MAP grants by $50 million. It also expands the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative, a program focused on a handful of Chicago neighborhoods, increasing its funding to $36 million, 200% more than it received in FY12.
“As the former President of the Illinois County Treasurer Association, I am shocked that the Governor would increase GRF spending for new programs and only leave enough money to pay off 2% of the $8.5 billion we owe in bills,” Sen. Johnson said.
In five years, estimates put the state backlog at $35 billion, or about $2 billion more than the state's entire annual general fund.
“I am even more offended as a taxpayer that the Governor would implement the greatest tax hike in our state’s history, supposedly to pay off the backlog and then turn around and increase spending a year later. It’s like the state is taking more of our citizen’s money to pay off its credit card and using the cash to go shopping instead,” Johnson said.
Sen. Jonson said she was also concerned that the Governor’s budget offers no specific proposals on pension or Medicaid reform, two of the state’s biggest problems.
“While I was glad to hear the Governor key in on skyrocketing public pension payments, he offered little in the way of reforms and continued to promote the idea of pushing more costs onto local property taxpayers,” Johnson said.
The Governor’s human services agency has admitted the state will face a $21 billion Medicaid backlog in five years. The FY13 appropriation was held flat at the same level as FY12 with no built-in cost for inflation, anticipating $2.7 billion in cuts. Without cuts, specifics of which were absent from the Governor’s plan, this $2.7 billion will be added to the state’s bill backlog, Johnson explained.
“One out of every two infants in this state is born on Medicaid. We are enrolling about 150,000 people to the program every year. That is like adding the entire population of Joliet to our Medicaid responsibilities every 12 months. We need a detailed, practical plan to reduce this unsustainable growth,” Johnson said.
Sen. Johnson also disagreed with the Governor’s plan to close 14 state facilities throughout Illinois, including Singer Mental Health Facility in Rockford which she says will cost many of her constituents their jobs.
“This is Governor Quinn's fourth budget. He cannot blame the problems Illinois faces today on previous administrations or national trends. Unemployment in that nation has going down, yet unemployment in Illinois is up,” Sen. Johnson said.
“We are facing these problems because the Governor has continued to take the state down a path of his choosing. Today, he has chosen to use our tax increase money to expand the government instead of making our focus paying off our bill backlog. I can only hope he will bring the GOP into this discussion, and reconsider the road of debt he is taking us down before it is too late,” Sen. Johnson said.
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Lt Gov Simon Backs Bill to Eliminate Legislative Scholarships
SPRINGFIELD – February 22, 2012. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today put her support behind a House bill that would abolish a legislative scholarship program that more than half of the state’s legislators are voluntarily abstaining from this year.
Simon backed House Bill 3810, sponsored by Rep. Fred Crespo, which passed out of the state government administrative committee 14-3 today. Earlier this month, the Better Government Association delivered an online petition with more than 600 signatures in support of the program’s abolishment to the Lt. Governor and state leaders.
Simon said: “While legislative scholarships help a small number of students, the program’s abuse comes at an incredibly high cost in terms of trust in government and absorbed tuition at colleges and universities. We would do better by our schools and students if we strengthened the need-based Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants that help thousands of Illinois students across the state fulfill their dreams of higher education. By eliminating the legislative scholarship program, Illinois can take a meaningful step toward improving our ethical standards, while focusing our efforts on making college more affordable for all students.”
Nearly 100 of the 177 members of the General Assembly have now opted out of giving legislative scholarships this year. HB3810 would end the political scholarship program June 1, 2012.
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Simon backed House Bill 3810, sponsored by Rep. Fred Crespo, which passed out of the state government administrative committee 14-3 today. Earlier this month, the Better Government Association delivered an online petition with more than 600 signatures in support of the program’s abolishment to the Lt. Governor and state leaders.
Simon said: “While legislative scholarships help a small number of students, the program’s abuse comes at an incredibly high cost in terms of trust in government and absorbed tuition at colleges and universities. We would do better by our schools and students if we strengthened the need-based Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants that help thousands of Illinois students across the state fulfill their dreams of higher education. By eliminating the legislative scholarship program, Illinois can take a meaningful step toward improving our ethical standards, while focusing our efforts on making college more affordable for all students.”
Nearly 100 of the 177 members of the General Assembly have now opted out of giving legislative scholarships this year. HB3810 would end the political scholarship program June 1, 2012.
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Lt Gov Simon Statement on Gov Quinn's FY 2013 Budget Address
“A responsible budget must be based on real revenue. With pension and Medicaid costs eating up more of our tax dollars, we must reduce spending. As Lt. Governor, I worked hard to cut 9 percent of our budget, and applaud the other agencies who scoured their operations to do the same. As a Southern Illinois resident, I am disappointed that the state is proposing facility closures in areas that already suffer from high unemployment. I encourage the people whose livelihoods will be affected to join me in the budget process and speak up as we review the economic impact of such closures.”
Simon’s fiscal year 2013 appropriation request is more than 9 percent lower than her budget request from fiscal year 2012 and includes a reduction in full-time staff, from 24 to 21 members. The appropriation request is the lowest in at least 16 years and will net taxpayers a savings of nearly $200,000. In FY12, Simon is the only constitutional officer to return the equivalent of 12 days pay to the General Revenue Fund. Her senior staff voluntarily is taking four unpaid furlough days in FY12, as well.
As the Governor’s point person on education reform and a member of the Budgeting for Results Commission, Simon recently announced a community college reform package that will use existing state resources to increase college completion rates. As chair of the Classrooms First Commission, Simon is developing recommendations that will make elementary and high school districts more efficient.
Simon’s fiscal year 2013 appropriation request is more than 9 percent lower than her budget request from fiscal year 2012 and includes a reduction in full-time staff, from 24 to 21 members. The appropriation request is the lowest in at least 16 years and will net taxpayers a savings of nearly $200,000. In FY12, Simon is the only constitutional officer to return the equivalent of 12 days pay to the General Revenue Fund. Her senior staff voluntarily is taking four unpaid furlough days in FY12, as well.
As the Governor’s point person on education reform and a member of the Budgeting for Results Commission, Simon recently announced a community college reform package that will use existing state resources to increase college completion rates. As chair of the Classrooms First Commission, Simon is developing recommendations that will make elementary and high school districts more efficient.
Monday, February 6, 2012
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