State of the State Address Takes Aim
at Laws that Swell Taxes, Government Spending
Last week, on Wednesday, February 4, Governor Bruce Rauner presented his first
State of the State address. Governor Rauner’s bold agenda, which was outlined
in a 40-minute speech to a joint session of the IL House and Senate, calls for
comprehensive reforms to the “iron triangle” of public-sector career
executives, government labor unions, and elected officials who are friendly to
both groups. The
Chicago Tribune covered the
story.
Governor Rauner
looked repeatedly at Illinois tax and labor law as a factor in the Prairie
State’s poor economic performance.
States that neighbor Illinois have enacted reforms to their states’ tax
laws and labor laws.
Reforms enacted in Indiana and Michigan
include offering a choice to workers on whether or not to join unions at their
workplaces. Rauner pointed out the
comprehensively better economic performance enjoyed by these states, and presented
an example of a typical firm – Modern Forge, formerly of Blue Island – that has
joined many of its fellow small businesses in moving to Indiana. “We must avoid slipping further behind,” he
warned, calling for dramatic changes in the laws of Illinois to match its
neighbors.
The governor
called for additional support for Illinois elementary, secondary, and higher
education. He pledged to reform the
education bureaucracy and to prioritize early education programs, elementary
and secondary education in geographically challenged areas of the State, and to
return Illinois support to historic levels for credential-oriented programs
within community colleges.
Rauner’s office
has posted a
video of his speech online, and welcomes
social-media discussion of the points made in it using the hashtag
#ILTurnaround. Following his speech I was asked to give my reaction on camera.
You can watch the video of my comments
here.
Growing Measles Outbreak Hits Palatine
Day Care Center
Last week five infants at a Palatine children’s learning center tested positive
for measles. The Cook County Department
of Public Health provided details of the outbreak
here. The positive test results
followed earlier reports of another patient, possibly an adult, testing
positive for measles on January 27. The
earlier report was also located in Chicago’s northwest suburbs.
Measles can be a
fatal illness if it is accompanied by complications, such as pneumonia,
bronchitis, or brain inflammation (encephalitis). Approximately one of every 1,000 cases of
juvenile measles progresses to encephalitis.
Parents continue to be strongly encouraged to have their young children
vaccinated with MMR vaccine at age 12 months for measles, mumps and rubella.
Because measles
is an extremely contagious viral disease, persons who suspect they have
measles, and parents of persons who are suspected to have measles, should know
whether or not they have been vaccinated.
If they have not yet been vaccinated, public health experts urge them
not to present themselves at places where young children are being cared for or
where health care is provided. They
should describe their symptoms to a health care provider by telephone,
wireless, or Internet, and follow advice and instructions. Symptoms of measles include fever, red and
sore eyes, runny nose, cough, and a visually characteristic rash. Images of the rash can be seen by researching
the disease online.
Bright Spot in Illinois Economy
A record-breaking number of tourists and visitors came to Chicago in 2014, with
the number of visits breaking 50 million for the first time. Most of the visitors were Americans visiting
for pleasure, leisure, and culture (37.3 million), with 11.3 million U.S.
arrivals for business travel and 1.5 million visits to Chicago from
abroad. Chicago tourism has now topped
its pre-Great Recession peak of 46 million annual visitors per year.
Announcing a new
“Chicago Epic” campaign, the city called for Chicago
to target 55 million visits by 2020.
From 2010 through 2014, an increase of 10 million in annual tourist
visits to Chicago has generated approximately 9,400 new jobs. State tax-based general funds are not used
for Chicago convention and tourism
promotion, which is funded by supplemental
taxes on rentals of local hotel and motel rooms, restaurant meals, taxicab
rides, and similar services often used by Chicago tourists and visitors.
House Committee Lineup Takes Shape
The 48 standing
committees will
scrutinize bills presented to the Illinois House in 2015-16. Some of these committees will have highly
specialized responsibilities and may meet only one to five times over the
course of this two-year period, whereas others will meet weekly whenever the
Illinois House is in session. Each
committee has a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and a spokesperson. The chair and vice-chair are named by the
Speaker of the majority party, and the spokesperson is named by House Minority
Leader Jim Durkin. To read about my specific committee assignments,
click here.
Legislative Session in Full Swing
We are entering the time of year when legislators spend most of their
time in Springfield. However, my Palatine office will remain open and staffed
with people who can assist you with your needs. Please do not hesitate to call
my District Office at (847) 202-6584. You may also reach me through the contact
form on my web site, at www.repmorrison54.com. If you are planning a visit to Springfield,
please let my Springfield office know so they can assist you with arrangements.
You may reach my Springfield office at (217) 782-8026.