Illinois Briefs - 2/7/13

Pension Reform, Assault Weapons Ban Highlight Quinn's Address

(Springfield, IL)  --  Governor Pat Quinn says the state is at a critical juncture and that only pension reform will allow Illinois to participate in the nation's economic recovery.  In his state-of-the-state address to the General Assembly, Quinn also called for a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines as well as a ban on concealed weapons in public places like schools, shopping malls and sports stadiums.  Quinn also pushed for an increase in state's minimum wage to ten-dollars-an-hour.  

Reoublicans: Quinn Focus Is Off

(Springfield, IL)  --  Republican lawmakers say Governor Quinn is neglecting the state's most pressing issues.  They say though Quinn urged lawmakers to reach a pension deal soon, he failed to produce a strategy on how to solve the problem.  They also say Quinn's focus is all wrong when it comes to rebuilding the state's economy.  Quinn proposed a minimum wage hike, which Republicans say will force layoffs.  And, the GOP is upset that Quinn wants lawmakers to pass a two billion dollar spending plan when the state has more than nine billion dollars worth of unpaid bills.

Dems and GOP Differ On Minimum Wage

(Springfield, IL)  --  Many Democrats in the legislature are on board with a plan to boost the state's minimum wage.  They say hard-working families should never have to live in poverty or struggle to make ends meet.  Republicans on the other hand think raising the minimum wage will hurt

the state's business climate.  They say employers will be forced to lay workers off or raise the cost of their products.  Governor Quinn has proposed a one dollar and 75-cent spike in the minimum wage, which would take it up to ten dollars an hour.

Quinn Doesn't Address Educational Funding

(Springfield, IL)  --  State Senator Kimberly Lightford says she was very disappointed Governor Quinn didn't discuss education funding in his State of the State address yesterday.  She says the stae owes schools more than 300-million dollars, which is putting a major strain on some school districts.   Lightford thought education funding would be included in the supplemental budget that passed the House on Tuesday, but it got left out.  Quinn has cut education funding for the past several years and has announced another 400-million dollar cut is coming down the pipe.

Wisconsin Governor's Plan Steals IL Businesses

(Undated)  --  A pitch from Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker that asked Illinois business owners to leave the state seems to be paying off.  The "Journal-Sentinel" in Milwaukee says at least two Illinois businesses have moved to Wisconsin and a third will soon.  Two-years ago Walker mailed letters to 800-small-to-medium-sized Illinois manufacturers encouraging them to quote, "escape to Wisconsin."  A spokesperson for Illinois' commerce department said the states should find a way to work together, calling Walker's strategy a "zero-sum" proposition.

Complaint Alleges Firm Dumped Coal Ash Illegally

(Peoria, IL)  --  The Illinois Attorney General files a complaint against Ameren Energy claiming the firm trashed nearly 200-thousand-tons of coal ash illegally.  The complaint to the Illinois Pollution Control Board alleges Ameren sent the material to its Duck Creek power plant in Peoria where it was used was fill material for a railroad embankment.  Ameren allegedly never received the proper permit to do the work.

IL Folks Couldn't Care Less About P-O Changes

(Chicago, IL)  --  Some Illinoisans are unmoved by yesterday's announcement by the U.S. Postal Service that it's cutting back letter deliveries to five-days-per-week.  Chicago-area residents tell the "Tribune" they won't miss Saturday mail deliveries when the new schedule begins August 5th.  However, the Post Office will continue to deliver packages on the weekend.  The five-day schedule will save the USPS about two-billion dollars each year.