Illinois Briefs - 3/21/13

Pension Plan Passes Senate

Another partial pension fix is gaining momentum in Springfield.  The Senate passed a plan yesterday that would give active Tier One teachers the option to choose their retirement packages.  The plan is expected to shave about four-point-seven billion dollars from the unfunded liability and save about 18-billion dollars over 30 years.  Democrats say it's a good step forward but Republicans say it doesn't do enough to fix the pension problem.    Last week state reps passed two partial fixes which would raise the retirement age and put a cap on pensionable salaries.

Committee Rejects Bill To Limit LINK Purchases

One state representative wants to limit what people can purchase with their LINK cards.  Mike Bost says a police officer told him one lady used the money to bail herself out of jail.  Bost says taxpayers are already helping welfare recipients make ends meet and shouldn't be footing the tab when they commit a crime.  A House committee shot the bill down, though.  One opponent from the Shriver Center on Poverty Law says the bill was way too restrictive and unfair.  He says it would've kept people from buying a beer or getting a haircut with their state assistance.

Kids May Be Banned From Consuming Energy Drinks

It's not uncommon for school kids to take a quick swig of an energy drink to wake up and stay alert.  But lawmakers say they're overdoing it, and want to ban anyone under 18 from buying the drinks.  Experts say the drinks can cause severe symptoms like heart palpitations and even

death.  A proposal to ban the drinks passed out of a House committee yesterday.

Another Lawmaker Wants A Fracking Moratorium

More lawmakers are speaking out against the idea of bringing fracking to Illinois.  State Senator Mattie Hunter is calling for a two year moratorium on fracking.  She says that'll give the state time to do a bit more research and examine possible environmental risks.  House Speaker Michael Madigan is also calling for a moratorium on fracking.

Smoking Ban On College Campuses In The Works

It could soon be illegal to smoke on college campuses.   A Senate committee has approved a plan that would ban smoking at all state colleges and universities.  Supporters of the idea say it will promote healthier living choices but opponents say it's intrusive.  The bill now heads to the full Senate.

Douglas 'Healthiest' Illinois County

A new survey says Douglas County in east-central Illinois is the healthiest county in the state.  The annual survey by the the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation also named Alexander County the least healthy.  The survey takes into account more than two-dozen factors like obesity and access to doctors.  The survey of counties from all 50 states found the least healthy counties to have more than twice the rate of premature deaths than the healthiest counties.  After Douglas, the healthiest Illinois counties are Jo Daviess, Woodford, Mercer and Henry.

Odds Of Picking Perfect NCAA Bracket Is Madness

Sports fans around Illinois are likely coming down with a case of the NCAA men's basketball tourney flu today.  The tournament begins second-round action today, which experts say will have fans all over the nation playing hooky from work and school.  If you've filled out a bracket for one of those office pools just remember, winning the Powerball jackpot has better odds than picking every winner in the 68-team tournament.  Oddsmakers say there's a one-in-9.2 quintillion chance of filling out a perfect bracket while winning the Powerball jackpot is a more down-to-earth 175-million-to-one shot.