Observations and comments about state government by State Representative Robert W. Pritchard.

March 15, 2010

Governor’s Budget Rejected

Illinois’ Pension Debt Tops National Study

Where to Cut State-Budget

Bill Action Highlights

A Real Program Success

Volunteer Service Award

Governor’s Budget Rejected

The analysis of the Governor’s brief budget address last week began immediately in the rotunda where media peppered legislators with questions. The responses I noted with interest were from the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate. In essence they said it contained some interesting ideas but don’t expect us to support any of them. The budget was rejected.

Note: I filed a FOIA request for the electronic version of the complete transcripts of the public hearing on the proposed landfill expansion. Renee Cipriano, attorney for the DeKalb County Board, informed me that my request would be fulfilled and I will make those transcripts publicly available ASAP.

Below is my closing argument. I did not stay 100% to script but its pretty close. I think it gives a fair representation to the opposition to the siting application.

DeKalb County Pollution Facility Committee:

I begin by thanking the good people who are gathered here today. That includes the members of the County Board and those on the Pollution Facility Committee; the County Board’s attorney; the court reporters; the staff and counsel of Waste Management of Illinois (WMI) and the many concerned citizens who have engaged this process. I am grateful to the hearing officer who has shown respect and patience to the level of consummate professional.

I cannot duly express my concerns surrounding this siting application. I will begin and end with the students, parents, teachers, staff and taxpayers that made Cortland Elementary School necessary and possible.

Observations and comments about state government by State Representative Robert W. Pritchard.

March 8, 2010

Topics this week:
·        Ag Fees to Increase
·        General Assembly May Cut Scholarships
·        Medicaid Managed Care Plan Explained
·        Exercise Gives Brain Power
·        Youth Council Studies Government
·        Remembering our Troops
·        NIU Speaks Frankly About Funding
·        Budget Address Begins Process

Ag Fee Increases To Keep the Lights On

Budget cuts and fund sweeps over the past three years have left the Department of Agriculture unable to conduct its regulatory and inspection functions.  To keep many businesses operating, user fees were increased by legislation that passed out of the House last week.

An estimated $2 million will be raised by increasing such fees as pesticide registration, applicator license, diagnostic tests, certificates, permits and inspection.  Most of the fees will be paid by farmers and agribusinesses but a few could be passed through to consumers.

A view of the current landfill elevation taken from the new Cortland Elementary School looking south.

The DeKalb County Landfill is on the fast track to a major expansion. If approved, the landfill will be the entrance to DeKalb County for those coming from Chicago. If approved, the landfill will expand to fill about 2.5 miles of I-88 frontage, from  Somonauk to Hinckley Road between the Tollway and Gurler Road, with 4,000,000 pounds of garbage per day for the next 49 years or so.

The trash would come in via 100 transfer trucks (80,000 lbs. each) and another 140 assorted packer trucks and rolloff trucks each day (6 days a week) from 16 northern Illinois counties — not counting this one.

Thursday March 11 beginning at 1:00pm is the last scheduled public hearing on the mega-dump that if approved will straddle the Union Ditch near the headwaters region of the East Branch of the South Branch of the Kishwaukee River. It is located within 1/2 mile of a public elementary school that taxpayers just paid some $15 million to build.