State Senator Karen McConnaughay sends the following:
Karen McConnaughay
The countdown till my first Women’s Conference has begun. In five days you will have the opportunity to network with women across many career fields and listen to great advice from our panel on how to balance a successful, healthy life.
Also, this free event entails an hour long networking reception with free drinks and hors-d’oeuvres and pampering services such as chair and hand massages. You definitely don’t want to miss it! We are still accepting RSVPs for this event which is set to begin at 5:00p.m. on Wed. Oct. 21. E-mail arendina@senategop.state.il.us to register!
Speaking of district events, I would like to thank Hosanna Lutheran Church and my staff for putting on a great Senior Health Fair in St. Charles this past Wednesday. I also would like to thank all the vendors and attendees that I had the pleasure to meet and interact with.
In legislative news, the Illinois Senate and the House of Representatives are both set to return to Springfield Oct. 20.
I remain hopeful that we can work together to resolve this four month long budget impasse. I join many of my Republican colleagues in continuing to call for fundamental reforms to state government in conjunction with a balanced budget plan that will help create jobs, boost Illinois’ economy, and right the state’s sinking fiscal ship.
Also this week, Gov. Rauner announced he wants to sell a downtown Chicago building that houses state government offices, a move he says will save the state millions of dollars. He also renewed his call for passing a balanced budget as soon as possible.As always, I hope you will contact me or my office with questions or concerns you may have. You can also visit my legislative website at www.senatormcconnaughay.com.
Sincerely,
Karen McConnaughay
State Senator for the 33rd District
Comptroller: State can’t make pension payment due to budget impasse
Leslie Munger
In just another example of why Republicans are calling on Democrats to come to the negotiating table and help pass a balanced budget, the Comptroller announced this week that based on expected revenues and mandated expenditures, the state will fall short of what it needs to make its pension payment next month.
The state’s monthly pension payment of $560 million is the largest consistent expenditure throughout the year. Because November’s full pension payment won’t be invested now due to a lack of funds, that could negatively impact the overall investment of the pension system, which could lead to future increases in state contributions. Munger reiterated, however, that retireeswill continue to receive their pension checks uninterrupted.
Illinois Lottery payouts over $600 now delayed due to state budget impasse
Lucky Illinois Lottery winners may be feeling not so lucky, with the Illinois Lottery announcing this week that winners over $600 will now have to wait to collect their cash until the state’s budget impasse is solved. Previously, delays in payouts were for winners of more than $25,000.
Due to the state budget crunch, the Illinois Lottery says its check writing account doesn’t have the money to pay winners over $600, and there is no authority to replenish it with funds right now.
Rauner calls Chicago state office building ‘ineffective,’ intends to sell it
Rauner says taxpayers could save up to $12 million annually if the state sells the James R. Thompson Center (JRTC), a downtown Chicago office building that houses state government offices. It’s one of the many reasons the Governor intends to sell the building.
Report: Democrat insiders making big bucks off budget impasse
The lasting budget impasse, caused by legislative Democrats’ resistance to Republican-led reforms, is impacting Illinois in many ways: from social services to the business climate; to concern about state credit; to further blemishes on the state’s reputation.
But at least one group of Democrat insiders is cashing in. A report from the Chicago Sun Timesshows a company called the Vender Assistance Program (VAP), owned by Brian Hynes (who once worked for House Speaker Madigan) and Democrat insider Patti Solis Doyle, has pocketed more than $22 million from the state thanks to a special agreement on the collection of late fees.
They can’t pay big lottery winners but they can still sell tickets?
Yep, sounds like “Illinois think”.
Isn’t there some law about doing preferred payouts.
Taking care of some people but not the others.?
First Rauner should not auction off Thompson building, it should be put up for sale the traditional way so we know the auction isn’t fixed and a fellow repub gets prime land for a dollar amount lower than it would fetch on the open market.
If you believe in the free market you will want it this way.
Second, if Illinois cannot pay out the lottery winnings they should not sell the tickets.
Talk about a Ponzi scheme.
Third, if you don’t want to spend more than we have since the income tax increase was stopped and since vendors are making profits, pass a BUDGET or quit the legislature and governorship.