Governor:

You have recently thrown open the state budget for citizen input. We too have been talking with citizens to gauge public opinion on the state budget and other critical issues. 

As leaders of the Senate and House Republican Caucuses, we welcome the opportunity to again share the views of our members and the millions of Illinois citizens we represent. The recommendations we make here are not new. We have been vocal and consistent in our proposals to you, your predecessor and the Democrat majority in the House and Senate during the past seven years. 

We recognize the state is facing a fiscal crisis and we believe we must work in a bi-partisan manner to come up with solutions to get our state back on the right track. 

The budget deficit in Illinois is not simply a result of the national economy.  The magnitude of the problem is the result of many factors created by state government over the years.  

Our state government is too often seen as hostile to Illinois employers and that is certainly part of the problem.  Various organizations and publications consistently rank Illinois in the lower half of all states for business climate. 

We rank 47^th in the nation in job growth.  We have one of the ten highest unemployment rates nationally, and the highest unemployment rate in Illinois since 1984.  We cannot continue to go down the path of driving more and more employers out of our state. 

Decisions made over the last few years have also exacerbated the state’s budget problems.  New programs have been established.  Pension systems have been underfunded while other spending has increased.  Few budget reforms have been implemented.  These actions, among others, have served to create an unprecedented fiscal crisis. 

The independent credit rating agencies have evaluated our state finances and have assigned us the worst credit ratings in the history of our state and the worst credit ratings of any state in the nation except California.  

The national economy is struggling, but Illinois consistently ranks poorly compared to other states that are operating in the same national economic environment.  Clearly, we are doing, and have done some things wrong in Illinois. 

We believe major changes need to happen in Illinois before state taxpayers are asked to invest more of their hard-earned money into a state government that has not and is not serving them well. 

We have consistently offered both short-term and long-term recommendations to improve our economic climate: 

Control spending

• Your budget website indicates revenue projections for FY10 are $1.3 billion lower than originally projected. Yet FY10 spending is now projected at $29.2 billion – an increase of $1.2 billion over your own plan. The combination has added $2.5 billion to the budget deficit. The FY10 budget must be brought into balance.
• We must look at zero-based budgeting.
• Recommendations heard from our constituents reflect a clear willingness on the part of the public to scale back state spending in order to avoid tax hikes.
• When the FY10 budget was signed, you promised $1 billion in state spending reductions. We are asking for a thorough, detailed accounting of all of the budget reductions that have actually been implemented and the savings associated with each action.
• Your Taxpayer Action Board (Executive Order 2009-03) issued its report in June 2009 with recommendations to save “several billion dollars” per year.  We request details on implementation of those recommendations and associated cost savings.
• Implement the strategy employed by Illinois families: refuse to allow spending to exceed revenues. Manage the state budget within available revenues.
• Refuse to create new or expanded programs.
• Systematically review all state programs to eliminate waste and duplication and exact efficiencies.
• Appoint members to the sunshine commission that you established by Executive Order 14-2009 last year to study the state budget and provide ideas to save money.
• Join with us in a demonstration of good stewardship and eliminate General Assembly Scholarships which are ripe for abuse and unnecessarily drain the resources of our state universities. 

Reform the Medicaid Program

• The Medicaid program has been growing at an unsustainable pace, fed by increased eligibility that has shifted the program to one that creates barriers to health care because providers are not willing to accept its patients.
• Significant reforms must be implemented. We have proposed a broad spectrum of reforms that aim to re-focus the program, improve health care and save tax dollars.
  • Stop pushing off Medicaid bills into the next fiscal year.
  • Establish a two-year moratorium on program expansions.
  • Asset test enrollees and use 30 days of income data to ensure the most vulnerable of citizens have access.
  • Employ forensic accounting to root out fraud and inefficiencies.
  • Expand managed care to allow enrollees a medical home. 

Reform Pensions

• Begin earnest dialogue to modernize the five state pension systems and bring some parity between the systems and private sector pension programs.
• Bringing the pension systems and the public employees they represent together into discussions could result in reforms that save billions.  Many areas should be looked at including raising the retirement age, lowering Cost-of-Living-Adjustments and preventing double-dipping in state and local pension systems for future hires. 

Improve the Business Climate in Illinois

• Reform our workers compensation system to equalize our costs with the costs of other states. An initial step should include recognizing workers’ responsibilities in alcohol and drug-free workplaces and requiring that injuries occur in the workplace and arise in the course of employment.
• Streamlining Permitting and Licensure Procedures to encourage and attract new business opportunities.
• In light of the Supreme Court medical malpractice decision, re-visit legal reforms in order to bring sanity to the process that now threatens our jobs climate.
• We must explore other tort reforms to ensure a fair civil justice system.  

Please do not misinterpret our opposition to tax increases and uncontrolled government spending as a sign of our unwillingness to work with you to address the crisis facing our state.  We may have different views on the solutions to our state’s problems, but we can, and must find common ground on proposals that assure Illinois’ economic future. 

Sincerely,

Christine Radogno                                                        Tom Cross

Senate Minority Leader                                              House Minority Leader

 Rep. Cross urges you to submit your cost-saving ideas

www.budget.illinois.gov or www.reinventillinois.com

 (Plainfield) In less than two weeks, Gov. Pat Quinn (D-Illinois) will present his budget for the state of Illinois and Rep. Tom Cross (R-Oswego) wants you to submit your ideas about how the state’s financial situation should be addressed on the Governor’s website www.budget.illinois.gov. 

“We think that it is important for residents to get involved in this process, because ultimately the state’s budget will affect you,” said Cross.  “We also have a website where we have been collecting ideas since last year to cut, reform, and reinvent Illinois—at www.reinventillinois.com.” 

The Illinois House Republicans have already taken some of those ideas and drafted them into legislation to be considered for votes at the capitol in Springfield. 

“We are encouraging residents to leave their thoughts and ideas at both websites—so we can truly know exactly what the residents of Illinois are asking for,” added Cross.

Cross and Radogno sponsor Constitutional Amendment to create a fair map

HJRCA 56 and SJRCA 104 would allow voters to decide the way legislative maps are drawn in Illinois 

(Springfield) After seeing the early success of a citizens’ movement to take back Illinois, Republican Leaders Rep. Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and Sen. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) filed resolutions today to amend the Illinois Constitution with reforms that would take the power of drawing legislative maps out of lawmakers’ hands and place it into the hands of an independent commission. 

“This resolution will also take away the ridiculous “hat provision” which has decided who draws the legislative map for the last three decades,” said Cross.  “When lawmakers and the governor can’t agree on a legislative map—we draw a name out of a hat.  We’re the only state in the nation that allows this winner take all approach.” 

House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 56 and Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 104 take an initiative sponsored by the League of Women Voters and other government reform groups and put it into legislation for General Assembly passage. 

“We are proposing to take the politics out of the redistricting process and let voters choose their elected representatives. This is the reform that citizens are demanding. This proposal is specifically designed to empower the voters of Illinois,” Leader Radogno said. “We know we could face strong opposition but regardless of the past we have a responsibility to seek good public policy. Redistricting reform must happen in Illinois.” 

“We will continue to push hard for a House vote on our amendment.  The residents are demanding it,” added Rep. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet).  “The political reality is that the Democrats in control don’t want it.” 

The current process allows legislative leaders to draw district boundaries behind closed doors. The constitutional amendment would require public hearings, ensure public display of proposed maps and allow public submission of proposed maps.  Since 2001, incumbents have a 98% reelection rate; passage of the amendment will encourage competition and promote diversity.     

The League of Women Voters has taken the lead in recommending the constitutional amendment, and has partnered with other reform groups, including: the Better Government Association, members of the Illinois Reform Commission, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, Common Cause – Illinois, the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Americans for Prosperity, Illinois Alliance for Growth, Independent Voters of Illinois and United Power for Action and Justice. 

“We are thrilled that legislative leaders are proposing this constitutional amendment with our language in it—and we are hopeful that lawmakers will do the right thing and pass it through the General Assembly,” said Jan Czarnik, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters. 

According to state law, in order for the Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment  to appear on the ballot in November—the General Assembly must pass it  with a 3/5^th majority by May 2, 2010 (six months before the election).

“There are other proposals out there, but we believe only one that empowers an independent authority is true reform,” said Deputy Senate Republican Leader Dale Righter.  “Any proposal that continues to have lawmakers draw their own districts is not reform.”

The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday threw out a sound law passed by the General Assembly in 2005 to protect health care in this state. The court threw out a sound law that has worked. The court threw out a sound law and essentially told the state’s lawmakers: Don’t even bother to try this again.

This is a disastrous decision.

It declares that caps on medical malpractice awards violate the state constitution’s separation-of-powers clause. The caps limited noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, to $500,000 in claims against doctors and to $1 million in claims against hospitals.

The Legislature acted appropriately in response to a crisis. Malpractice costs were skyrocketing in Illinois because insurers were afraid to do business here. They were afraid of runaway jury verdicts. They also knew that more than 20 states had some caps on damages, making those states much safer places to do business.

Click here to read the entire editorial.

Click here to read the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Medical Malpractice Caps.

Leader Cross’ statement on Supreme Court Ruling 

“Today’s ruling by the Illinois Supreme is especially disappointing because the law is working.  With caps on non-economic damages and other reforms in place, competition has increased among insurance providers, medical malpractice insurance premiums have dropped between 5 and 30 percent, and doctors have begun to return to Illinois to care for families.  Today’s ruling is a step backward, putting Illinois families at risk.”

                                                                               -Rep. Tom Cross                                                                                                        House Republican Leader

Joliet-Rep. Tom Cross (R-Oswego), other elected officials and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation hosted a seminar at Joliet West High School on Saturday for local residents facing foreclosure. 

According to realtytrac.com, Will County has more than 8,000 homes in foreclosure.  Also according to the website, one out of every 306 homes is in foreclosure in Joliet and one out of every 101 homes is in foreclosure in Plainfield. 

“We need to do everything we can do to help keep people in their homes,” Cross said.  “When times get financially tough for our families during these rough economic times, the ability for them to stay in their home provides stability for the family and ultimately the community.” 

The state’s Mortgage Relief Project offers an opportunity for home owners to re-work their mortgages during the seminar.  This can be helpful for home owners who have recently fallen behind on the mortgage payments.  The Homeowner Protection Act allows residents facing foreclosure to participate in housing counseling and at the same time, enter into a 90 day grace period.

“By participating in this event, homeowners can literally save their homes,” said Brent E. Adams, Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation. “The Mortgage Relief Project provides direct, tangible, and free assistance to homeowners.”

“We partner struggling homeowners with financial counselors who assist them in getting the resources they need to keep their homes,” said Gloria L. Materre, Illinois Housing Development Authority Executive Director. 

For more information please call IDFPR’s toll-free consumer hotline (800) 532-8785 during regular business hours or visit www.idfpr.com or www.ihda.org. .

Posted by Michelle Manchir

SPRINGFIELD — House Republican leader Tom Cross today called for limits on how much legislative leaders and political party campaign committees can give to candidates in general elections, saying it was a necessary change that Democrats refused to put into a new state reform law.

The legislation was unveiled at the Capitol just a week before the Feb. 2 primary as Republicans try to show voters this year how they differ with Democrats on reforming the way elections are paid for in scandal-ridden Illinois politics. Democrats control state government and the Republicans are looking to regain relevance for the first time in years.

Cross’ legislation aims to fix what critics say is a loophole resulting from last year’s campaign finance reform measure that Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law. Democrats agreed to put limits only on contributions from legislative leaders and party committees in primary races, which are fights within each party. But they refused to apply those limits to the general election because those races are all-out warfare between Democrats and Republicans. Spending should not be limited when the fight for control of legislative chambers is at stake, Democrats argued.

Click here to read the entire blog post.

Daily Herald Editorial Board

None of us should want a few powerful people deciding who gets to represent us or what ideas get considered. We’re supposed to get to decide that for ourselves when we go to the ballot box, as we all should do Tuesday.

But an Illinois law to take effect next year gives too much control to already too-powerful legislative leaders and political parties in Illinois.

That campaign finance law placed limits on what everyone will be able to spend on primaries. But it created a gaping hole that allows for a power grab for the critical fall general elections. The law limits donations from everyone in general elections, except the four legislative leaders and political parties. They are not limited at all.

Click here to read the whole editorial.

Republicans propose True Campaign Finance Reform

HB 5008 will impose campaign limits on legislative leaders’ caucus committees in general election

In keeping their pledge to Illinois residents to continue to push true campaign finance reform, Illinois House Republican Leader Rep. Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and his members support a bill that would impose campaign contribution limits on legislative leaders’ caucus committees and political parties in the general election. 

“The current law puts contribution limits on everyone EXCEPT the four legislative leaders and political parties in the general election.  That is not fair—we must apply the rules to everyone,” said Cross. “We could not support the bill that passed last year because it only imposed these limits in primary elections.  This new bill closes the gaping loophole that was created by that law.” 

“Simply put, unlimited money means unlimited power in the hands of a few individuals. That’s business as usual in Illinois, and it’s unacceptable,” said Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington). “The legislation we’re introducing today does what the bill signed into law last year should have done, impose reasonable caps across the board in the General Election.  This will be a big step in putting power back into the hands of individual voters.”  

Senate Republicans are also in favor of this improvement to the current law. 

“The Democrat majorities and the Governor failed to capitalize on a unique opportunity to pass meaningful campaign finance reform. By not capping contributions limits for legislative leaders and political parties during the General Election, their measure will have limited impact. We now have an opportunity to right that wrong and enact true campaign finance reform,” Illinois Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) said. 

House Bill 5008 will extend the varied campaign contribution limitations that were created in Senate Bill 1466 (P.A. 96-832) to the general election.  The current limitations on legislative leaders and political parties will only apply during the primary elections starting in 2011. 

“This should be a no-brainer if we want to curb the influence of the leaders in Illinois,” said Cross.  “The majority of money is spent in general elections.  According to our analysis in the 2008 election cycle—the Democratic Party of Illinois spent 40 times more in the general election compared to what it spent in the primary.” 

“Everyone who voted to pass the bill to impose these limits in primary elections should have no problem voting to impose the exact same limits in general elections,” added Rep. Rich Brauer (R-Petersburg).

January 22, 2010                                                           

Plainfield- State Representative Tom Cross blended in with the crowd of fifth graders in the cafeteria at Eagle Pointe Elementary School as he ate a taco salad and talked to them about local government and their favorite sports teams. 

Eagle Pointe fifth grader Dylan Diorio wrote a letter inviting Cross to lunch, to discuss the nutritional value of the hot lunch choices after his class read the article, “A Fresh Look at Lunch,” in the “Time For Kids” magazine.

The article focused on a study conducted by the School Nutrition Association that revealed most schools in the United States cook less than half of the main courses they provide for students from scratch.  

The article also said many of the meals are prepackaged and frozen, and Congress is going to examine, “The Child Nutrition Act,” which has just expired. 

After reading the article, the fifth graders discussed how the school lunches provided by District 202 are already very healthy. They also talked about how fresh fruits and vegetables are already offered daily, and how the lunches are nutritionally balanced.  

The students, however, would still like to see some changes, like fresh cut fruit offered every day, and are primarily concerned with the nutritional value of the main courses. 

The article suggested taking steps like connecting with local farmers to provide fresher lunches, and writing letters to local legislators. 

Diorio wrote a letter to Cross, and on Thursday, January 21, 2010, Cross sat down with the students to discuss what changes they would like to see happen. 

“We are ultimately hoping Representative Cross will keep our ideas in mind if he comes across or is a part of any school nutrition changes made by the state,” Eagle Pointe fifth grade teacher Dr. Kathleen Heinrich said. 

The students told Cross they would like for lunches to not be frozen and for fruit to be fresh and not served in syrup. 

“We have to think about the money in all of this,” Cross reminded the students.  “It is often difficult to balance fresh and organic and locally grown food with the need to feed 30,000 kids.” 

Cross pointed out that his taco salad was very good and that he also saw healthy options like celery, milk and applesauce offered at lunch. 

“Maybe I would have liked a little more tomato on my salad, and maybe some fresh avocado, but not everyone likes those things, so if they were added, would that be wasting money?” Cross challenged the class. 

The students asked Cross what hot lunches were like when he was their age. 

“When I went to school, we had to kill our lunches,” Cross said laughing.  “No, but seriously, in grade school I went home for lunch, and then came back to school.  We had hot lunch, but it was never fresh.” 

Today’s hot lunches may not be as healthy as they could be, but we are moving in the right direction, Cross said. 

Heinrich’s class is the only one to contact Cross on the issue.  To bring more awareness, Cross told them he will create a resolution that will be read on the floor of the state House of Representatives, encouraging and promoting fresh lunches in Illinois. 

“I am hoping that Dylan’s reaching out to Representative Cross shows students that they do have a voice that is valued and heard,” Heinrich said.  “Students can indeed play an active role in their government and work to seek positive change.”