FOWLER WEEK IN REVIEW MAY 29 – JUNE 2

Budget inaction was the end result as the Illinois General Assembly adjourned the regularly-scheduled spring session just short of midnight on May 31, according to State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg)

Senate Republicans took a strong stance against the unbalanced, potentially unconstitutional budget measures that were advanced on a “party-line” vote on May 23. Senator Fowler was disheartened by the lack of budget and is ready to return to Springfield to settle the budget impasse to achieve much-needed fiscal stability in Illinois.

After a series of May 23 votes by the Illinois Senate on a package of bills dealing with Fiscal Years 2017 and 2018 budgets, the Illinois House of Representatives failed to take any final budget action during the final week of session.

Senator Fowler and his Senate Republican colleagues had been engaged in meaningful talks on fiscal and business reforms to make Illinois more competitive, when the Senate majority broke off talks more than a week ago. Beginning with a 2003 takeover of the Illinois Senate, the Senate majority has failed to pass balanced budgets, inaction that has given rise to the now two year-plus budget impasse.

In order for Illinois to get back on a good fiscal footing, budget balancing and job-creating reforms must be incorporated. Additionally, an appetite for creating new governmental programs continues by legislative majorities through either expansions of current programming or through the most common practice of making legislation “subject to appropriation.” Such language is commonly inserted into legislative measures to create a place-holder in upcoming budgets for government expansion.

Senator Fowler expressed his hope that the legislative majorities would return to the negotiating table during the upcoming “continuous” sessions that will occur.

Faulty School-funding Formula Passes

Senate Bill 1, passed the General Assembly late on May 31. The measure is a short-sighted attempt to fix Illinois’ nearly 20-year-old school funding formula which is widely considered to be the most inequitable in the nation. The latest attempt to fix the funding formula is nothing more than a thinly-veiled bailout for the mismanaged Chicago Public Schools. CPS students would receive $1,333 more per student, while many school districts in Southern Illinois would receive tiny fractions of the proposed funding.  A whopping 70 percent of new education dollars would be pumped into the Chicago schools by skewing the formula to make the city of Chicago look much poorer than it is.

The remaining 30 percent would be split among the remaining 851 school districts statewide. Senator Fowler believes that this new distribution would be unfair to Southern Illinois students and as a result, downstate taxpayers would be saddled with yet another special deal for Chicago.

Severin Opposes Bail Out for Chicago Public Schools

SPRINGFIELD, IL With session coming to an end on Wednesday, House Democrats rushed a vote on a new school funding formula, Senate Bill 1, which Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) opposed. Severin says the bill would provide Chicago Public Schools with a bailout while offering hollow promises to the rest of the state. Some schools in Severin’s district may be set to gain financially from a new funding formula; however language in SB 1 does not include appropriations or define any methods of paying for the spending.

“Without money, this bill is an empty promise,” Severin said. “SB 1 has been debated and worked on for months in the Senate, but was amended and dropped on my desk on the last days of session. In the short time I had to consider the legislation, I learned that the bill would provide Chicago with a more than $500 million windfall that will only continue to grow over the years. With the state already owing schools more than $1 billion this year and no way identified to pay for this new bill, I simply can’t support this Chicago bailout.

“This is not the way to go about changing the funding formula for the whole state. SB 1 disproportionately funds Chicago and relies on magic math and money with empty promises. There has been a lot of misleading information about this bill but I voted no because it simply cannot keep the promises it makes.”

Thompsonville man arrested for recent burglaries

James Muck- Franklin County Sheriff’s office image

There has been a rash of burglaries in or around Thompsonville over the last week.

Around 2:23 a.m. Friday, a sheriff’s deputy was called to the area to investigate a complaint about a suspicious person on foot.

Around 4:30 a.m., the investigator saw a man on a blue and silver mountain bike and attempted to stop him, but he rode the bike off into a wooden area, the release said.

Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 23 year old James Muck, who stole the bicycle, as well as recovered several stolen items.

Muck, who is on probation for burglary, was taken to the Franklin County Jail.- sd

State Rep. Dave Severin to be in West Frankfort on Tuesday

The first stop in “Traveling Office Hours” across the district

This summer State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) will be holding a series of traveling office hours throughout the 117th District.

The first traveling office hours will be held on June 7th from 1 402 E Poplar St, in West Frankfort. 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the West Frankfort Public Library, located at

Throughout the summer Rep. Severin will hold several traveling office hours every month, all over the district. Dave and his staff will be available to take your opinions about what is going on in Springfield, and help you with any related issues you may have. Watch Rep. Severin’s website (www.repseverin.com), local newspapers, and other outlets throughout the summer for more times and locations.

Rep. Severin will also have information for you on various different state agencies and programs that may be of some assistance to you. Anyone with questions on the traveling office hours is encouraged to call the District Office at (618) 440-5090 or use the contact form on his website at www.repseverin.com.

Franklin County man arrested for sexual abuse of a teen

Shannon Braden- Franklin County Sheriff’s office Image

A Franklin County man was arrested Friday afternoon on sex abuse charges.

Shannon L. Braden, 43, of Benton is facing 4 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and 1 count of indecent solicitation of a child.

The victim is a 15-year-old high school student.

Braden’s arrest is the latest in an ongoing criminal investigation. More arrests in connection with this case are possible.

He’s being held at the Franklin County Jail.

Benton street closure

The Benton Street Department would like to alert motorists of a street closure beginning on Monday, June 5th. Joplin Street to Frisco Street will be closed to drivers other than local traffic due to street repairs. The closure will be in effect for two days.

Severin: May Session Ends With No Budget

State Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) today released following statement after the General Assembly failed to pass a balanced budget by the May 31st deadline:

“I went into this week hoping we could achieve a full-year, truly balanced budget along with real reforms to grow the economy. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

“It’s extremely disappointing that instead of focusing on working with us to pass a balanced budget, House Democrats would rather point their fingers at Republicans for their failures. The fact is Democrats have been in charge of both the Senate and House for the past 12 years and in those years they increased spending, raised taxes, raided pensions, and used one-time revenue generating gimmicks to pass these unbalanced budgets. On top of that our revenues have not matched our expenditures for more than 15 years.

“The state is feeling the cost of these failures. We have $130 billion in unfunded pension liabilities, the fifth highest tax burden in the nation, and have lost more residents than any other state for three straight years.

“My Republican colleagues and I have reached across the aisle numerous times, asking for House Democrats to work with us on a balanced budget that will move our state forward. Democrats have flat out ignored our requests.

“It is time we stop the games, time to stop the politics, and stop hurting the people we are sworn to serve. I am looking forward to getting back to the 117th district to meet with constituents and talk about the many concerns they have surrounding the way session ended in Springfield.”

Christopher Homecoming kicks off

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35571952/christopher-homecoming-kicks-off

CHRISTOPHER, IL (WSIL – TV  Please click on the link above for the full story and video.  Here is an excerpt below)

The Christopher Homecoming celebration is now underway at Dennison Park.

Organizers say there will be events for all ages all weekend long.

Below is a full list of planned events:

Thursday — 5 pm – women’s bocce tourney
6 pm – opening ceremony
7 pm – variety show  

Friday —     5 pm – bocce tourney
5 pm – main stage – Don Faulkner
7 pm – beer garden –  Chris Sloan

Saturday —  7 am – Lions Club pancake breakfast
7:45 am – 5k run/walk
9 am – bocce tourney
10 am – car show — rea clinic parking lot
12 noon – beer garden – Rog, Bob and Ruth
5 pm – Main Stage S.I. Band
7:30 pm – beer garden – Shakey Jake Band

Sunday —    1 pm – washer tourney
1 pm – beer garden — david clark
3 pm – Cow Pattie bingo

Free and discounted doughnuts for National Doughnut Day

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35572784/free-and-discounted-doughnuts-for-national-doughnut-day

(Kevin Hunsppberger- WSIL – TV Please click the link above for the full story,  Here is an excerpt)

The first Friday of June is National Doughnut Day. It got its start when the Salvation Army sold doughnuts to raise money for people in need during the Great Depression.

In Franklin County, Dixie Cream in West Frankfort is offering buy a dozen for $6.30. Limit two dozen per customer. Any purchase over two dozen, will be $9.60 a dozen.

Please check with other retailers to see if they are offering similar promotions.

 

Latest health rankings have alarming news for southern Illinois counties

http://www.bentoneveningnews.com/news/20170526/latest-health-rankings-have-alarming-news-for-southern-illinois-counties

(James Fuller, Daily Herald News Service.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Fueled by high unemployment, unhealthy habits and not enough doctors, southern Illinois counties are among the least healthy in the state, according to a recent 2017 ranking.

According to the study, overall the unhealthiest county in Illinois is Alexander, ranking 102 of 102 Illinois counties.

Hardin County ranks 101st, Pulaski is 100 and Saline County is 99th. Elsewhere in southern Illinois, Randolph County is 52nd, Perry is 68th, Williamson is 71st, Gallatin County is 80th, Franklin is 91st, and Jackson is 92nd.

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News