Welcome
to my new homepage!
I am happy you have chosen to learn more about government and our
legislative office. Our homepage includes various links that offer useful
information, hotline phone numbers for state services and background on
our legislative and political efforts.
I am pleased to provide you with information on this changing channel of
communication. Tax dollars were not used to bring you this web site. I
hope the information contained here is helpful. Government should be an
interactive process and I encourage your input. Please feel free to
contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.
Gov. Pat Quinn, House Speaker Michael Madigan,
Senate President John Cullerton, do you think the
people of Illinois expect too much of you?
They elect you to provide for their well-being and
public safety. They urge you to thoughtfully spend the
tens of billions of dollars they send to you every
year. They ask you to resolve your differences with
civility and, when you're tempted to behave haughtily,
an ounce of humility.
At this juncture, though, you and your fellow
lawmakers have failed them -- the taxpayers who hire
you and the vulnerable citizens who have no choice but
to rely on the state to meet their daily needs.
All the huffing and puffing -- the doomsday threats,
the mild insults you trade, the theatrical indignation
for the cameras -- leads to an inescapable conclusion:
You may have purged a disgraced governor, but
otherwise you're conducting business as usual in
Springfield.
You evidently have one priority: You want what's best
for the people of this state -- provided
you don't have to seriously affront the public
employees unions and other interest groups that have
such influence with you.
As a result the citizens of this state have endured
weeks of scare tactics about the absence of a state
budget supported by a higher income tax. What they
haven't experienced is your serious
effort to reform how this state spends money on health
care, worker pensions and a host of other major
categories. In the teeth of a recession, you're
relentlessly focused on raising taxes.
And you haven't budged from the preposterous notion
that you've fully addressed the ethics voids that for
decades have marked this state as one of America's
most corrupt.
Speaker Madigan, President Cullerton, your Republican
counterparts keep pressing sensible reforms of
spending and ethics before they decide whether to join
you in a big tax hike. But rather than agreeing to
those crucial reforms, you stick with your rope-a-dope
squabbling. You really don't want to be forced to
change how you operate, do you?
You're relying on task forces and hearings. You need
more time for study? What on Earth have you been doing
in Springfield since the dead of winter? Your refusal
to make the reforms and to pass a new budget has
frightened thousands of people who now see how
unreliable and prideful you are.
Mr. Madigan, Mr. Cullerton, enough. Accept the
spending and ethics reforms and pass a budget.
Republicans will help you.
Governor Quinn, your inability to be a strong and
consistent leader during this passage is a ceaseless
frustration to
Democrats and Republicans alike. Tribune stories
of recent days have chronicled your ever-changing
positions on taxation as you try to appease
legislators. Quickly caving in to teachers who didn't
want their gold-plated pension plan scaled back for
future hires telegraphed that you're strongly
committed to smarter spending -- until you aren't.
Then on Tuesday you signed into law a sales tax
exemption for wind energy projects.
Governor, Illinois is broke. Please stop digging this
hole deeper and deeper.
Mr. Quinn, Mr. Madigan, Mr. Cullerton, the people of
Illinois would appreciate less showboating and more
decisiveness. Please stop whining at us and do your
jobs.
The legislature meets in special session on July 14 --
Bastille Day. That's appropriate. Your failure to fix
spending and ethics is a temptation to storm the
Statehouse.
Rutherford offers
alternative budget proposal
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
July 1, 2009/rd
SPRINGFIELD, IL
– Illinois neediest citizens are caught in a Democrat
power struggle as Fiscal Year 2010 began on July 1,
according to State Senator Dan Rutherford (R-Pontiac).
The Senate
Republicans offered their own alternative on June 30, to
keep governmental operations functioning until a
permanent budget is passed. There are currently 13
pieces of legislation that would enable lawmakers to
pass a temporary spending plan based on previous fiscal
year levels.
“The course of
inaction that the majority party Democrats have taken
will only hurt our state’s neediest citizens,”
Rutherford said. “This entire situation could have been
avoided if all four caucuses would have been included in
the budget negotiations. The ruling majority has failed
and its time for the politicians to sit down and the
statesmen stand up.”
###
'Wolf' is
here; OK 60-day plan to keep it at bay Pantagraph
June 28, 2009
"Wolf!" "Wolf!" "Wolf!" "No,
really, Wolf!"
Like the young shepherd in Aesop's
fable, state officials have falsely cried, "wolf" about
budget problems so many years that many people have
stopped listening.
Now that the "wolf" is at the
door, few believe that massive spending cuts and other
dire consequences will actually happen - except the
social service agencies that have received letters
informing them of the cuts.
They can't afford to wait until
the last minute to see if lawmakers finally do their
jobs.
And many can't afford to stay open
and meet basic operational costs if the state doesn't
come through.
So they have to begin procedures
for shutting down.
Years of underfunding and delayed
payment of bills have left little cushion to wait out
the political games.
That's why the Occupational
Development Center is instituting plans to shut down and
why Chestnut Health Systems is closing its alcohol and
drug detoxification program.
They are not alone.
Even a temporary shutdown of ODC
or similar facilities that serve the developmentally
disabled can have a devastating impact on a vulnerable
population.
What will happen to those needing
the assistance of agencies such as ODC, Marcfirst or
Homes of Hope? Will they wind up homeless or wandering
the streets? Will they be sent to the few remaining
state facilities - facilities that cost far more per
resident and provide a lower quality of life than these
individuals currently enjoy in a community setting?
If agencies "temporarily" shut
down, will they reopen? Will their employees move on to
other jobs or other states? In other regions in
Illinois, agencies have shut their doors during previous
funding disputes and never reopened.
Other agencies targeted in the
"doomsday" budget are in similar situations, agencies
serving the elderly, abused children and others who,
through no fault of their own, need the state's help -
our help.
At this point, the best idea would
be to approve a 60-day extension of current spending
authority - as advocated by most Republicans and by
state Comptroller Dan Hynes, a Democrat.
This would buy time to hammer out
the rest of the details and put together a combination
of structural reforms and meaningful cuts in appropriate
areas that must precede enactment of a tax hike.
Do it now. Don't wait for 11:59
p.m. Tuesday. For many Illinoisans, among the most
vulnerable, that will be too late.
SPRINGFIELD, IL
– Human service providers could continue programs and
other government services would be able to operate into
the new fiscal year if a Bridge Budget is approved by
the General Assembly, as proposed by State Senator Dan
Rutherford (R-Pontiac). The Illinois Senate adjourned
with no action taken to solve the budget impasse. “This
is inexcusable,” emphasized the Senator.
Rutherford was
joined for a press conference by the entire Senate
Republican caucus after the full Senate adjourned
Wednesday, June 24, when no action was taken to resolve
the uncertainty of a new fiscal year budget.
Rutherford’s idea of a Bridge Budget would fund
government services a month at a time at last fiscal
year’s level until a new full year budget is approved.
“Our plan will
enable those Illinois citizens who depend on human
services to keep getting their care at the same time a
permanent spending plan is being crafted,” Rutherford
said.
“I concur with the
majority of Illinoisans: 1) they want real change in
their state government, 2) they do not want their taxes
raised, and 3) they do not want government services shut
down. Our Bridge Budget will keep government operating
at last fiscal year’s level. It will necessitate hard
questions be answered about structural change in
government services and it will allow full debate on
raising the state income tax,” the Senator commented.
Democratic
majorities in the House and Senate approved a spending
plan that used the state’s most vulnerable citizens as
political pawns. The proposed 50 percent budget, passed
by all Democrat votes, as approved on May 31 has
dominated media coverage and thus forced service
providers to plan for the worst-case scenarios.
“One party having
absolute power has proven itself to not work,
absolutely. It’s time for the politicians to sit down
and the statesmen to stand up. The Bridge Budget will
allow services to be delivered to those with
developmental disabilities, mental challenges, children,
as well as those with substantive abuse and our
treasured elderly while a permanent solution is
created,” noted Rutherford.
Rutherford honored with ‘Champion of Free
Enterprise’ award
PONTIAC, IL – State Senator
Dan Rutherford (R-Pontiac) was recently awarded the
Illinois Chamber of Commerce’s “Champion
of Free Enterprise” award.
The
award was based on Senator Rutherford’s voting record on
issues that affect Illinois businesses.
“At a
time when our state’s and our nation’s economy face
uncertainty, it is especially important that government
make every attempt to create a job-friendly environment
for our employers and small businesses,” Rutherford
said. “I am grateful to have been recognized by the
Illinois Chamber of Commerce.”
According to the state Chamber of Commerce, legislators
are recognized for their special contributions in the
defense of free enterprise, and the furtherance of
economic opportunities for Illinoisans.
Legislators with Illinois Chamber ratings averaging 85
percent better over the previous three General
Assemblies have demonstrated their commitment to
legislation that frees the entrepreneurial spirit and
qualify for the award.
The Champion of Free Enterprise award is
presented
biennially.
Sen. Dan
Rutherford is proposing an answer to
the state’s budget woes that would
harken back to the monetary amounts
approved in a balanced budget in
2008.
“The Illinois
Senate spent two days — Tuesday and
Wednesday — (working on the budget)
and nothing occurred. Nothing,
absolutely nothing was resolved,”
Rutherford, R-Chenoa, said during a
media teleconference this morning.
“This is inexcusable because come
July 1 there is no budget in place.”
Rutherford
said he favors a bridge budget that
would allow human service providers
to continue their programs, and
other government services would be
able to operate into the new fiscal
year.
“The bridge
budget would provided month-to-month
appropriations for the agencies at
the 2008 fiscal budget year levels,”
said Rutherford. “This plan would
allow the state to continue
operating until this budget issue
can be resolved.”
The senator
explained that the reason the 2008
fiscal budget would be used is
because it was a balanced budget.
“We cannot use
the 2009 budget because it was $2
billion out of whack,” Rutherford
said. “When the 2009 budget was
approved, the legislature told Gov.
(Rod) Blagojevich to watch it very
carefully because of the problems
with it.
“He didn’t do
that – manage it well, that is. We
realize that going back another year
will see some areas with less money
than they had in 2009 appropriations
and some with more but at least
there would be money there to
operate each month.”
He said this
state is facing some real problems
by July 1 with the 50 percent
funding budget approved by the
Senate on May 31.
“We faced a
drop-dead moment on May 31, and now
we are facing one on June 30,”
Rutherford said. “Something has to
be done prior to July 1 and this
type of budget could be the answer.”
Rutherford was
asked if all the budget stalemates
are causing more Republican
lawmakers to start thinking of
approving a tax increase in the
state.
“I,
personally, have never said I will
never vote for an income tax
increase,” he answered. “I still am
emphasizing that I will not say
‘never will I vote for one’ but
there have to be multiple changes in
this state before I do vote for
one.”
He said the
Senate will be called back into
session next week and he will be
attending with one thought in mind.
“Let’s
not use the elderly, children and
disabled as pawns in political
tangles,” said Rutherford. “Let’s
get the work done for everyone.”
WMBD/WYZZ - PEORIA --
Republican lawmakers are recommending a "bridge budget."
That would extend the deadline for last year's fiscal
budget at a month-to-month basis until a new budget can
be approved.
State Senator Dan Rutherford says the money would be
based on 2008 appropriation levels. He says this would
continue funding service providers across the state
until a new budget is passed.
“This is to get us though temporarily until this is
totally resolved. This is to keep the lights on and the
doors from being slammed shut,” said Rutherford.
House of representative members will be back at the
state capitol Monday. Senators are back on Tuesday.
Although there appears to be no major solution to the
state's massive budget deficit as the fiscal year comes
to a close, Quinn told reporters that he never favored
cutting funding to programs that serve the mentally ill,
the elderly and a host of others reliant on state
services.
"We're not going to visit all the cuts on the most
fragile and vulnerable people in our society," Quinn
said. "I never support that and never will. So we will
not allow that to take place."
The latest mixed signal from Illinois' chief executive
came after two days of mostly futile negotiations over
the state budget impasse. The threats to cut social
service providers generated lots of anger and
frustration, as well as a large rally Tuesday, but
haven't swayed enough lawmakers to support Quinn's call
for an income tax hike.
SPRINGFIELD,
Ill. (AP) -- Illinois legislators adjourned Wednesday
without taking action on the budget, as Gov. Pat Quinn
backed away from threats to make painful cuts to social
services - deepening confusion about when the state will
have a spending plan and what it will look like.
Lawmakers went
home until next week, even though the current budget
expires at midnight Tuesday and no new budget plan is
close to being finished.
Officials
couldn't even agree on the size of the deficit they
face. Is it $11.6 billion or $9.2 billion or maybe even
$7 billion?
"We're going to
be here for a long time," warned Sen. James DeLeo,
D-Chicago.
Democrats don't deserve to be re-elected
in Illinois.
No politician should serve more than
eight years in office.
It's time to let the entire state
government collapse to force a voter rebellion.
Those aren't the thoughts of a
Republican looking to gain political advantage or some
political commentator seeking to generate controversy.
They're the comments of state Sen. James
Meeks (D-Chicago) who said Tuesday the state's leaders "have
failed the people."
"It's unfortunate and wrong for us to be
playing on people's emotions like this," Meeks said of the
state's threats to cut social service funding to the neediest
people in Illinois by as much as 50 percent because of the
Legislature's failure to pass a budget.
Illinois lawmakers appear determined
to delay a resolution of the state’s budget problems until
the last possible moment.
Called back to Springfield Tuesday by
Gov. Pat Quinn, who wants lawmakers to approve an income tax
hike, both the House and Senate met only briefly before
adjourning without taking any action.
In fact, after a two-hour-plus meeting
with legislative leaders Tuesday night, Quinn said
legislators will leave Springfield today with plans to
return next week.
CHICAGO (AP) -- It's time for Illinois
lawmakers to go back to work.
Lawmakers are due in Springfield on Tuesday afternoon for
a special session to try to fix the state budget.
But there was no sign Monday there was enough support
among lawmakers to pass the income tax increase Gov. Pat
Quinn wants to avoid deep budget cuts. Quinn has warned
services for the poor, elderly and disabled could be
eliminated or reduced.
Quinn contends the budget passed earlier this month by the
Democrat-controlled Legislature could mean $9.2 billion in
cuts if lawmakers don't come up with an alternative budget
with more money from a tax increase.
The governor will try to pump up support for a tax
increase with a rally at the Capitol before lawmakers
convene.
Citizens, congratulations. Your
relentless pressure on Democrats in the Illinois legislature
has kept them from greasing a big tax increase without doing
the difficult work that needs to come first. This is a
moment of great opportunity: Keep demanding reform in ethics
and spending from those Democrats -- and from Republicans
who need to stay resolute and united.
At the end of the Spring
Legislative Session the Illinois Senate passed the largest
Income Tax increase in the history of the state and created
a first time tax on services. The YES votes came from all
Democrats. The bill now awaits action by the House of
Representatives. Details are:
Personal Income Tax goes from 3 to 5%, a
67% increase
This is a list of the 39 new Service
Categories, which hundreds of
services are contained and could be taxed:
(1) Other warehousing and
storage (household and specialty goods)
(2) Travel agent services
(3) Carpet and upholstery cleaning services
(4) Dating services
(5) Dry cleaning and laundry, except coin-operated
(6) Consumer goods rental
(7) Health clubs, tanning parlors, reducing salons
(8) Linen supply
(9) Interior design services
(10) Other business services, including copy shops
(11) Bowling Centers
(12) Coin operated video games and pinball machines
(13) Membership fees in private clubs
(14) Admission to spectator sports (excluding horse tracks)
(15) Admission to cultural events
(16) Billiard Parlors
(17) Scenic and sightseeing transportation
(18) Taxi and Limousine services
(19) Unscheduled chartered passenger air transportation
(20) Motion picture theaters, except drive-in theaters
(21) Pet grooming
(22) Landscaping services (including lawn care)
(23) Income from intrastate transportation of persons
(24) Mini-storage
(25) Household goods storage
(26) Cold storage
(27) Marina Service (docking, storage, cleaning, repair)
(28) Marine towing service (including tugboats)
(29) Gift and package wrapping service
(30) Laundry and dry cleaning services, coin-operated
(31) Other services to buildings and dwellings
(32) Water softening and conditioning
(33) Internet Service Providers
(34) Short term auto rental
(35) Information Services
(36) Amusement park admission and rides
(37) Circuses and fairs -- admission and games
(38) Cable and other program distribution
(39) Rental of video tapes for home viewing
Rutherford warns
Illinoisans about new service taxes
PONTIAC, IL - The State
Senate recently voted in favor of the largest income tax
increase in Illinois history, but that pales in comparison
to what else was in the legislation, according to State
Senator Dan Rutherford (R-Pontiac). The bill, HB 174 Senate
Amendment 2, also created, for the first time in Illinois, a
tax on services.
When one pays a fee, such
as a camping fee at a state park, or a boating or snowmobile
fee, one expects those fees to be used for the dedicated
purpose they were levied. Like, maintaining camp grounds,
boating safety or water way preservation. But no, not under
this General Assembly, they sweep the funds.
Recently a vote was take
to siphon $350 million from dedicated accounts under the
pretense that there is too much money in them. It passed the
House and Senate with all Democrat votes.
These dedicated funds
were created to receive specific fees for specific purposes.
It includes cleaning up leaky underground storage tanks, and
monitoring long term care facilities.
Logic would say, "if
there is too much in the accounts either (1) use more money
for that purpose or (2) lower the fee being charged."
A few examples of the fee
sweeps 'top donor' funds are:
$30,000,000 - Tourism
Promotion fund
$13,820,000 - Insurance
Producer Administration fund
$10,999,280 - Local
Tourism fund
$9,988,400 - Nursing
Dedicated & Professional fund
State Senator Dan
Rutherford, R-Pontiac, is continuing to take advantage of
the latest social networking technology by Twittering from
the Senate floor.
"As we have been debating
the ethics package and the state budget, I have been able to
Twitter from the Senate Floor to keep Illinoisans aware of
the latest developments," he said.
Rutherford kept his
constituents up to speed on Twitter and Facebook throughout
the weekend as lawmakers discussed the state operations
budget. As of Friday, he was updating Twitter several times
an hour.
Even after the Senate
adjourns, Rutherford said he will continue using
Twitter and
Facebook. (K.M.)
Illinois
Spending
Suggestions for cutting or
modifying the state budget
There are plenty
of politicians in Springfield looking to raise taxes. The
public is saying the logical first step should be to cut
spending by eliminating programs or changing the existing
ones. Senator Rutherford wants the public’s input and will
help ensure the suggestions get to the right decision
makers.
Many voters in
Illinois believe the state should tighten its belt, just
like one does with their family budget. Recommendations for
changes, cutting and modifications submitted will be read by Senator Rutherford. A representative sample of the
suggestions will be posted on this site periodically.
Your
suggestions on how to trim the state budget are welcome!
I would
like to see all of the pork cut out of the budget before any
tax increases are considered. I don't want to increase my
taxes to support any of the pork projects, in particular the
ones in Chicago.
Greg from
Olney
Illinois'
problems will not be resolved until there is true reform.
And I believe there is a simple solution! True reform will
not occur until term limits are established for all
politically elected positions. When one can no longer "make
a living" from politics, officials can then concentrate on
serving the people.
Lyle
from Danville
Consolidate
the governmental agencies; why are we in Chicago and
Springfield? Springfield is our capitol.
Use common
sense in preparing the budgets. We could do with less
management. Improving the computer systems would go a long
way.
This is not a
full-fledged Blog. It does not have hourly interaction, but
it is current and fresh with new information and photos of
my activities. The Senator calls it: Kind of a Blog (KOB).
The postings are actually from the Senator. They are
personal and governmental.
In order to share
postings when the Senator is on the road, he has integrated
his
Dan Fan Page on Facebook with KOB. The
Dan Fan Page on Facebook is updated daily, if not
several times a day. It has current comments, articles and
several photos.
Facebook is a free-access
social networking website that is operated and privately
owned by Facebook, Inc. Users can join networks organized by
city, workplace, school, and region to connect and interact
with other people. People can also add friends and send them
messages, as well as update their personal profiles to
notify friends about themselves.
From thet Senator:
One application of
Facebook is for friends to become Facebook Friends to
interact on their Facebook Profile. Both parties must be a
member of Facebook and must accept each other as Facebook
Friends in order to view each other's postings (the personal
website is called a Profile). The Profile allows accepted
Friends to post comments (similar to a Blog), see their
photos, selected articles and updates. They may post
information about what is happening in their day.
Another use of
Facebook is called a Fan Page. This is a Facebook webpage
which is open to viewing by anyone on the internet,
regardless of being a member of Facebook. Anyone may view
the photos and basic information of a Fan Page. In order to
view a Fan Page in its entirety, post comments on the Page
and receive notification updates, the individual must be a
member of Facebook and sign up as a Fan of that Fan Page.
Senator Rutherford
has a personal Profile. Friends must opt in and be accepted
to have access to the site. There he posts family and life
happenings there.
In addition, the
Dan Fan Page which is open to the world wide web and
where he regularly posts governmental happenings. One need
not be signed up to Facebook to have access to this site.
Senator Rutherford also has a website for
personal and non-governmental matters. Please visit www.DanRutherford.org.
Senator Rutherford is the Chairman of the Committee for Legislative
Action. Its primary purpose is to bring sunlight to attempts to
raise Taxes, Fees and increase Government Regulations in Illinois.
Their website is:
http://www.CommitteeForLegislativeAction.org
District
Office 320 N. Plum Street
Pontiac, IL 61764
(815) 842-3632
(815) 842-2875 Fax
Springfield Office
309C Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-6597
(217) 782-7818 Fax
The development and hosting of Senator Rutherford's web site
are not paid for with taxpayer dollars.
The phone line and internet service
for Senator Rutherford's e-mails are also not paid for at taxpayer
expense.
