As we near the end of session (scheduled to be done May 31st), we have some significant accomplishments but much left to address.  Most notably, both the Senate and House passed a significant capital plan this week.  The capital plan is funded by the following revenues that support bonds to accomplish the capital project:

    Vehicle Title/Transfer Fees                                   $114.5 million
    Driver’s License Fees                                               40.6 million
    Vehicle Registration Fee                                         176 million
    Sales Tax on Candy/Beauty Aids/Beverages           150 million
    Liquor Tax Increase                                               113.7 million
    Lottery Improvements                                            150 million
    Video Gaming                                                        375 million

                TOTAL                                                   $1.119 billion

These revenues will support a $28.9 billion capital program to fund the following:

Road Programs

• Multiyear Road Program $11,698 million
• New Road Projects $3,000 million
• New Local Trans Projects (formula) $500 million

Education  

• School Construction $3,000 million
• School Maintenance Matching Grants $200 million
• Public Universities $718 million
• Community Colleges $353 million
• Private Universities $300 million

Environmental/Energy/Tech  

• Environmenta/Water $175 million
• LUST Fund $75 million
• Technology $317 million
• Parks $300 million
• Libraries $100 million
• Museums $100 million
• Clean Sewer/Water Program $906 million

Transportation  

• Public Transit $4,660 million
• Amtrak $150 million
• CREATE $600 million
• Airports $380 million

State Facilities  

• State Facilities $750 million

Economic Development/New Initiatives  

• Healthcare Facilities – FQHCs $50 million

In this plan are significant dollars that will benefit our community, including funding for the CTA, school renovation dollars, parks and healthcare facilities. $1.6 billion remains unallocated and we will pass another bill next week itemizing this spending.

We are beginning to take up significant ethics reform legislation now as well.  When session is over I will provide a complete overview of what we pass regarding ethics improvements.  I held an ethics town hall meeting in April and understand how deeply concerned the public is about the “culture of corruption” in state government.  I firmly believe this is the best opportunity we will ever have to pass meaningful, comprehensive reform, and am pushing to get that accomplished.

Regarding our operating budget, this week we are passing base budgets that fund only legally required services.  These budgets require no new revenues and include significant cuts to state operations.  Next week we will work to finalize the budget — it remains uncertain if we will have a tax increase to avoid major cuts to education, health care, and human services.

While I am in Springfield, I wanted to send you an update about events that my office has hosted or will be hosting in the community.  In this e-mail, you will find notes from the recent public safety meeting that I held in Uptown with Representative Greg Harris, results from the recent Edgewater Day of Service that I coordinated with Representative Harry Osterman and Alderman Mary Ann Smith, an announcement for an event that I will be holding at Sullivan High School in Rogers Park, and an announcement for the upcoming Women’s Resource Fair that Representative Osterman is hosting.

Finally, I want to solicit your input for this summer.  I hope to be back from Springfield and done for the session on June 1.  While I am back from Springfield, I hope to attend as many block club meetings, CAPS meetings, and special events in the area as I can.  Please send your summer events to my chief of staff, Jen Walling at jen@heathersteans.com, and she will work with you to let you know if I will be available.

I also hope to hold a series of outdoor service office hours this summer.  If there is a particular time or place that you would like to see my service office be accessible, please e-mail me at hsteans@senatedem.ilga.gov.

Sincerely,

Heather Steans