Sen. RIghter's update on Medicaid and welfare reforms
While the General Assembly continues negotiations on budget issues, Medicaid and pension reforms, there have been major strides made with the passage of other legislation including a welfare reform measure.
Senate Bill 770 passed the Illinois Senate, Friday, May 18; the measure provides that applicants cannot be reimbursed for the first 30 days of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) application process and gives the state 45 days to process a TANF application. This will help address the problem of presumptive eligibility in which aid applicants are automatically assumed to be eligible and able to receive assistance before the state has determined whether or not they truly are eligible.
Presumptive eligibility has been a major issue with many of the state’s assistance programs. Ensuring that aid recipients are those most deserving is not only common sense but allows funds to remain available and helps cut down on fraud in the system. I am very pleased Republicans in the General Assembly were able to win this concession from the Democrat majority.
On the Medicaid front, the Democrat Majority continues to push for the $1 cigarette tax increase to reform Medicaid, but history has shown that tax hikes don’t bridge budget gaps. A specific section of the Illinois Finance Code needs to be addressed; Section 25 is essentially the state’s Medicaid “credit card” and allows Medicaid bills to be pushed to the next fiscal year. Like anyone who has used a credit card knows, pushing off debt doesn’t eliminate it. Senate Republicans are targeting Section 25 in our reform negotiations in order to rein in Medicaid spending.
I further discuss Medicaid reform options and Senate Bill 770 in this week’s Two Minute Drill.
Righter, Senate approve bill to eliminate GA scholarships
This week, the Illinois Senate continued with a heavy committee schedule considering legislation that has been approved by House legislators. I also spent time in bi-partisan budget meetings where our task was looking at the best ways to balance Illinois’ inflated budget. Senate Republicans maintain our commitment to reduce state spending and have provided many solutions to help ease our fiscal disaster.
While much time was spent in committees and in budget discussions, the Illinois Senate passed a measure to end a program that had been in effect since 1909. Thursday, May 2 the Illinois Senate passed House Bill 3810 which will abolish the controversial General Assembly scholarship program. I and my Republican colleagues have cosponsored the legislation and have spent years advocating for the removal of this program.
I further discuss House Bill 3810 and why the program needs to be extinguished in this week’s Two Minute Drill video blog.
Illinois TECH 2012
Students from the 55th Senate District met with State Senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) during TECH 2012, a demonstration of school technology held May 2 at the Capitol. TECH 2012 is designed to show state leaders what skills will be needed for the Illinois work force and how technology can improve teaching and learning. Senator Righter also spoke to students from all 70 schools in attendance at TECH 2012 and presented a certificate of honor from the Illinois Senate.
Shiloh Elementary School students and faculty share a photo with Senator Dale Righter at TECH 2012.
Pictured with Senator Righter are: Jacob Roskovensky, students Harley Barry and Austin Hollingsworth, and their teacher Lesliea Palmer.
Bridges Regional Safe School students, Marie Hartley and Andrew Reed meet with Senator Righter after showing off their TECH 2012 project, learning about the Vietnam War through music.
Students from Lake Crest Elementary meet with Senator Dale Righter after sharing their project for TECH 2012
Pictured from Lake Crest Elementary are: Alex Gill, Sophia Turner and Jakob Reed. Their teacher, Mandy Hanner, is not pictured.
A day at the Statehouse
This week the Senate enters the final scheduled month of legislative session. Most years, May tends to be crunch-time for most big issues; the 2012 adjournment not only hinges on passing a balanced budget, but also on passing critical reforms for both the pension and Medicaid systems.
My time spent in Springfield is not only filled with time spent on the Senate Floor and in Senate Committees, but also attending working groups for Medicaid, meeting with constituents visiting the Statehouse and speaking to advocacy groups on legislative issues. I’ve recorded a video to give you a little insight as to what my days in Springfield actually look like. Take a glimpse into what a day at the Statehouse really entails.
Springfield—Legislation extending the state's popular Enterprise Zone economic development tool won unanimous support in the state Senate April 26, capping off a busy week that, according to State Senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) also included a scathing audit of the administration's management of the state's workers' compensation program and a Comptroller's report that Illinois is more than $9 billion behind in paying its bills.
Scheduled for May 1 is the release of Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) recommendations on several proposed closures of state facilities.
During the week lawmakers focused mainly on reviewing bills in committees so they can be voted on by the full House and Senate, Senator Righter said. One measure drawing attention was a key campaign finance reform aimed at closing a loophole in existing state law.
