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The General Assembly was back in Springfield this week for two days to finalize the State budget for the fiscal year that began July 1st. The House and Senate leaders and Governor Quinn came to an agreement on the $26 billion spending plan and it was approved by both chambers and signed into law on Wednesday. The approved budget plan does NOT include the income tax increase favored by the Governor and earlier approved only in the Senate. The budget relies on borrowing and more cuts to be made by the Governor with the expectation that in January the issue of revenue shortfalls will be again considered by the General Assembly. This is particularly significant in light of the fact that the primary election is February 2, 2010.
There was NO action this week on Senate Bill 268 which includes the rewrite of the Real Estate License Act, agreed language to enact limited provisions to give municipalities a priority lien for clean-up costs on abandoned property, a change to the Predatory Lending Database counseling program to add Kane, Will and Peoria counties (now only applicable in Cook County) and language requested by the community banking lobby to make changes to ensure the continued viability of “banker’s banks”. It is likely that this legislation will be considered in the fall session of the legislature.
In other action this week:
On Monday, July 13th, the Governor approved the massive capital construction program that had been approved by the General Assembly in May. The legislative package (contained in House Bills 255, 312 and 2400) is an approximately $30 billion funding plan for improvements to roads, local infrastructure projects and schools. Elected officials expect that this capital plan will stimulate the economy as it will create hundreds of thousands of jobs in Illinois and provide much needed repair and upgrades to infrastructure throughout the State.
The Governor has also signed into law Senate Bill 1918 (Public Act 96-33). This new law includes provisions requiring electric utilities to establish an “on-bill financing” program for energy efficiency measures for eligible customers. An electric utility that serves more than 100,000 customers on January 1, 2009 will be required to offer an approved on-bill financing program to allow retail customers who own a residential single family home, duplex, or other residential building with 4 or less units or a condominium to borrow funds from a third party lender to purchase approved electric energy efficiency measures for installation in such home or condo without any upfront payment and to pay back such funds over time on their bill. A loan issued to a participant is the sole responsibility of the participant and the bill requires that any dispute that may arise of the loan’s terms, conditions or charges must be resolved between the participant and the lender. Upon the transfer of the property title for the premises at which the participant receives electric service the participant will be required to pay in full its electric utility bill, including all amounts due under the program.
A special note this week about the importance of every vote and David Levin, a REALTOR member of the Quad City Area REALTOR Association. David was a candidate this past April for Mayor of Rock Island who narrowly lost by 13 votes to Dennis Pauley who was sworn in early May. However, David successfully sought a recount which was granted by the court in early June and conducted by the county clerk. After the recount the race was declared a tie in a July 8th ruling of the Circuit Court of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. The order noted that “the recount confirmed that the integrity of the election was sound; the initial counting of the ballots Election Day was not.” Applying established Illinois law to the recounted ballots, this election has ended in a tie with both candidates receiving 3,047 votes each.” Illinois’ election law mandates that the winner in a tied election is to be decided by lot, “in such manner as the court shall direct”. In his ruling, the judge was very deliberative regarding the manner that this should be done. His decision contemplated a coin toss with these words: “After practicing flipping a coin in chambers and letting it hit the thin carpeting on the floor which is identical in the courtroom, it became apparent the coin would occasionally bounce or roll leaving this Court with unpleasant visions of someone chasing a rolling coin around the courtroom. This Court thought about having someone catch the coin, but what if the coin is dropped? The Court therefore declined to use a coin toss to break this tie.” The judge ultimately directed that the winner would be determined by drawing out an envelope with the name of the candidate. The drawing was held yesterday morning (July 15th) with the end result of Dennis Pauley declared the victor. While the outcome was not as hoped David showed great resolve and we extend our warm wishes!
The House and Senate both adjourned Wednesday evening July 15th. The General Assembly is not expected to return until the October fall session which has been scheduled for October 14-16 and 28-30.
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