Quorum Call is distributed Fridays when the Illinois General Assembly is in session. For more information, contact Greg St. Aubin, Director of IAR Governmental Affairs, gstaubin@iar.org, or Julie Sullivan, Assistant Director, Legislative and Political Affairs, jsullivan@iar.org. Full text of legislation cited in this newsletter can be found at http://www.ilga.gov/.
- After the release of last week’s “Quorum Call-Week in Review” the Governor surprised legislators and most observers when he issued a proclamation ordering the General Assembly back into Special Session for the first of a series of days beginning Thursday, July 5th. The Governor has vowed to continue to issue proclamations each day calling for Special Session days until there is resolution of budgetary issues. This only heightened tension at the Capitol and there continues to be no end in sight.
- On Thursday, both chambers dedicated their day to hearing testimony on the issue of the lease of the lottery and pension funding. The Illinois House convened another “Committee of the Whole” to discuss these proposals along with a series of panels of expert witnesses. The House recessed this Committee at 6:30 p.m. and began the hearing again on Friday morning. The Senate Revenue Committee also heard testimony on Thursday and again on Friday on these issues.
- On Friday, there was floor action in both chambers. The Senate spent considerable time debating and ultimately voting on S.J.R. 1 by a voice vote. This non-binding resolution, sponsored by Senate Revenue Committee chairman, Senator Don Harmon, cites concerns about pension funding and resolves that “the General Assembly is in agreement that a solution to this crisis must be adopted prior to adjournment of the 2007 Spring Session of the Ninety-Fifth General Assembly”. Meanwhile, the House debated an amendment to House Bill 2055, which contained the Governor’s proposal to lease the lottery in order to generate significant new funding. The proposal was strongly criticized by both Democrats and Republicans and even the sponsor of the measure, Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie urged a NO vote. House bill 2055 ultimately failed on a roll call vote of 6 voting YES and 78 voting NO.
- The House and the Senate are scheduled to be in Special Session throughout the weekend and will reconvene in regular session on Tuesday, July 10, 2007.
For more information, contact Greg St. Aubin, Director of IAR Governmental Affairs, gstaubin@iar.org, or Julie Sullivan, Assistant Director, Legislative and Political Affairs, jsullivan@iar.org.
Contact information for members of the House and Senate, notice of committee hearings, text of legislation and roll call votes are all available on the Illinois General Assembly’s Web site, http://www.ilga.gov/.
Illinois Association of REALTORS
3180 Adloff Lane, Suite 400
Springfield, IL 62703
PH 217/529-2600
FAX 217/529-3904
http://www.illinoisrealtor.org/
Members meet with Senator Murphy after Legislative Breakfast
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