Springfield Update

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.”

~Benjamin Franklin




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 www.ilga.gov.




- The Governor began 2008 by issuing, as he had threatened to do, his 19th Special Session proclamation, calling the legislature into session on Wednesday, January 2, 2008. He charged the General Assembly with passing legislation to resolve the CTA/RTA crisis.

- The day’s activities began with a well-attended hearing of the House Mass Transit Committee. Chairwoman Julie Hamos (D-18, Evanston) had the “subject matter” hearing specifically to discuss possible funding sources that would fill the state “budget hole” that would be created by Senate Bill 307, an alternative to the sales tax/transfer tax mass transit plan (SB 572, which we strongly oppose). Senate Bill 307, as you’ll recall, has many of the same substantive elements as SB 572, but does NOT contain a sales tax or transfer tax increase, but instead proposes to divert the proceeds from the sales tax on gasoline sold in Cook and the “collar counties” toward the mass transit plan.

The Mass Transit Committee heard from several witnesses regarding three possible revenue sources to fill the estimated $385 million budget hole that would be created by the SB 307. Two senior advisors from the Governor’s office briefed the committee on potential revenues and issues relating to fund transfer as one revenue option, and closing business tax “loopholes” as another. Kathy Drea from the American Lung Association briefed the members on issues relating to a proposed 90-cent per-pack increase in the state cigarette tax as a possible option.

Members of the committee expressed varying views and requested more information on several aspects of these proposals, and some members also discussed the importance of including fare increases as part of the funding package.

Rep. Hamos indicated her belief that a real estate transfer tax could and should still be a part of the final package, even in an alternative plan along the lines of Senate Bill 307! Rep. Hamos plans to have a proposal ready to vote on by Wednesday, January 9th, when the General Assembly is scheduled to return to Springfield in regular session.


- When both chambers convened later in the afternoon on January 2nd, 70 of 118 House members were in attendance, and just 14 of 59 Senate members answered the roll call. Additionally, only one of the four legislative leaders was in town. Both chambers gaveled the 19th Special Session to a close a few minutes after convening, and did not act on any substantive legislation.

- Please be prepared to act once again to contact your legislator, as we expect that a mass transit package may well be voted on next week, as mentioned above. Watch for a Call to Action, or check www.iaractioncenter.org. YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT IS MUCH APPRECIATED AND KEY TO OUR SUCCESS THUS FAR!

- The last day to register to vote in the primary if you are not already registered is JANUARY 8th. You will need two forms of identification with one showing your current address. You do not have to re-register unless you moved or changed your name. Go to State Board of Elections for more information.



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, www.ilga.gov.

Illinois Association of REALTORS
522 South Fifth Street
Springfield, IL 62701
PH 217/529-2600
FAX 217/529-3904
www.illinoisrealtor.org