Best intentions
Friday, Aug 21, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* We have literally billions of dollars worth of very small state programs and grants that were mostly enacted into law with unanimous votes. One recent example…
Legislation requiring the Illinois Department of Public Health to provide all newborns with screening tests for the presence of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) under a new law sponsored by State Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) was signed Wednesday by Gov. Bruce Rauner.
“Screening for ALD at such an early stage will help save lives,” Righter said. “All too often, those with ALD are diagnosed too late for treatment to work. It’s a terrible disease, but this law helps us get out in front of it and save our children.”
According to the Stop ALD Foundation, ALD is a deadly genetic disease that affects one in 18,000 people. It most severely affects boys and men. This brain disorder destroys myelin, the protective sheath that surrounds the brain’s neurons — the nerve cells that allow us to think and to control our muscles. It knows no racial, ethnic or geographic barriers.
The bill zoomed through both chambers with only a single “No” vote.
* And most of our unfunded local mandates were also passed unanimously…
A bill recently signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner to assist disabled veterans may have had the best of intentions, but the trickle-down effects will add pressure to local governments.
La Salle County could lose tens of thousands of dollars due to the new property tax breaks granted by the state.
New breaks for veterans with a service-connected disability could cost the county at least $68,000, according to La Salle County chief assessment officer Stephanie Kennedy.
The breaks will apply to more than 200 parcels of land countywide, but that number is sure to climb with the increase of eligible veterans.
The bill uses the Department of Veterans Affairs disability schedule to determine who is eligible for which benefits. The VA assigns service-connected disabilities a rating based on the severity of the disability and the impairment it causes. Using the VA ratings, the new Illinois law will expand both the pool of eligible veterans and increase existing benefits.
- Sir Reel - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 11:50 am:
It’s so much easier for the GA to do this stuff than to tackle it’s own problems. Especially giving away other people’s money.
- Northern pike - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 11:52 am:
Love the vets, but this will increase other peoples property taxes.
- Abe the Babe - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 11:56 am:
And for what? Political leverage for an unpopular agenda? You know, the core agenda that shall remain unmentioned.
Can any of the Rauner supporters defend this budget hostage strategy?
- RetiredStateEmployee - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 11:57 am:
Newborn screening is funded by a fee for the test. Assuming that the Newborn Screening fund hasn’t been raided for other purposes, that program mostly funds itself. Over the years, the fee has increased to fund new technology and the ability to test for more than the original 6 conditions. When you see a balance in this fund, know that a tandem mass spectrometer is not an inexpensive piece of equipment and the money in the fund will be needed at sometime to either repair or upgrade the technology.
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 11:59 am:
58 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 PRESENT Senate 115 YEAS 0 NAYS 0 PRESENT House still cant figure out where the single no vote was
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 12:11 pm:
So a Republican runs an unfunded mandate it’s ok because they really care about people, a Democrat runs an unfunded mandate and they only care about the worthless freeloaders who vote for their corruption to get free stuff?
I think I got it now.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 12:13 pm:
Anonymous, don’t be a victim.
- FairGoer - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 12:18 pm:
Those who served their country and now live on roughly $1500 a month due to injuries sustained should get a break. Support our troops…when they get home too.
- El Duderino - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 12:29 pm:
===Love the vets, but this will increase other peoples property taxes.===
And I’m happy to pay more.
- Ghost - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 12:41 pm:
I like all of these. Now lets get some revenue in to pay for them. These bulls indicate the gov and gop recognize the need for govt help to children, vets etc. it seems we have a lot of comman grnd
- Johnnie F. - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 1:00 pm:
I don’t know if the NBS funds survived the last spring fund sweeps. So many programs like NBS have significant value for our citizens. Now if the Gov can stop with his TA agenda so these critical services can be provided uninterupted and independent of budget and labor conflicts.
- A Jack - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 1:08 pm:
Veterans who were injured for their country deserve whatever small benefit they can get.
Slightly off topic, but I thought it was kind of cool that Ray Poes’ brother was catering the Veteran’s Day lunch at the state fair.
- Liandro - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 1:11 pm:
Easy to spend other people’s money, even when you’re broke.
- Not it - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 1:11 pm:
The State loves to pass unfunded mandates. The State has no money to do fun stuff, so they just require someone else to do fun stuff instead.
- GA Watcher - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 1:15 pm:
LaSalle County won’t lose tens of thousands of dollars as reported in the News Tribune. It can still levy whatever dollar amount it wants. The $68,000 that would have previously been paid by disabled veterans will now be picked up by the other property taxpayers in the County.
- nona - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 1:21 pm:
GA Watcher is correct. A property tax break for one group merely shifts the tax burden to other property owners. Voting for this bill is a vote to help a handful of property owners by raising taxes on everyone else. I bet none of the legislators would admit they voted to jack up property taxes.
- walker - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 1:29 pm:
We’re still banking on segregated special funds to be intact?
- Just Me - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 2:24 pm:
Nona — you must live in Cook County. Cook County property taxes work differently than the rest of the State.
- FairGoer - Friday, Aug 21, 15 @ 2:34 pm:
= nona = you and GA are correct. This shifts a burden away from a handful of disabled veterans to be spread over the whole community they live in. Please also take note; only 1% of the US population ever serve in the military.