Springfield…State Representative Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) is calling Governor Quinn’s plan to force retired state employees to pay for their healthcare coverage an outrage and a sign of what Quinn has in store for state employees. Poe believes Quinn’s efforts to break the state’s contract with retired state employees is only the beginning of what Poe sees as a fleecing of our state’s public servants.
Springfield…Facing a fiscal crisis never before seen in Illinois, State Representatives Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) and Rich Brauer (R-Petersburg) were denied a request by House Democrat leadership to release House Resolution 1003 from House Rules Committee today. Poe and Brauer introduced the resolution in an effort to shed more light on buildings leased by the state, as well as existing space in state-owned facilities. The resolution comes on the heels of an announcement this week that the Illinois Department of Aging will be moving from state-owned, rent free facilities to leased space that would cost Illinois taxpayers more than $530,000 per year.
Springfield…State Representative Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) passed legislation out of committee today that would ban K2, a dangerous marijuana substitute that is currently sold legally throughout Illinois. K2, an herb and spice mixture that, according to physicians, impacts the cardiovascular system of users with symptoms such as a fast heart beat, dangerously elevated blood pressure, pale skin and vomiting.
Springfield, IL – State Representatives Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) and Rich Brauer (R-Petersburg) today called Governor Pat Quinn’s second budget address short and lacking in details. Both Poe and Brauer say that Quinn’s state budget plan for Fiscal Year 2011 does nothing to truly address the root causes of our budget crisis and relies too heavily on borrowing and not enough on reform and job creation.
Springfield…State and university employees taking furlough days for FY10 are now one step closer to being able to purchase the earnings credit for those days. HB 4644, legislation sponsored by State Representative Raymond Poe (R-Springfield), would give employees the option to regain credit for furlough days that could affect their final average salary. According to Poe, under current law, employees taking furlough days that plan to retire within the next four years would be affected.
Springfield…In an effort to ensure that newborn infants continue to receive vital metabolic screenings, State Representative Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) sponsored and passed HB 4896 to ensure that the Metabolic Screening and Treatment Fund are not subjected to administrative charges or charge-backs. Now headed to the Senate, Poe says that securing the funding for these screenings is vital to ensuring a baby’s healthy development.
Springfield… State Representative Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) says he believes the state of Illinois is making the wrong decision by moving ahead with the sale of the Thomson Correctional Center to the federal government. With members of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) voting today to approve the closure of Thomson, Poe cites the sale of valuable state property and potential danger of bringing foreign terrorists onto American soil as his chief reasons for voting against the closure.
Springfield, IL – After receiving word that Illinois Finance Authority executive director John Filan resigned and was then promptly hired back on contract, State Representatives Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) and Rich Brauer (R-Petersburg) are calling on Governor Pat Quinn to stop playing Blagojevich-style politics and rid the state of Blagojevich’s chief budgeteer once and for all.
With the passage of a $26 billion capital construction plan in the Senate Wednesday, State Representatives Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) vows to support the legislation upon its arrival in the Illinois House. In its current form, the plan would include $2.4 million in motor fuel tax revenue for the city of Springfield, $2.3 million for Sangamon County Highway Department road projects, along with state funding for school grants promised to the Rochester school district.
Springfield, IL – Upon the completion of Governor Quinn’s first annual budget address, State Representative Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) called Governor Quinn’s budget plan lacking in fiscal constraint and punishing to the middle-class working families and state employees of Illinois. Poe cites the governor’s plan to increase taxes on working families and their employers by 50%, along with fee increases to close a massive budget shortfall, as their chief criticisms.
“First, we must do right by the citizens of Illinois,” said Poe. “If the families of Illinois are being forced to live within their means, so should state government. Why in the world would we want to increase taxes on working families and employers before we make sure that current programs are necessary and in working order. We need to partner with business leaders to analyze this budget and eliminate wasteful spending before we ever consider any type of tax or fee increases.”
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