State Representative Raymond Poe

Poe & Brauer Furious Over Filan Rehire

admin — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:35:54 +0000

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.

Poe Supports Capital Plan

admin — Sun, 10 May 2009 20:28:07 +0000

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.

Quinn Pushes Tax, Fee Hikes on Backs of Middle Class Families, State Employees

admin — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:54:57 +0000

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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Poe: Blagojevich is History

admin — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:41:11 +0000

Springfield, IL…In a move never seen before in Illinois history, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today became the first Governor to be removed from office through impeachment. State Representative Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) applauds the Senate for voting to remove Democrat Governor Rod Blagojevich from office based on charges of blatant abuse of power, as well as federal corruption charges.

“Today marks the beginning of a new day in Illinois,” said Poe. “As we have witnessed for many years, Governor Blagojevich has shown nothing but contempt for Springfield. Evidence of this can be seen in everything from his refusal to stay in the governor’s mansion to his desire to send IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety to southern Illinois and his recent closure of the historic Dana-Thomas house. I look forward to working with Governor Quinn to promptly address these issues and the many issues that the Blagojevich administration neglected over the past six years.”

Poe Looking Forward to the 96th General Assembly

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:35:04 +0000

To mark the beginning of the 96th General Assembly, State Representative Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) took the oath of office in an inauguration ceremony held at the University of Illinois at Springfield today. Poe, set to begin serving his eighth term in the Illinois House of Representatives, is energized by what he sees as an opportunity in the 96th G.A. to address many of the issues that have been on hold under the current administration.

“It is a privilege and an honor to once again be serving the people of the 99th District,” said Poe. “I am optimistic that the 96th General Assembly will bring opportunities to tackle some of the big issues in my district, as well as in the state of Illinois. Our first order of business, however, will be to vote again on the Articles of Impeachment to ensure there is no question regarding the vote taken under the 95th General Assembly.”
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Poe, House Vote to Impeach Governor

admin — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:52:19 +0000

State Representative Raymond Poe (R-Springfield), along with the Illinois House, voted today to impeach Democrat Governor Rod Blagojevich after his December 9th arrest on charges he attempted to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat. The vote Friday marks the first time in the 190-year history of Illinois that a sitting Governor has been impeached.

“I think the summary of evidence brought forth by the Special Committee shows a blatant abuse of power by our Governor,” said Poe. “It is clear that the Committee’s findings prove that Governor Blagojevich is not fit to serve as the Governor of Illinois.”

Call for Special Election to Fill US Senate Seat

admin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:16:50 +0000

We ask you to join us in urging House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones to immediately call the General Assembly back into session to allow a vote on the special election legislation to fill the Senate seat of Barack Obama by signing this online petition.

Impeach Governor Rod Blagojevich

admin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:20:08 +0000

In light of the serious federal criminal charges filed against Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, I am currently co-sponsoring House Resolution 1644 calling for impeachment proceedings to begin immediately against Governor Rod R. Blagojevich.

Please join me in demanding that Speaker Michael Madigan immediately initiate impeachment hearings in the Illinois House by adding your name to the petition by clicking here.

Poe Files Legislation to Strengthen State Facilities Closure Act

admin — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:23:01 +0000

Springfield, IL – With Governor Blagojevich still planning to move the Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Traffic Safety out of Springfield, State Representative Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) filed legislation this week that would prevent the closure of a state facility without the approval of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA). Under the current State Facilities Closure Act, opinions rendered by members of COGFA are strictly advisory in nature.

“The State Facilities Closure Act, in its current format, does a good job of allowing for public dialogue on proposed state facility closures,” said Poe. “However, our current administration has chosen to completely disregard the findings and opinions of the Commission, as well as the wishes of the public. This legislation aims to put some teeth into the decisions rendered by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability to ensure a fairer, non-partisan approach to state facility closures.”

The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability has held hearings twice in 2008. In each circumstance, COGFA voted unanimously against the proposed closures. The Blagojevich Administration has chosen to ignore the Commission’s advisory opinion in both cases.

Poe’s legislation, House Bill 4, would provide that a recommendation for closure of a State facility may not be implemented unless at least 8 out of 12 members of COGFA approve the recommendation.

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Poe & Brauer Request Public Hearing on State Employee Deferred Compensation Changes

admin — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:28:55 +0000

Springfield, IL – State Representatives Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) and Rich Brauer (R-Petersburg) today sent a letter to State Board of Investment Director Bill Atwood (ISBI) requesting a public hearing in Springfield on proposed policy changes to the ISBI managed deferred-compensation (401(k)) program.

“I am very concerned about what we are hearing,” said Poe. “The mutual funds currently used by State employees to invest their 401 (k) assets are relatively transparent entities with publicly quoted asset prices. Considering the tumultuous times we are facing with the stock market, I think we need to put our highest priority on supporting the existing investment decisions made by Illinois state workers and plan participants. Our state workers’ peace of mind must be our highest priority.”

At JCAR’s September 16, 2008 meeting in Chicago, the ISBI promised to JCAR that a public hearing would be held under CMS’s auspices on this controversial rules change. At last notice, CMS had plans to hold the hearing in Chicago on or around October 7, 2008.

“Illinois state employees have invested somewhere in the neighborhood of $3.0 billion in deferred-compensation 401(k) money in mutual funds supervised by the Illinois State Board of Investment,” said Brauer. “Considering that the majority of those employed by the state live in the Springfield area, we are demanding a hearing be held in Springfield so that our constituents may learn more about this proposal, ask questions and find out how this proposal could affect them and their future.”

A current rule-making proposal before the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), 80 IAC 2700, would change all references within ISBI rules from “investment funds” to “investment options”. Poe and Brauer fear this rule, which is scheduled to be considered by JCAR at their October 16^th meeting, could be used as a platform for this policy change.

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