Task Force Will Issue Recommendations to Root Out Waste, Fraud and Abuse, and Overhaul Structure to Better Serve Transit Riders

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today issued an Executive Order creating the Northeastern Illinois Public Transit Task Force, an independent panel of transit, finance and good government leaders who will issue recommendations to reform the mass transit system in northeastern Illinois. The 15-member, blue-ribbon task force is charged with developing ways to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse and streamline operations to ensure improved transit service for the millions of users each year.

The task force will issue recommendations to be considered by the General Assembly and Governor Quinn for both the veto and spring sessions.

Today's Executive Order is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to strengthen oversight of mass transit in northeastern Illinois and restore commuters' confidence. The governor's move comes in the wake of recurring scandals at Metra and ongoing accountability problems over the last decade.

"It's clear that the mass transit system in northeastern Illinois is not working for taxpayers," Governor Quinn said. "This task force is a step forward to make our transit system worthy of the public's trust. Their recommendations will be valuable as we work in both the veto and spring sessions to reform mass transit in northeastern Illinois."

The task force will develop recommendations to revamp the oversight of mass transit in northeastern Illinois. The task force will work to provide initial recommendations to the Governor and the Illinois General Assembly prior to the fall veto session, and they will issue a final report by January 31, 2014.

The members of the Northeastern Illinois Public Transit Task Force include :

Co-Chair George Ranney Jr. is President and CEO of Metropolis Strategies. A graduate of Harvard College and the University of Chicago Law School, he served as Deputy State Budget Director under Governor Richard B. Ogilvie and was the chairman of the task force which led to the creation of the Regional Transportation Authority. A trustee of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation from 1991 to 2005 and an emeritus trustee at the University of Chicago, George Ranney is the former Chair and Chief Executive of Prairie Holdings Corporation, the firm which developed Prairie Crossing, a nationally recognized conservation community in north suburban Grayslake. He has served in various capacities for Inland Steel Industries, include Vice President for Raw Materials and General Counsel. In addition, Mr. Ranney is senior counsel to Mayer Brown LLP. He has worked for a number of civic and non-profit organizations including Chicago Public Television (WTTW) and the Field Foundation of Illinois and lives in Grayslake.

Co-Chair Ann L. Schneider is Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation. She has more than 25 years of service with the State of Illinois, including nearly eight with the Illinois Department of Transportation as its Chief Fiscal Officer and Chief Operating Officer. She is the chair of AASHTO's Standing Committee on Rail Transportation (SCORT) and CMAP's Policy Committee. She is a member of the AASHTO Sustainable Transportation: Energy, Infrastructure and Climate Solutions (STEICS) Steering Committee, and as Secretary, she sits on AASHTO's Board of Directors.  In June 2013, she was named chair of the U.S. Department of Transportation National Freight Advisory Committee.  Secretary Schneider has a Master's of Public Administration and has completed her coursework, all but dissertation, for a Doctorate of Public Administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield. She lives in Springfield.

Carole L. Brown is currently a Managing Director at Barclay's Capital. For more than six years, Brown served as Chairman of the Chicago Transit Authority Board, a position she held through September 2009. A native of Baltimore and a 1986 graduate of Harvard University, she went on to attend Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management, where she received a Master's in Management in 1989. She lives in Chicago.

Patrick Fitzgerald is the former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois whose impressive work prosecuting governmental corruption has protected the public interest. As a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates, he serves as an experienced investigator whose practice focuses on internal investigations, government enforcement matters and civil litigation. Fitzgerald has received numerous honors for his more than 20 years in public service including the Justice John Paul Stevens Award from the Chicago Bar Association. He was previously named "Lawyer of the Year" by The National Law Journal. A graduate of Amherst College, he holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He lives in Chicago.

Robert W. Guy is the Illinois State Legislative Director for the United Transportation Union (UTU). Guy graduated from Western Illinois University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism. In 1996 he was elected UTU #234's Local Legislative Representative and was reelected in 1999 and 2003, becoming State Director in 2009, where he has focused on expanding Amtrak service, working on safety legislation, and other issues. He lives in Springfield.

Adrienne M. Holloway is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at DePaul University's School of Public Service. She has more than 10 years of experience in the housing and community development industries. Dr. Holloway received her Ph.D. from Northern Illinois University, her Master's in Public Administration from Baruch College, City University of New York and her B.S. in Psychology from Fordham University. She serves on the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Board. She lives in Aurora.

Sylvia Jenkins is President of Moraine Valley Community College, the second largest community college in Illinois. She earned a Ph.D. in Education and Human Resource Studies specializing in Community College Leadership from Colorado State University, a Master's of Library Science from State University of New York at Albany and a B.S. in English Education from Grambling State University. She lives in Chicago.

Nick Palmer is the Chief of Staff for Will County Executive Larry Walsh and oversees all the departments under the executive branch of county government.  In one of the fastest growing counties in the state, Palmer has pushed for greater transparency of county government and greater accountability of taxpayer dollars. Palmer serves as chairman of the Will County Integrated Criminal Justice Ad-Hoc Committee and initiated a Coordinated Paratransit effort in eastern Will County.  He has advocated for expansion of transit services to underserved areas of Will County. He lives in Bolingbrook.

Tony Paulauski is the Executive Director of The Arc of Illinois, a grassroots organization that advocates on behalf of individuals with disabilities and their families. Paulauski, a native Chicagoan, also serves on numerous boards and committees including the Governor's Disability Services Committee. He was appointed Chairman of the Pace Blue Ribbon Committee on Paratransit. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University, where he majored in Special Education. He lives in Tinley Park.

Raul Raymundo is the Executive Director of the Resurrection Project, an organization dedicated to creating healthy communities through organizing, education and community development. He is currently a member of the Executive Council of Chicago's Metropolis 2020. Raymundo also serves on several boards, including Chicago Metropolitan Development Association and WBEZ 91.5 FM Public Radio. He is a resident of Chicago.

Robert G. Reiter, Jr. is the Secretary-Treasurer of the Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL). He is a third-generation member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 and previously served as an organizer, business representative and field attorney responsible for negotiating collective bargaining agreements. He holds a juris doctor from the Chicago-Kent College of Law. He is a resident of Orland Park.

Ashish Sen is a member of the Chicago Transit Authority Board of Directors and served as Director of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics for the U.S. Department of Transportation. He served as Director of the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he also held positions as Professor of Urban Planning, Professor of Mathematics, Professor of Statistics, and Professor of Computer Science. He is a resident of Chicago.

Don Tantillo is a retired high school teacher and debate coach who worked at Wheeling High School in Northwest Suburban District 214 for 30 years. He grew up in Chicago and earned an undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University and a Master's degree from Northeastern Illinois University. Tantillo was honored in 1992 at the White House as one of two outstanding teachers from Illinois. Tantillo drove a CTA bus while earning his college education. He lives in McHenry.

Kathryn Tholin is CEO of Center for Neighborhood Technology, where she directs and oversees CNT's research, demonstration and policy development. Tholin has more than 25 years of experience in program management, policy development, and research on a wide range of community development, environmental and energy issues. She is also a founder and board member of the Chicago Community Loan Fund. She lives in Chicago.

Sonia Walwyn is a Vice President of Duff & Phelps, LLC, and a member of the tax services group with over 25 years experience assisting clients in maximizing their overall savings and business efficiency across all industry sectors. She earned an LLM in taxation from Villanova School of Law in 2000 and a J.D. from Dickinson School of Law in 1988, and holds a B.S. in accounting from Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. She lives in Naperville.

The Governor's Office currently has no legal ability to intervene with the Metra board or the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) board unless the Office of the Executive Inspector General (OEIG) files a report alleging wrongdoing. According to recent media reports, the OEIG is currently investigating. Governor Quinn expanded the OEIG's authority to include transit boards in 2011 and just this year re-appointed Ricardo Meza - who was one of the finalists for U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois - as the OEIG. The task force will conduct its work at the same time the Inspector General's office continues to review any potential wrongdoing without compromising that investigation.

Family-Friendly Agricultural Showcase Features Entertainment and Activities for Everyone and Highlights "Our Illinois"

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn today officially opened the 2013 Illinois State Fair, the start of the annual agricultural celebration that features a wide variety of family-friendly activities along with food, racing, music and carnival rides. The "Our Illinois" fair theme was introduced at today's Main Gate ribbon cutting as the Governor was joined by people from all parts of the state to welcome the world to the ten-day event.

"The State Fair is an Illinois agricultural and entertainment tradition, with something for everyone and featuring the best from our state's number one industry," Governor Quinn said. "I encourage everyone across Illinois to come to Springfield over the next week and a half to sample the sights, sounds and tastes of the fair."

New features at this year's fair include the Budweiser Clydesdales, who will parade through the fairgrounds every day at 4 p.m. and stay in the Gate 2 area the rest of the day; the Happy Hollow "Concert on the Hill" series, live at 5:30 p.m. daily; the Conservation World "Puddle Duck" races August 17 that challenge kids to make and race their own toy boats; a CrossFit team competition August 10; and the return of the popular Cheer Classic cheerleading competition August 17.

This year's Grandstand concert lineup includes Billy Currington, REO Speedwagon, Styx, John Mayer, The Band Perry, Toby Keith, Ke$ha, and Journey. The Grandstand will feature two free concerts as well, one by New Odyssey and the Illinois Army National Guard 144th Army Band August 12 and another by local high school show choirs August 15. The fair also offers a wide variety of free entertainment - from magic shows to musical acts - on 14 stages throughout the fairgrounds.

The Governor's Tent features a children's area hosted by the Illinois State Museum that will give kids a chance to explore what prehistoric Illinois looked like before settlers arrived. Local foods and food products from throughout the state will be featured in the tent as part of the "Where Fresh Is" campaign, an effort aimed to promote the purchase of Illinois-produced fruits and vegetables. Kids can get photos taken with construction equipment in an area that promotes state construction projects, and the state's tourist attractions and downtowns will be highlighted as well.

The Governor's Tent is open daily during the fair.

For a complete listing of daily activities at the 2013 Illinois State Fair, "Our Illinois," visit www.StateFair.illinois.gov or call (217) 782-6661. The fair runs from Aug. 8 - 18, 2013.

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today proclaimed July 29, 2013 to be Dennis Farina Day in Illinois in honor of his outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry and for his many years of public service.

WHEREAS, Illinois is a leader in supporting the arts, and acting has always been an important component of the artistic fabric of our state; and,

WHEREAS, one of the most successful actors to come from the Land of Lincoln was Dennis Farina, who was born in Chicago to a Sicilian-American family on February 29, 1944; and,

WHEREAS, Dennis Farina is unique in that he did not start acting until he was 37 years old, after serving in the military for 3 years and working for the Chicago Police Department for 18 years, where he spent most of his time in the burglary division; and,

WHEREAS, while still working in the burglary division, Dennis Farina's big break came when he was hired by director Michael Mann for the movie "Thief" (1981). This movie received critical acclaim, and they would go on to work together many times in the future; and,

WHEREAS, after "Thief," Dennis Farina started acting in Chicago theater before being cast by Mann in a lead role for the 1986 TV series "Crime Story"; and,

WHEREAS, Dennis Farina has acted in numerous other films including "Reindeer Games," "Paparazzi," "Midnight Run," and "Manhunter"; and,

WHEREAS, more recently, Dennis Farina appeared in the feature films "The Grand," "Bottle Shock," and "What Happens in Vegas." In addition, he also appeared on the NBC Series "Law and Order" and in the HBO mini-series, "Empire Falls," for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Mini-Series; and,

WHEREAS, on July 22, 2013, in Scottsdale, Arizona, Dennis Farina passed away at the age of 69; and,

WHEREAS, Dennis Farina's warmhearted nature, passion for acting, and great sense of humor were evident to everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him; and,

WHEREAS, his personality was formed in Chicago and, despite his remarkable accomplishments, he always remained loyal to his hometown; and,

WHEREAS, Dennis Farina is survived by many loving friends and family members including three sons, several grandchildren, and his longtime partner, Marianne Cahill; and,

THEREFORE, I, Pat Quinn, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby proclaim July 29, 2013 as DENNIS FARINA DAY in Illinois, in recognition of his tremendous contributions to the entertainment industry as an actor, and in remembrance of his years of public service to the Chicago Police Department and commitment to the Land of Lincoln.

Illinois Clean Water Initiative Will Invest Nearly $13 Million to Rehabilitate and Modernize Decatur Sewer System and Wastewater Treatment Plant

DECATUR - Governor Pat Quinn today announced $13 million in low-interest loans to update the Decatur sewer system and wastewater treatment plant. Funded through Governor Quinn's $1 billion Illinois Clean Water Initiative (CWI), the projects will help meet the clean water needs of nearly 90,000 are residents and create 160 direct and indirect jobs. This announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to drive Illinois' economy forward and protect the environment by modernizing Illinois' water infrastructure.

"A region's economic and environmental strength is based on the availability of clean water," Governor Quinn said. "By making critical infrastructure investments now, we can create jobs and make sure that every person and business in the area can have the clean water access they need to live and work."

The city of Decatur will receive an $8.6 million low-interest loan to rehabilitate portions of its sewer system that have been determined to be most at risk of causing: loss of service for a large number of customers, high volumes of untreated discharges to Lake Decatur (the city water supply), significant property damage and very high repair costs in the event that they fail. Many of these critical portions of the overall 2.2 million foot sewer system were constructed very deep and are located in highly developed areas, including Lake Shore Drive.

"These loans will help city taxpayers avoid expensive emergency repairs and protect residents from harmful effects should these sewers fail," said Decatur Mayor Mike McElroy. "These are responsible investments that will pay off for Decatur for years to come."

The Sanitary District of Decatur will receive a $4.1 million low-interest loan to make a number of critical upgrades to its wastewater treatment facility located on the Sangamon River. The project will include replacing the primary digestor, which has experienced mechanical problems and surpassed its useful life, with a new digestor that will also meet new employee safety standards while increasing the plant's efficiency and further protecting the area's water supply from pollutants.

"Loans like these have been an important financing tool for the Sanitary District of Decatur for many years," Dan Smallwood, president of the Board of Trustees, said. "This investment will help us continue to update our facilities while keeping costs to residents at a reasonable level."

Together, these projects are estimated to create approximately 113 direct construction jobs for area trade union members, including laborers, plumbers, pipefitters, Teamsters, electricians, carpenters and operating engineers, as well as about 48 indirect jobs related to purchase of services, supplies and equipment. The CWI provides a local economic boost across the state by insuring adequate water and sewer infrastructure for residents and business alike and supports an estimated 28,000 jobs throughout Illinois.

"These projects will improve the quality of life for tens of thousands of residents in the Decatur area and will support the quality of life and business climate for years to come," Lisa Bonnett, director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said. "Our agency is proud to work with so many of our local government partners to protect the environment and we want to encourage more communities to get more information about the CWI and how it could help their residents."

"Governor Quinn's Clean Water Initiative is a win-win-win," Chris Meister, executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority, said. "Taxpayers save money from low-interest rate loans and thousands of men and women in the unionized buildings and trades will go to work on projects that will ensure clean safe water for their communities. On behalf of our Chairman Bill Brandt and our entire volunteer board, the Illinois Finance Authority is excited to partner with IEPA on financing these vital water infrastructure projects."

Governor Quinn launched the $1 billion Illinois Clean Water Initiative in his 2012 State of the State address to overhaul aging drinking water and wastewater treatment plants and distribution and collection systems. The CWI is funded with annual federal grants, funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and additional principal and interest from loan repayments. No new state tax dollars are used.

According to the U.S. EPA it is estimated the total water infrastructure needs in Illinois over the next 20 years total $32 billion, including $17 billion in wastewater projects (which is the 6th highest among the states) and $15 billion in drinking water projects (4th highest need in the nation).

To learn more about Governor Quinn's Illinois Clean Water Initiative, visit CleanWater.Illinois.gov.