What is Quality of life for our veterans?  The meaning for most upon
returning home is security.  Jobs that offer equitable pay with benefits,
home ownership, education opportunity.

Many veterans returning home bring with them acquired skills. Skills they
did not have prior to entering the military.  These personnel are the
support groups who maintain and operate equipment.  They are apart from
those whose primary duty is combat.  For the most part, they are well
trained in job skills.  They are mechanics, builders, electronics
technicians, equipment operators, medical technicians, cooks, bakers,
administrative personnel; just to name a few skills they bring home.  Most
have attended schools in the military.

Those personnel who do require education, it is available to them through
government programs.  Programs that offer a variety of productive skills.
Veterans Affairs (VA) have counselors to help in their decision making
process.  Many of these counselors maintain offices in nearly all schools
of higher education.

Employers can be eligible for tax break incentives for hiring veterans.
Some might say,why give preferential treatment to veterans?  Military
personnel of all branches can and often are placed in harms way.  Their
main obligation is to maintain our Country's posterity, freedom from
oppression as a sovereign nation.  They have earned the hard way a right
to better quality of life.

Many returning veterans are not without problems, medical and mental.
Here again, one other purpose of our VA is to afford its veterans
undeniable medical and mental care.  All the veteran should need to verify
service is their DD-214 proof of military service and discharge under
honorable conditions.  In the event of being in combat, proof of medals in
a combat campaign.  For any service connected disability, whether it be
combat or non-combat, proof of that disability.  Military personnel at
discharge should make copies of their DD-214, record of awards, record of
duty stations, medical records that could be significant for possible
disability medical issues in the future.  If and or when a time lends
itself, these records become valuable in making a VA claim.  Congress and
Senate introduces legislation for VA disability to help veterans.  How
many of these Bills are stuck in committee?  Our best support is the
American people to write Congress and Senate, ask them to support our
veterans in need for medical care and compensation.

If a veteran needs advice in dealing with the VA, there is help.  The VA
has veterans liaison coordinators.  Other good sources of help is the VFW
1-816-756-3390,  American Legion 1-202-861-2700, Disabled American
Veterans 1-877-426-2838, Vietnam Veterans of America 1-800-vva-1316,
American Veterans 1-877-726-8387.  These organizations are recognized by
the VA and Federal Government.  There is no charge for their services.
Upon discharge from military service, it is advised to register with the
VA to be in the system.
By: John J. Bury, US Navy/retired, Vietnam War veteran, Media, Pa. (for
immediate release)

Cuts Spending; Reforms Medicaid; Pays Bills 

CHICAGO ­- June 30, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today reduced the budget he received Friday from the General Assembly by $57 million. After a careful review of the budget bills, the Governor enacted a $33.7 billion balanced budget. This budget cuts discretionary spending by $1.4 billion from fiscal year 2012, pays $1.3 billion of old bills, closes and consolidates 57 facilities, and restructures the state's Medicaid program while preserving the state's vital services. Governor Quinn also cut his own office budget by nine percent.

"Cutting the budget is never easy but we must make the difficult decisions necessary to restore fiscal stability to Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "This budget is a serious fiscal plan that pays our bills, closes facilities and prevents the collapse of our Medicaid system."

Reductions

Overall, this budget reduces discretionary spending by approximately $1.4 billion from the previous fiscal year.  The fiscal year 2012 discretionary budget was $25.3 billion compared to $23.9 billion for fiscal year 2013. This budget reduces overall spending at agencies under the Governor's control, including a 9 percent reduction in the Governor's office.

Governor Quinn reduced the budget through the closures and consolidations of 57 state facilities in order to improve state government efficiency and the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges.  These actions will save the state approximately $82 million in fiscal year 2013, and will result in an annualized savings of at least $136 million beginning in fiscal year 2014. Illinois can no longer afford outdated, half-full, very expensive facilities.

 

Department of Corrections

Reductions to the department will be achieved through the closures of Tamms Correctional Center, Dwight Correctional Center, Southern Illinois Adult Transition Center, Decatur Adult Transition Center and Westside Adult Transition Center.

 

Department of Juvenile Justice

Reductions to the department will be achieved through the closures of the Illinois Youth Center Murphysboro and Illinois Youth Center Joliet. 

 

Department of Human Services

Reductions to the department will be achieved through the closures of Tinley Park Mental Health Center, Singer Mental Health Center and Jacksonville Developmental Center (JDC).  The Department of Human Services will begin the process of closing Murray Developmental Center once the closure of JDC is complete.  The funding in these lines will be used to ensure smooth transitions and coordinated care as individuals move from costly institutions to supportive community settings.

Governor Quinn strongly objects to the General Assembly's cuts to education and the Department of Children and Family Services, which is dedicated to protecting and saving children from abuse and neglect.  The governor will seek to reallocate funding in the fall towards protecting children.

"Our priority should always be the safety and well-being of our children," Governor Quinn said.

 

For a more detailed explanation of reductions, please see attachments.

Pension  

Under Governor Quinn's leadership, the state of Illinois has made the statutorily required pension payment every year since 2009.  The fiscal year 2013 budget continues to fully fund the pension systems.

Without major changes to our pension systems, pension costs will continue to place a tremendous strain on Illinois' budget. In fiscal year 2008, the state's pension payments were $1.8 billion, and have since grown to $5.2 billion in fiscal year 2013. These rising costs continue to squeeze all other areas of state government including education, public safety and services relied on by some of the state's most vulnerable residents.

Governor Quinn laid out a pension plan to address these rising costs and eliminate the state's unfunded liability; however, any changes require legislative action. The Governor continues to work diligently with legislators on both sides of the aisle to solve Illinois' pension challenges that continue to impact taxpayers on a daily basis.

Reforms are also needed immediately in order to make certain the men and women who have faithfully contributed to the system receive their benefits. Governor Quinn is committed to making sure the pension systems are 100 percent funded by 2042 while saving taxpayer funds. The Governor is committed to continuing to work on the issue until pension reform is accomplished.

 

Today, Governor Pat Quinn took action on the following bills:

Approved

SB 2378    General Services appropriations

SB 2413    P-12 Education appropriations

SB 2443   Higher Education appropriations

SB 2454   Human Services appropriations

SB 3802   Budget Implementation Act

Line Item and Reduction Vetoed

SB 2474   Public Safety appropriations

Reduction Vetoed

SB 2409    General Services appropriations

Line Item Vetoed

SB 2332    Capital re-appropriations

The fiscal year 2013 budget takes effect July 1, 2012.

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[DAVENPORT - June 29, 2012]– The Putnam Museum has announced its brand partnership with National Geographic as the National Geographic Giant Screen Theater was unveiled on Friday. The branding partnership provides exclusive marketing of the Giant Screen Theater to all National Geographic magazine and on-line subscribers in a 75-mile radius. The Putnam will also be connected to all classrooms in the region that utilize National Geographic Kids magazine. Additionally, the Putnam will gain special access to one of the world's largest Giant-Screen film libraries that includes award-winning films in 2D and 3D digital formats.

"The Putnam is proud to partner with a world-renown organization such as National Geographic. The relationship makes tremendous sense as the Putnam actively brings science, history and cultures to life for people of all ages in the Quad Cities region . . . and National Geographic does the same on a global scale," said Putnam President/CEO, Kim Findlay. "Reaching out through National Geographic to their subscribers who we already know have strong interest in the topics the Putnam features, provides a great probability of bringing more people to the Putnam who will likely dine, shop and visit other Quad City venues."

As a National Geographic Cinema partner, the Putnam will be among the first to show National Geographic films produced for Giant Screens. National Geographic has pledged to produce two new titles annually,

"We are excited to have the Putnam Museum onboard as a partner," said Mark Katz, president of distribution for National Geographic Cinema Ventures. "In addition to bringing our engaging films to Davenport, its commitment to screen our films will allow us to create even more content for audiences here and around the world."

The Putnam Museum is currently showing "Flying Monsters 3D," an award-winning National Geographic film playing on the Giant Screen through Labor Day. Flying Monsters 3D stars Sir David Attenborough, the world's leading naturalist who sets out to uncover the truth about the enigmatic pterosaurs. Coming to the Giant Screen this fall is a documentary called "Meerkats 3D." This animal documentary takes audiences on a journey with a family of meerkats as they cope with the twists and turns of life in the Kalahari Desert. Upcoming National Geographic documentaries that the Putnam Museum plans to bring to the Giant Screen Theater are "Wildest Weather: The Conquest of Everest"; James Cameron's "DEEPSEA CHALLENGE," "Invisible Worlds" and "Robots 3D."

Other outstanding films available from the National Geographic library include "Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure," "Forces of Nature" and traditional feature-length documentaries including "U2 3D," "The Wildest Dream," "The Last Lions" and "Life in a Day."

The Putnam Museum's National Geographic Giant Screen Theater is located in the Putnam's Grand Lobby. Tickets for documentaries are $8.50/adults; $7.50/seniors/student/military; and $6.50/youth ages 3-12. Tickets for 2D feature movies are $11/adults; $10/senior/student/military; $8/Youth (ages 3-12). Tickets for 3D feature movies are $12.50/adults; $11/ senior/student/military; $9/Youth (ages 3-12). Movie times vary, for more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.putnam.org or stop in the Museum.

About the Putnam Museum  

The Putnam Museum is a 501(c)(3) educational corporation, providing the greater Quad Cities region with quality-of-life experiences since 1867. The Museum is the primary repository for the area's unique treasures -- over 170,000 artifacts and specimens that tell the stories of the region, the people who live here and their connections to the world. The Giant Screen Theater is equipped with 264 stadium-style seats; a screen six stories high and seven stories wide; a eight-speaker, 10,000 watt digital sound system; THX^® Certified sound by QSC Audio Products, LLC; and a new 4k Dolby digital projection system. The Theater is Giant Screen Certified by the Giant Screen Association. Visit the Putnam Museum at www.putnam.org for more information.

About National Geographic Cinema Ventures 

National Geographic Cinema Ventures is responsible for production and distribution of giant-screen, 3D and specialty films. Over the last decade, NGCV has produced or released a number of successful films, including Academy Award-nominated documentary "Restrepo"; giant-screen award-winning films "Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure," "U2 3D," "Mysteries of Egypt" and "Forces of Nature"; and feature-length films "The Last Lions" and "Life in a Day." Lisa Truitt is president of NGCV, and Mark Katz is president of NGCV distribution. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/movies.

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Legislation is essential for economic development and job creation

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement after the House passed a bipartisan Transportation Authorization Bill.  The current short-term extension was set to expire over the weekend.  The bill passed by a vote of 373-52 and is now headed to the President, which he is expected to sign.

"I am pleased a transportation bill has finally been passed.  While it should have been done before today and cover a longer period of time, this bill will help create much needed jobs in Iowa and give communities the certainty needed to invest in necessary infrastructure improvements and economic development initiatives.

"It is clear to any Iowan who drives a car or truck, rides the rails or flies in an airplane that a long-term highway plan is needed.  A modern, safe and efficient transportation authorization will not only create jobs now for the construction industry - facing a 13.3 percent unemployment rate - but it will also set the table for long-term job creation and economic growth. Even with passage of this bill today, I am going to be pushing for work to start as soon as possible on a longer-term bill that provides greater investment in our infrastructure so our businesses and farmers can compete effectively in the 21^st Century global economy."

Loebsack has been urging passage of a long-term transportation bill for a number of years and has brought important Iowa projects to the attention of the President, the Speaker of the House, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Loebsack has worked to highlight important projects to Eastern and Southern Iowa that are in need of adequate funding to move forward.  They include :

• Highway 100 completion and connection to Interstate 380 in Cedar Rapids
• Interstate 74 bridge replacement and improvement in the Quad Cities
• Interstate 80 & 380 ramp and road/lane improvements in and around Coralville and Iowa City north to Cedar Rapids
• U.S. Highway 30 four-lane paving from Clinton to Cedar Rapids
• U.S. Highway 34 improvements from Burlington into Illinois
• U.S. Highway 61 Business improvements in Muscatine
• U.S. Highway 61 four-lane paving from Muscatine County to Burlington
• U.S. Highway 63 four-lane paving from Missouri State Line to Ottumwa
• U.S. Highway 63 four-lane paving from Oskaloosa to Interstate 80 and improved access to U.S. 63 for Pella

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