CHICAGO - February13, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today received the first set of recommendations from the Illinois P-20 Council. The council's report was released to the Governor and the General Assembly, and it provides a number of suggestions aimed at improving student success in Illinois.

"Ensuring that all of our students receive the highest quality education and are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow is key to Illinois' long-term economic growth," said Governor Quinn. "I would like to thank the council members for their hard work, and I look forward to reviewing their proposal for further improvements to education in Illinois."

The council's report includes recommendations pertaining to all levels of the state education system. Its primary goal is to increase the proportion of Illinoisans with high-quality degrees and credentials from the current level of 41 percent to 60 percent of the working-age population by 2025.

Members of the P-20 Council include business leaders, teachers, parents, civic groups, and officials from universities, community colleges and schools. There are four legislative members on the council and six ex-officio members from state agencies. Chicago City Clerk Miguel del Valle serves as chair.

To read the council's full report, please visit P20Council.illinois.gov.

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First Annual

SHOP LOCAL EXPO

February 19. 2011

From 11.00am to 5.00pm

Sponsored by

The Moline Commercial Club

At

The Moline Club Ballroom

 1539 Fifth Avenue

Moline. Illinois 61265

309-762-8547

 www.themolinecommercialclub.com

 The Elevator is located through the 513 16th Street entrance.

The SHOP LOCAL Expo is for local Merchants, Manufactures and Farmers Business and Services of our area.

Call early to ensure a reservation for your table.

 Email networking of over 5000

Entry on the Moline City Center website

 Charge for a table: $ 50.00

You will get 1 table and 2 chairs

 Lunch is available.

 no entrance fee for visitors

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley will be in Clinton, Des Moines, Henry, Iowa, Jackson, Lee, Louisa, Muscatine, Scott and Van Buren counties next week to hold town meetings, visit an Iowa workplace, speak with service club members, and answer questions from students.

These meetings are part of Grassley's annual 99-county tour, which is one of the things he does to stay in touch with Iowans.  Grassley has held a constituent meeting in all of Iowa's 99 counties every year since he was first elected to the United States Senate in 1980.

"These meetings give me a chance to talk with Iowans face-to-face.  I answer their questions and listen to what they think about the issues.  I work for the people of Iowa, so I want this feedback.  Constituent meetings are very important when it comes to taking common-sense views to Washington," Grassley said.

Details of Grassley's schedule are below.  Grassley will be available for media interviews for approximately 15 minutes following each event.  Grassley is a guest at these events.  Please contact the organizations for additional information.

Monday, February 21, 2011

7:30 - 8:30 a.m.          Meet with Jackson County residents, Jackson County Town Meeting, Hurstville Interpretive Center, Community Room, 18670 - 63rd St., Maquoketa

9:30 - 10:30 a.m.        Meet with Clinton County Residents, Clinton County Town Meeting, DeWitt Community Center, 512 - 10th St., DeWitt

Noon - 1 p.m.             Speak at "Lunch with Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley" sponsored by the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce and Iowa Quad City Area Rotaries, Steeplegate Inn, 100 W. 76th St., Davenport

1:45 - 2:45 p.m.          Meet with Scott County Residents, Scott County Town Meeting, Eldridge Community Center, 400 S. 16th Ave., Eldridge

3:45 - 4:45 p.m.          Meet with Muscatine County Residents, Muscatine County Town Meeting, Wilton Community Center, 1215 Cypress St., Wilton

6 - 7 p.m.                    Speak to Columbus Junction Lions, Columbus Community Senior Center, 115 E. Walnut St., Columbus Junction

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

9 - 10:15 a.m.             Meet with students and staff at Keokuk Christian Academy, 1578 Hilton Road, Keokuk

Noon - 1 p.m.             Speak to Burlington Host Lions, Comfort Suites, 1780 Stonegate Center Drive, Burlington

3:15 - 4:15 p.m.          Meet with Van Buren County residents, Van Buren County Town Meeting, Village Cup and Cakes, 202 Main St., Keosauqua

6 - 7 p.m.                    Speak to Wayland Lions, Wayland Community Center, 218 W. Main St., Wayland

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

7:30 - 9 a.m.               Tour and meet with employees at Whirlpool, 2800 - 220th Trail, Amana

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Iowa funds K-12 education through a funding formula referred to as allowable growth.  Think of allowable growth as a percentage of change of the base amount of state aid offered for the education of each student in the state.  In reality, the vote for or against allowable growth is many times more complicated and it is debatable whether or not those who vote on the bills understand the full implications.

Though there are many variables, think of the state as funding roughly $5800 per student who attends our public k-12 schools.  House Republicans have announced, through House File 185, their intentions of funding this amount at 0% allowable growth which means this number will not change.  Senate Democrats in Senate File 166 and Senate File 167 have approved, through the committee process, that this number should be increased by 2%.

A short look at history shows how legislative promises in February failed to come to fruition after school districts certified their budgets in April.  In FY 2009 the legislature approved 4% allowable growth then after the realization of overspending, the Governor cut state expenditures across the board by 1.5% resulting in a$32 million cut to schools.  In FY 2010 the legislature again approved a 4% allowable growth promising schools increases then realized due to over spending they cut the expenditure in May by $31 million and in October of the same year Governor Culver cut state expenditures to schools by another $238 million.  In FY 2011 schools were promised 2% allowable growth in February then cut in May by $156 million.

No matter where you stand on the issue, there is a realistic problem between the funds which are promised and the follow through of the legislature.  In the past four years our schools have had $459.7 million taken away from them resulting in $445.6 million of that spending authority falling on your property taxes.

Each year allowable growth is a political football which offers two weeks of media sound-bites.  Somewhere in the noise you will hear our local school leaders pushing common sense requests.  If the legislature promises something then follow through.  If the legislature mandates something, pay for it.  If the legislature appropriates money in February, make sure it really has the money in May.

While in the subcommittee on the 2% allowable growth bills I asked where the additional $64 million appropriation and backfill $266 million would be coming from.  One of the floor managers of the bill said, "Maybe cash reserve," and the other gave the most honest answer, "I don't know."  While you ponder this issue also take into consideration Iowa's top three expenditures of Medicaid, school aid and salaries will eclipse total revenues to the state in FY 2013.

Shawn Hamerlinck
State Senate District 42