250,000 Unlicensed Illinois Drivers Pose Preventable Danger; Increased Insurance Costs for All Drivers

CHICAGO- November 20, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn and Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) today were joined by state and local leaders and the Illinois Highway Safety Coalition (HSC) to announce their support of efforts to ensure that every Illinois motorist is properly licensed to drive. Because they do not have a driver's license, an estimated 250,000 immigrant motorists are on Illinois roads today that have not passed a driving test. By removing this barrier through responsible legislation, to be introduced by President Cullerton in the coming weeks, Illinois roads will be safer and more immigrants will be able to become stronger contributors to the economy.

"This is a safety issue that impacts every driver in Illinois and we should join together to take swift action to save lives," Governor Quinn said. "Making sure all motorists, regardless of their background, are licensed and insured will drive economic growth and ease the financial burden on all Illinois motorists."

"I'm honored to work with the Illinois Highway Safety Coalition to introduce legislation to improve the safety of our roads and highways by ensuring all Illinois drivers are trained, tested, licensed and insured," said President Cullerton.

According to the Illinois Highway Safety Coalition, unlicensed, uninsured drivers are involved in almost 80,000 accidents in Illinois each year, resulting in $660 million in damage. Unlicensed immigrant drivers cost $64 million in damage claims alone. Unlicensed drivers pose an enormous, yet preventable, safety risk for all Illinois drivers and leads to higher insurance costs for everyone. If half of the estimated 250,000 unlicensed immigrants became properly licensed and insured, Illinois insurance policy holders would save an estimated $46 million a year in premium payments.  Nationwide, unlicensed motorists are five times likelier to be involved in a fatal crash than licensed drivers.

Immigrants without a social security number are currently prohibited under state law from getting a driver's license. Studies have shown that immigrants who can drive legally are more likely to work, spend and contribute to the economy. Having a driver's license provides greater access to job opportunities and drives business activity and growth.

"I strongly support state legislation that will allow every Chicagoan, regardless of legal status, to enjoy the rights and responsibilities that come with a driver's license," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "I commend Senate President John Cullerton for his leadership to introduce legislation during the 2012 veto session to require all Illinois drivers, including undocumented drivers, to get trained, licensed and insured. I will be a strong advocate for this bill as we work to make Chicago the most immigrant-friendly city in the country."

In addition to posing a safety risk and a barrier to economic growth, unlicensed immigrant drivers significantly drain local law enforcement resources. In Cook County, nearly 48,000 tickets were issued in 2011 for driving without a license. Unlicensed drivers are also difficult to identify by law enforcement during traffic stops and by first responders and health care providers, which increases the potential for errors.

Washington and New Mexico have already passed similar laws, which resulted in declines in traffic accidents involving unlicensed drivers. By licensing more drivers, Illinois can increase safety across the state and ensure more motorists follow the rules of the road.

For more information about the Highway Safety Coalition and to see the list of lawmakers, business, faith, labor and community groups who support this common sense measure, visit HighwaySafetyCoalition.org.

On behalf of children caught in pension squeeze, effort will "educate and activate" Illinois citizens about $96 billion problem

CHICAGO - November 18, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today launched an Internet grassroots campaign to increase public awareness about the need for pension reform in Illinois. Relaying a message from the next generation to today's leaders, the "Thanks in Advance" public awareness campaign is designed to educate citizens about the "squeeze" caused by skyrocketing pension costs, and activate them to advocate for pension reform using tech tools like Facebook, Twitter and email.

Flanked by children yelling "Thanks in Advance" through red megaphones, Governor Quinn called the pension crisis the "most urgent challenge of the decade," which is squeezing Illinois schools, public safety, job creation, decent health care and vital services. Illinois' unfunded liability recently grew to $96 billion, the worst in the nation.

"Kids count on adults to look out for them and act responsibly," Governor Quinn said. "Children have a critical stake in pension reform and that's why we are here today calling Illinois citizens to action. If the General Assembly passes comprehensive reform, we will ease the squeeze on essential services, restore fiscal stability to our state and protect the future of the next generation. Illinois' children have a message for us: Thanks in advance for rising above politics and getting the job done."    

Illinoisans can visit www.thisismyillinois.com to learn about Illinois' seven-decade old pension crisis, as well as to make their voices heard through social media in support of pension reform. The new website details the history of public pensions dating back to Ancient Rome, through the issuance of the first pension in Illinois in 1915 all the way to the present. There are now 760,000 members of the state's five public pension systems. The site shows how public pensions are partnerships which help retain a quality workforce while offering a safety net to those who serve the public. Public pensions are funded by member contributions, employer contributions and earnings from investments.

The site also chronicles the roots of the Illinois pension crisis which began in the 1940s and grew out of Springfield neglect, two economic recessions and changing demographics. Featuring videos and a mock Facebook timetable to explain the pension crisis, the site provides "daily factoids" for people to share with their social networks.

The Pew Center on the States, a national nonpartisan think-tank, rated Illinois 50th in unfunded pension liability. Moody's Investors Service lists Illinois as the lowest-rated state due primarily to "a severe pension funding shortfall." According to the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, each day that pension reform is not enacted boosts the long-term shortfall by $17.1 million. By 2016, the state of Illinois will be paying more on public pensions than on schools without comprehensive pension reform.

In April, Governor Quinn proposed a plan that would rescue the pension systems, ensure employees have access to benefits and prevent skyrocketing pension costs from eating up core services like education and healthcare. The governor's plan would fully fund the pension system by 2042.

"Thanks in Advance" aims to build public awareness about the need for legislative action on pension reform in Springfield and empower citizens to make their voices heard. Veto session begins November 27 and the legislature is scheduled to work January 3 - 8.

Quinn has been employing grassroots organizing techniques for 35 years. His successful 1976 "Political Honesty Initiative" to ban advance pay for legislators garnered 635,158 signatures. He used "petition power" to trim the size of the Illinois House, create the Citizens Utility Board (Illinois' largest consumer group) and enact local Whistleblower ordinances.

For more information about this initiative, visit www.thisismyillinois.com.

Unveils "Portrait of a Soldier" Exhibit in Chicago, Burbank, Pittsfield

CHICAGO - November 11, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today unveiled the "Portrait of a Soldier" traveling exhibit now on display in the Family Pavilion at Chicago's Navy Pier. This riveting collection by Mattoon artist Cameron Schilling features nearly 300 hand-drawn portraits of each Illinois servicemember killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"As we honor our servicemembers on Veterans Day, we must remember the sacrifices so many have made for our country," Governor Quinn said. "This exhibit is a reminder of how much a brave few have given on behalf of so many."

Seen by thousands of people at more than 100 venues across the state since 2005, "Portrait of a Soldier" is a tribute to the 250 men and women from Illinois killed in the line of duty since 2001. Artist Cameron Schilling drew the first portrait in 2004, when he sketched Army Spc. Charles Neeley, a 19-year old Mattoon resident who died in Tikrit, Iraq, and presented the sketch to Neeley's parents. Months later, while a student at Eastern Illinois University, Schilling committed to draw a portrait of every Illinois servicemember.

The exhibit is on display at Navy Pier now through November 13th. The exhibit can also be viewed at Prairie Trails Library at 8449 Moody Avenue in Burbank, IL through November 13th and at Pittsfield High School at 201 East Higbee Street in Pittsfield, IL through November 14th.

Governor Quinn has long made commitment to veterans' affairs, servicemembers and their families one of his top priorities throughout his career in public service. He has led programs including the Illinois Warrior Assistance Program and the Veterans Cash lottery ticket, which has awarded more than $10 million to non-profit organizations across the state that provide health care and post-traumatic stress disorder treatment, housing assistance, disability benefits and other services to Illinois Veterans.

As Lieutenant Governor, Governor Quinn championed and helped enact the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund Act, which established a fund to provide grants to families of Illinois National Guard members and Illinois residents serving in the U.S. Armed Forces Reserve components who were called to active duty as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. These grants help service members and their families with the costs of food, housing, utilities, medical services and other expenses they struggle to afford because a wage-earner has temporarily left civilian employment to be placed on active military duty.

For more information about programs for Illinois veterans and servicemembers, visit www.OperationHomefront.org.   

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