11 Sep 2015

Governor Announces Appointments 9/11/2015

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has made appointments to the Workers' Compensation Commission, the Illinois Finance Authority, the Illinois Workforce Investment Board and the Illinois Civil Service Commission.

Name: Christina Hemenway

Position: Arbitrator - Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Christina Hemenway to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission as an arbitrator. She has been an attorney specializing in workers' compensation claims for more than 20 years.

Currently, Hemenway works for COUNTRY Financial as a workers' compensation claims attorney where she manages catastrophic claims and employer liability and coverage lawsuits. In addition, she is a subject matter expert for the company Previously, she was the supervisor for the department.

Hemenway is a member of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce's Workers' Compensation Committee, the Property Casualty Insurers' Workers' Compensation and Medicare Committees, and is a member of the Illinois Advisory Committee for the Workers' Compensation Research Institute.

Hemenway is a graduate of Missouri State University and earned her law degree from the University of Missouri. She lives in Lincoln.

 

Name: Arlene A. Juracek

Position: Director - Illinois Finance Authority

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Arlene Juracek the Director of the Illinois Finance Authority. Juracek is currently the Mayor of Mt. Prospect and brings more than 40 years of experience in the private and public sectors to the position.

Juracek has been the Mayor of Mt. Prospect since 2013, prior to that she was a Village Trustee for six years. Most recently, she served as the Acting Director of the Illinois Power Agency where she was responsible for power and energy procurement, as well as the planning for Illinois' two major electric utilities, ComEd and Ameren.

Prior to her work for the State of Illinois, Juracek was the Vice President of Energy Acquisition at ComEd, where she worked for nearly 35 years.

Juracek is a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology. She earned a master's degree from Northwestern University in management. She lives in Mt. Prospect.

 

Name: Adam Israelov

Position: Member - Illinois Finance Authority

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Adam Israelov to the Illinois Finance Authority. Israelov has a unique legal and financial background, as well as an international perspective that he brings to the position.

Israelov is currently an associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He oversees private equity funds as well as public and private companies in the U.S. and cross-border transactions. Prior to his work at Kirkland & Ellis, Israelov served as a Fulbright-Nehru Student Research Fellow for the United States Department of State in New Delhi, India. He conducted fieldwork on the topics of corporate fiduciary duties and corporate social responsibility.

Israelov holds a bachelor's degree in risk management and insurance from Georgia State University and a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law. He lives in Chicago.

 

 

 

Name: Michael E. Massie

Position: Member - Illinois Workforce Investment Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Michael Massie to the Illinois Workforce Investment Board. He has served on the board since 2011 and brings more than 40 years of experience as an attorney to the position.

Currently, Massie is a partner at Massie & Quick, LLC. His area of practice includes agricultural issues, estate planning, business planning, real estate and wind energy. His energy and agriculture practice spans both the United States and international areas.

In addition to his service on the Illinois Workforce Investment Board, he serves on the Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education and the Illinois Pathways Advisory Council. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Western Illinois University teaching agricultural law. He is also a veteran, having served in the Air Force from 1972-1973.

Massie earned his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Illinois. He lives in Dahinda.

 

Name: William Schroeder

Position: Member - Illinois Civil Service Commission

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed William Schroeder to the Illinois Civil Service Commission. He brings regional diversity and experience as an attorney to the board.

Schroeder has been a licensed attorney since 1969. Most recently, he has been a law professor at a number of universities across the country including Southern Illinois University and Washington University in St. Louis.

In addition to his work as a professor, Schroeder worked in private practice and as a prosecutor at the state and county levels in Massachusetts.

Schroeder earned his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Illinois. He also earned a Master of Laws degree from Harvard University. He lives in Nashville, Illinois.

 

 

Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has also designated Southern Illinois University-Carbondale student Allen Shelton as the voting representative on the SIU Board of Trustees.

 

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11 Sep 2015

Governor Takes Bill Action 9/10/2015

By Catherine Kelly

CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner took action today on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 303

An Act Concerning Government

Action: Signed

Effective: June 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: HB 4096

An Act Concerning State Government

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: SB 33

An Act Concerning Health

Action: Vetoed

Note: Veto Message Below

 

Bill No.: SB 2040

An Act Concerning Appropriations

Action: Vetoed

Note: Veto Message Below

 

 

Veto Message for SB 33

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois Senate,

99th General Assembly:

 

Today I veto Senate Bill 33 from the 99th General Assembly, which would prematurely expand the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program by adding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to the list of "debilitating medical conditions" for which a patient may be treated with medical cannabis.

The pilot program is moving forward, but remains in its early stage. Cultivation centers are just beginning to grow their crops, and the first dispensary was licensed at the end of August. No patients have yet been served, and, consequently, the State has not had the opportunity to evaluate the benefits and costs of the pilot program or determine areas for improvement or even whether to extend the program beyond its pilot period.

It is therefore premature to expand the pilot program - before any patient has been served and before we have had the chance to evaluate it.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 33, entitled "AN ACT concerning health", with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

 

Veto Message for SB 2040

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois Senate,

99th General Assembly:

 

Today I veto Senate Bill 2040 from the 99th General Assembly.

Earlier this summer the General Assembly passed, and I vetoed, an unbalanced and unconstitutional budget, which would have spent nearly $4 billion more than expected revenues. For too long, the State of Illinois has made spending promises that exceed available revenues, relied on accounting gimmicks to make budgets appear balanced, used borrowing and cost deferral strategies to push costs into the future, and delayed payments to vendors. These practices have generated backlogs of unpaid bills, a crushing debt burden, and the worst credit rating of any state.

Senate Bill 2040 would have continued these bad practices for another month. Instead, we need a full year, balanced budget that makes only the promises we can afford to keep.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 2040, "AN ACT concerning appropriations", with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

 

###
10 Sep 2015

Gov. Branstad orders flags at half-staff Friday in remembrance of those killed on 9/11

By Office of the Governor of the State of Iowa

(DES MOINES) - Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad today ordered flags be flown at half-staff Friday, September 11, 2015, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in remembrance of those killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Flags will be flown at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

###
08 Sep 2015

Governor Announces Appointments 9/04/2015

By Catherine Kelly

CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has appointed Christine Ory to be an arbitrator for the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. She is an experienced workers' compensation attorney, working in the field since 1975. She began her career in the insurance industry before becoming an attorney.

Currently, Ory runs her own practice, which focuses solely on workers' compensation claims. Prior to opening her own firm in 2005, she was a partner and president of Gabric, Millon & Ory, P.C. She began working in private practice in 1986. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Ory worked as an insurance claims adjuster and workers' compensation claims supervisor for Hartford Insurance Company.

Ory is a member of the Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association, and is the previous chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Workers' Compensation Committee. In addition, she has experience as an arbitrator in DuPage Circuit Court.

Ory earned her bachelor's degree in business from North Central College and her law degree from John Marshall Law School. She is a native of Naperville, who now lives in Lisle.

###
04 Sep 2015

HOLIDAY CLOSING - LABOR DAY

By Rick Martin

City of Davenport will observe Labor Day as a holiday on Monday, September 7th 2015.

All city of Davenport offices will be closed. All Davenport public libraries will be closed.

Garbage, recycling, bulky waste and yard waste will be one day late all week; Friday pickup will be on Saturday. Please refer to the solid waste collection calendar for the
holiday schedule.

If you have questions please contact Tiffany Thompson at 563-888-2066 or tthompson@ci.davenport.ia.us, www.cityofdavenportiowa.com or www.davenporttoday.com

02 Sep 2015

Governor Announces Appointments 8/28/2015

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has made appointments to the Illinois Workforce Investment Board, the State Employees' Retirement System, the State Board of Health and the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission.

 

Name: Julie Adkins
Position: Member - Illinois State Board of Health 

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Julie Adkins to the Illinois State Board of Health. She previously served on the board from 2011-2014.

 

Currently, Adkins is an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) and family nurse practitioner at SIMCA. She has been with the practice since 2012. Prior to her time at SIMCA, Adkins was a nurse practitioner with Charles Neal, MD from 2001-2012.

 

Akins also serves as a state representative for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and is a past president of the Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing.

 

Adkins earned an associate's degree in nursing from Kaskaskia College and a bachelor's degree in nursing from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. In 2011, she earned her doctorate in nursing from University of Alabama at Birmingham. She lives in West Frankfort.

 

 

Name: Melinda M. Rowe-Sullivan
Position: Arbitrator - Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission 

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Melinda M. Rowe-Sullivan an arbitrator for the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. She brings 12 years of law experience to the commission.

 

Currently, Rowe-Sullivan is an associate attorney at Ganan & Shapiro. Her primary responsibilities surround case management of workers' compensation defense litigation. She has been with the firm since 2008. Her prior experience includes a year at Schweickert & Ganassin and four years with Quinn, Johnston, Henderson & Pretorius.

 

Rowe-Sullivan earned a bachelor's degree in community health and health administration and a law degree from Northern Illinois University. She also received an MBA from Lewis University. She lives in Peoria.

 

 

Name: Alicia Martin

Position: Board Member - Workforce Investment Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Alicia Martin to the Workforce Investment Board. Martin brings nearly eight years of experience in business development to the board, as well as an understanding of state government.

 

Martin is currently the President and CEO of the Illinois Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors. She provides top-level executives strategic operations planning to further business development. Previously she was the Vice President of Membership and Business Development.

 

Martin earned her bachelor's degree from Blackburn College. She lives in Jacksonville.

 

 

Name: Thomas Ashby

Position: Board Member - Workforce Investment Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed the Centralia Mayor Thomas Ashby to the Workforce Investment Board. He has been a member of this board since 2008.

 

In addition to his role as mayor, Ashby is the President of Coordinated Transportation Development where he manages the transit operations of Rock Island, Ill. He previously was the Director of the South Central Mass Transit District for 13 years.

 

Ashby attended Kansas Newman College and Eastern Illinois University, and earned an industry certification from the Transportation Association of America. He lives in Centralia.

 

 

Name: Carl Jenkins

Position: Member - State Employees' Retirement System

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Carl Jenkins to the State Employees Retirement System Board. Jenkins' has more than 20 years of experience in banking and investments making him well suited for the position.

 

Currently, Jenkins works for BMO Harris Bank in the corporate finance division serving as the Managing Director and Group Head of Community Invests. He has worked for the bank since 2000 and has held a number of roles in community development lending and capital markets.

 

Jenkins earned his bachelor's degree from Washington University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina. He lives in Chicago.

 

###
02 Sep 2015

Fraternal Order of Police urges Illinois House to override veto of common-sense anti-strike legislation

By Chris Southwood

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), representing more than 32,000 active duty and retired police officers, is urging the members of the Illinois House of Representatives to follow the lead set by the Senate and vote to override Governor Bruce Rauner's veto of Senate Bill 1229. This common-sense legislation will allow state employees to continue providing critical state services even if they are unable to reach a collective bargaining agreement with the Rauner administration. Millions of Illinoisans count on the services these state workers provide every day, and the legislation will ensure that these services continue without interruption, regardless of where the collective bargaining process stands.

"Senate Bill 1229 removes the 'my way or the highway' mentality from collective bargaining," said Illinois FOP Legislative Chairman Keith Turney. "It provides a fair and equitable process for resolving disputes while making sure our veterans care, child protection, education, public safety, and many more vital state services continue unabated."

Senate Bill 1229 provides a fair and independent process by which Illinois can avoid a work stoppage. If an impasse is reached during collective bargaining, the legislation requires both sides to present reasonable proposals to an independent arbitrator rather than go out on strike or institute a lockout. The arbitrator will carefully consider the proposals made by both sides and determine a course of action. The arbitration process typically helps both sides reach some reasonable middle ground in the collective bargaining process.

Mandating the use of an arbitrator in lieu of a strike or lockout, called interest arbitration, has been in place for years regarding contract talks with police, fire and other public safety officers in Illinois, including FOP members. Senate Bill 1229 will extend those provisions to cover contract talks with all state employees for the short term.

"There have been no labor stoppages among public safety sector employees like FOP members in the decades since this process has been in place," said Illinois FOP Labor Council Executive Director David Wickster. "It works for both sides and keeps public employees at their jobs and off the picket line."

"There is no doubt that Illinois is in bad financial shape, but we need to remember that state employees have ALWAYS paid their fair share through payroll deductions for pensions and other legally negotiated benefits," said FOP President Chris Southwood. "The men and women of this state deserve to be fairly compensated for their work, and the citizens of Illinois have a right to expect uninterrupted state services. Everybody wins with this common-sense legislation. We applaud the members of the Senate who voted to override the Governor's veto, and we urge the members of the House to join their colleagues and do the right thing."

The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois FOP, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 32,000 active duty and retired police officers - more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information.

# # #

02 Sep 2015

Governor Takes Bill Actions 8/27/2015

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner took action today on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 152

An Act Concerning Education

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: HB 1485

An Act Concerning Civil Law

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: HB 2640

An Act Concerning Civil Law

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: HB 3219

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate, except that the changes to Sections 9 and 9.5 of the Pharmacy Practice Act take effect January 1, 2017.

 

Bill No.: HB 3693

An Act Concerning Local Government

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: SB 224

An Act Concerning Education

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: SB 508

An Act Concerning Revenue

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: SB 1256

An Act Concerning Liquor

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

###

01 Sep 2015

Governor Takes Bill Actions 8/26/2015

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner took action today on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 3220

An Act Concerning Employment

Action: Signed

Effective: June 1, 2015

 

Bill No.: HB 3765

An Act Concerning Transportation

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: HB 4078

An Act Concerning Government

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: SB 374

An Act Concerning Local Government

Action: Vetoed

Note: Veto Message Below

 

Bill No.: SB 627

An Act Concerning Transportation

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: SB 760

An Act Concerning Education

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: SB 763

An Act Concerning Public Employee Benefits

Action: Vetoed

Note: Veto Message Below

 

Bill No.: SB 838

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

 

Veto Message SB 374

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois Senate,

99th General Assembly:

 

Today I veto Senate Bill 374 from the 99th General Assembly, which would effectively exempt townships from competitive bidding requirements for township contracts.

Transparency is vital for good governance. It is also important that citizens perceive the government as trustworthy. Competitive bidding ensures that units of local government are getting the best price for services and that taxpayer funds are being used effectively. Consequently, permitting a township to circumvent the competitive bidding process is a step in the wrong direction for government transparency and conserving taxpayer dollars.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 374, "AN ACT concerning local government", with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

 

Veto Message SB 763

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois Senate,

99th General Assembly:

 

Today I veto Senate Bill 763 from the 99th General Assembly, which would amend the Illinois Pension Code to create pension liability for police officers and firefighters at the local level by circumventing local voter choice expressed through a referendum.

 

Public safety workers put their lives in danger to protect our citizens.  They deserve the right to earn good pension benefits.  Current law already provides such pensions to local police officers and firefighters in municipalities with the population of at least 5,000 people.  And even municipalities with fewer than 5,000 residents can opt, through a referendum, to extend pension benefits to public safety employees.  The referendum option gives voters the control of what benefits the municipality can actually afford.  That is as it should be.

 

Senate Bill 763 would take this choice away from the voters and instead allow a municipality to impose new pension obligations by a resolution of its governing body.  At a time when local governments in Illinois are struggling to make ends meet, we should not remove local voter control over decisions for which the same voters will have to pay through higher property and other taxes.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 763 entitled "AN ACT concerning public employee benefits", with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

 

Sincerely,

 

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR
29 Aug 2015

Governor Takes Bill Action 8/25/2015

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner took action today on the following bills:  

Bill No.: HB 3389  

An Act Concerning Local Government  

Action: Signed  

Effective: Immediate  

  

Bill No.: HB 3527  

An Act Concerning Education  

Action: Signed  

Effective: Immediate  

  

Bill No.: SB 1102  

An Act Concerning Government  

Action: Signed  

Effective: January 1, 2017  

  

Bill No.: SB 1249  

An Act Concerning Regulation  

Action: Amendatory Veto  

Note: Veto Message Below  

  

Bill No.: SB 1334  

An Act Concerning Regulation  

Action: Signed  

Effective: Immediate

Bill No.: SB 1672

An Act Concerning Safety

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016 

Bill No.: SB 1854

An Act Concerning Local Government

Action: Amendatory Veto

Note: Veto Message Below

Veto Message SB 1249

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois Senate,

99th General Assembly:

Today I return Senate Bill 1249 with a specific recommendation for change.

Senate Bill 1249 requires the Office of the Governor to examine the need for and financial strategies to improve the State's mental health systems and report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 15, 2016. The State already has undertaken several initiatives in order to study the current landscape for mental health services in Illinois and work to improve the effectiveness of such services. These efforts include using a $3 million State Innovation Model grant from the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to focus on redeveloping the State's mental and behavioral health programs, as well as developing the State's five-year health care priorities and goals through completion of our federally-mandated State Health Improvement Plan. Both of these efforts will be completed late next spring.

Aligning the timing of the report required by Senate Bill 1249 with the completion of this other work will allow us to optimize resources by coordinating our research efforts, leading to a more comprehensive set of recommendations to improve mental health services in Illinois.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(e) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 1249, entitled "AN ACT concerning regulation", with the following specific recommendation for change:

On page 3, line 15, by replacing "January 15, 2016" with "May 31, 2016".

With this change, Senate Bill 1249 will have my approval. I respectfully request your concurrence.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

Veto Message SB 1854

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois House of Representatives,

99th General Assembly:

Today I return Senate Bill 1854 with a specific recommendation for change.

Among other changes, Senate Bill 1854 would allow the North Shore Water Reclamation District Board of Trustees to increase its own compensation. The State of Illinois is facing an unprecedented fiscal crisis, and all levels of government should make every effort to rein in spending. Under these circumstances, statutes should not be changed to allow elected officials to give themselves raises. I recommend that portion of Senate Bill 1854 be deleted.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(e) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 1854, entitled "AN ACT concerning local government", with the following specific recommendation for change:

On page 15, line 19, by deleting "Notwithstanding"; and

On page 15, by deleting lines 20 through 25; and

On page 15, line 26, by deleting "in compensation is adopted by the board.".

With this change, Senate Bill 1854 will have my approval. I respectfully request your concurrence.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

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