When there is a serious family problem, parents often wonder whether they should talk to their children or shield them from what is happening. The fact is, children pick up on all kinds of messages.And they take most things literally. Children take your comments-even offhand ones-seriously. That's why it is best to sit down and talk with your children. If you don't, kids come to their own conclusions about how bad things are, and usually their picture of the situation is much worse than reality.

Children depend on their parents for emotional security. When parents are tense, upset and inattentive, much of this security is gone. This piece includes ways to help yourselves as parents and more specifically some tips are given for ways to help your children cope with the stresses of the disaster.Accept your children's feelings and concerns. This usually requires you to really listen to your child. For example, when a child tells you: "I hate my teacher." the problem may not be the teacher but rather that your child still feels sad about things lost in the disaster, including the pens needed to do homework. It is important for you to take the time to ask your child questions that discovers the real cause of your child's frustration.

By asking questions and listening, you give your child permission to tell you what is really wrong. When a child says: "I hate my brother," parents often say: "Oh, no you don't." Compare this response to how you talk to a spouse or a friend. If they said: "I hate my boss," you wouldn't respond by saying: "No, you don't." You would probably say: "Really? Why?" Parents can do that for children, too.

Being honest in a way that helps children understand the situation, without being unrealistically optimistic or pessimistic, will help you build a strong, trusting relationship with your children. Speak to your children simply; give them just enough information to answer their questions. Being honest sometimes means admitting that you don't know the answers to everything. When you tell your child what you don't know, also tell them what you do know to reassure them. Children who have experienced a natural disaster worry about the future. They wonder if there will be enough money for food and clothes and whether their family will have to move. When your children ask questions about the future, try to respond in a way that is truthful and makes them feel secure.

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today released a report giving the Defense Department's inspector general audits a D- grade on a "junkyard dog" index for tracking waste, fraud and abuse of tax dollars.

"Audits are the tip of the inspector general's spear," Grassley said.  "A good spear always needs a finely honed cutting edge. Right now, the point of that spear is dull.  The best audit weapon is disabled. As a watchdog, I get serious heartburn from degraded audit capabilities.  It puts the taxpayers' money in harm's way.  It leaves huge sums of money vulnerable to theft and waste."

Grassley directed his staff to review all 113 unclassified Defense Department inspector general audits for Fiscal Year 2010.  Under the Grassley analysis, 15 reports are "good to very good."  But other reports earn more negative assessments for failing to track the tax dollars, taking too long to complete and losing the money trail, and other shortcomings.  The report assigns a D- grade overall to the 113 audits.

The report names nine audit roadblocks that Grassley said stand between lackluster audits and quality audits.  He encouraged the inspector general to dismantle each roadblock.  "The inspector general must find a way to tear down these walls," Grassley said.  "Otherwise, audit reform and transformation will never happen. My staff will keep reading and evaluating inspector general audits until steady improvement is popping up on the radar screen every day."

Today's report is a follow-up to Grassley's first such oversight review, issued on Sept. 7, 2010.  The initial report evaluated the 113 audit reports issued in FY 2009. It determined that the Defense Department inspector general audit capabilities, which cost the taxpayers about $100 million a year, were gravely impaired.  The inspector general's office pledged to improve audit quality, a promise Grassley is working to hold the office to fulfill.

Grassley began conducting oversight of the Pentagon in the early 1980s when President Reagan was ramping up the defense budget. A group of defense reformers including Grassley examined the pricing of spare parts and uncovered $750 toilet seats and $695 ashtrays for military aircraft.  As a result of the Inspector General Act of 1978, offices of inspectors general were set up at each federal agency.

In 1986, Grassley authored a major update of the federal False Claims Act, with Rep. Howard Berman of California. Since then, the law has recovered more than $28 billion and deterred billions of dollars in additional fraud against the taxpayers.   It has been used to uncover defense fraud and recently in particular, health care fraud.

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CHICAGO - June 3, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bill:

Bill No.: SB 1177

Creates the General Assembly Redistricting Act of 2011.

An Act Concerning: Redistricting

Action: Signed                        

"Ensuring that everyone's voice is heard in government is crucial to our democracy. For the first time, the people of Illinois have been able to participate in public hearings and have their voices heard in drawing their legislative districts. I would like to commend lawmakers for significantly increasing openness and transparency in the remap process," said Governor Quinn. "I commend Sen. Kwame Raoul and Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie for their leadership in drafting a map that better represents the interest of our diverse communities."

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SPRINGFIELD - May 31, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bill:

Bill No.: HB 3184

Allows county boards to determine fees (not to exceed $75) for each civil union or marriage license and provides for $5 from each fee to be remitted to the state's Domestic Violence Fund.

An Act Concerning: Government

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately

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SPRINGFIELD - June 1, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bill:

Bill No.: SB 754

Creates a craft brewer's liquor license specifically permitting craft brewers to self-distribute beer.

An Act Concerning: Liquor

Action: Signed                        

Effective Date: Immediately