November 24, 2015
Dear Friends,
It’s a very important week. It’s a time to be thankful.
I hope this letter finds you and your family well and in
good spirits as Thanksgiving is upon us.
Before we dig into the turkey and pumpkin pie, and
before we start our holiday shopping, let us remember what this week
is all about. From our family and friends, to our jobs and
communities, to food on our tables, and great experiences that will
last a lifetime, not to mention living in the greatest country in the
world, I know we all have so much to be thankful for this year.
I am thankful for a wonderful family, the best friends,
the best job (representing you!), our service men and women, all our
veterans, food, clothing, shelter, and to be able to live in such a
great area. I could keep going, but this letter would be several
pages long!
Thank you for letting me be your voice in Springfield.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and your needs and fight
for issues that matter to you and our communities. We have
accomplished so much – so many great pieces of legislation becoming
law, so many great initiates turned into action like the Illinois
Valley Flood Resiliency Alliance, Grundy County Summer Internship
Program, and Joliet Junior College’s new Operations and Technician
program, and so many great stories of being able to help you.
Whether it’s helping someone in the district apply for
their concealed carry license, trying to keep an Emergency Room in
Streator, helping our young students who suffer concussions, and
passing legislation that will boost jobs, I can’t thank you enough
for allowing me the opportunity to represent you and help you. It’s
an honor and privilege.
I wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving
week.
State Sen. Sue Rezin
Giving back: Food pantries in the district
As you prepare to sit down to Thanksgiving Dinner with
your family and friends this week, Senator Rezin is asking you to
remember those less fortunate by encouraging you to donate to a local
foodbank. During the holiday season, many foodbanks suggest donations
of canned pumpkin, canned yams, cranberry sauce, boxed stuffing, and
other non-perishable holiday food items.
Throughout the year, foodbanks are always looking for
donations of shelf-stable proteins like canned tuna, chicken and
other meats, canned and dried beans, peanut butter, nuts, and trail
mix, as well as pantry staples like rice, oatmeal, pasta, diced
tomatoes, tomato sauce, canned vegetables, flour and cooking oils.
When picking out foods to donate to your local foodbank focus, on
healthy, nutritious foods and try to steer clear of junk food, and
soda.
Please go to www.senatorrezin.com
or click on the above picture and you will see on the right hand
side, a picture you can click on that has most of the food pantries
in our district. Thank you!
Dont forget!
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’
legislative leaders and the Governor are set to meet Dec. 1 to talk
about the state budget impasse, but several factors could delay
action on passing a budget until early next year, according to Sen.
Rezin.
Also during the week, the state’s ranking has improved
in an annual assessment of how states’ tax structures impact
businesses climates.
In other news, drivers are urged to travel carefully as
the AAA organization is anticipating high volumes of travelers on the
road this year.
Factors may further delay budget resolution
With the state’s budget impasse about to enter its sixth
month, a budget meeting between the four legislative leaders and Gov.
Bruce Rauner is set to take place Dec. 1 in Springfield.
In addition to the challenges of coming to an agreement
on spending and revenue levels for Fiscal Year 2016, there is also
the difficult task of getting lawmakers back to Springfield during
the holiday season, as well as getting the support of individual
lawmakers who are concerned about constituent backlash over tough
fiscal decisions.
Waiting another month, however, would ease the pressure
to forge a compromise. Illinois’ constitution states that after May
31, a three-fifths vote, not a simple majority vote, is required in
both chambers to pass a bill that will take effect prior to July 1 of
the next year. In January, a budget agreement would require fewer
votes, a simple majority – 60 in the House and 30 in the Senate.
Senate Republican members are hoping the Democrat
legislative majorities will negotiate in good faith, so Illinois can
achieve progress on structural reforms needed to right the state’s
fiscal ship, create jobs, boost the economy, and move Illinois
forward.
Illinois’ tax ranking improves, but reforms needed
The Tax Foundation is giving Illinois a better ranking
this year in its assessment of how states’ tax structures impact
business climates. Illinois moved up from 31st to 23rd this year
because the state’s temporary income tax hike was allowed to expire
after four years.
In January 2011, Democrat leaders forced through a
temporary hike in the individual and corporate income tax rates. The
temporary increase was supposed to be used to address the state’s
pension crisis and start paying down Illinois’ staggering pile of
unpaid bills.
The increase generated more than $32 billion over the
four-year period, but under Democrat control during that time, the
state’s fiscal problems remained. Today, the state’s pension
debt is $132 billion, the credit rating has been downgraded several
times, and unpaid bills are estimated at more than $7 billion
(expected to grow to $8.5 billion by the end of the year).
The combined corporate income tax rate now stands at
7.75 percent, and the individual income tax is 3.75 percent.
Sen. Rezin says the key to boosting revenue in the state
is making structural reforms to state government and creating a
better business climate so more jobs are created and the state’s
economy moves forward.
To see more: http://taxfoundation.org/article/2016-state-business-tax-climate-index
AAA: Heavy travel expected during Thanksgiving week
According to the recently released travel
outlook from auto group AAA, as many as 46.9 million Americans
plan on traveling during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, the
highest Thanksgiving travel volume since 2007.
Attributing the high numbers to lower gas prices, AAA is
anticipating 300,000 more travelers this year than in 2014.
To see more: http://newsroom.aaa.com/tag/2015-aaa-thanksgiving-holiday-travel-forecast/
Travelers are encouraged to be aware and stay safe
during their holiday travels. The Illinois Department of
Transportation provides travel information at its Web site.
To see more: http://www.idot.illinois.gov/travel-information/index
Attorney General releases Safe Shopping Guide
The Attorney General’s office has released the annual
Safe Shopping Guide highlighting hazardous toys, children’s products
and household items that have been recalled over the past year to
help Illinois families ensure their home is safe for the holidays.
The 2015 Safe Shopping Guide includes descriptions and
photographs of nearly 100 children’s products recalled in the last
year – from popular children’s toys and games that pose choking hazards,
to children’s furniture and playsets that pose entrapment or falling
risks.
The Guide also details practices that should be used
with many popular holiday gifts with internet access, including
smartphones, gaming consoles, and tablets.
To see more: http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/2015_Safe_Shopping_Guide.pdf
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