Sen. Burzynski wants YOUR input on the state budget
State Senator Brad Burzynski is encouraging constituents to take a
legislative survey on the Illinois state budget to provide their input
about how to help fix the state's financial situation.
Sen. Burzynski looks forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions.
Buryznksi named to education council by governor
SYCAMORE, Ill. – State Senator Brad Burzynski (R-Rochelle) received an appointment to the newly-formed P-20 Council on Tuesday by the governor to develop recommendations for improving the Illinois education system at all levels.
Burzynski joins the diverse, 25-person panel, whose mission is to strengthen Illinois schools from preschool through graduate school.
“I’m honored to receive this appointment and excited to continue working to improve education in Illinois at all levels,” said Sen. Burzynski, who is Minority spokesperson on the Illinois Senate Higher Education Committee and sits on the Senate Education Committee. “Regardless of age, every student deserves a robust and comprehensive education that will prepare them for the future. Any opportunity I’m afforded to advance that mission I’m happy to be a part of.”
The council will play an important role in helping the state to capture $400 million in Federal assistance in discretionary funds. The funds come from the U.S. Department of Education’s “Race to the Top” competitive grant process that focuses on innovation in education.
“I’m looking forward to doing everything possible to make sure we get every last one of those dollars for our schools in this state and they are spent in a responsible manner,” Sen. Burzynski said. “In this tough economy, our schools aren’t immune to the financial crunch we’ve all felt. Every dollar is vital and I’ll work diligently to see Illinois takes advantage of these grants.”
Burzynski: Recall measure step in right direction
SPRINGFIELD,
Ill. – State Senator Brad
Burzynski (R-Rochelle) voted alongside his colleagues in favor of an Illinois
Constitutional amendment to allow for the recall of the office of the Governor on Thursday.
House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 31 passed
both chambers and now will go before the voters in the 2010 general election
ballot. The amendment can be approved by either 3/5ths of the voters on the
question, or by a simple majority of total voters in the election.
“After
Illinois voters
witnessed the problem of Blagojevich and had no recourse to remove him, giving
the people the power of recall is a good first step in a positive new direction
for
Illinois
politics,” Burzynski said. “While it comes too late to have done anything to
remove the former governor, this places a check on governors in the future by
empowering the electorate.”
Panel calls for trustee resignations, distracted driving bills signed
SPRINGFIELD,
Ill.– A panel commissioned to review the admissions policies at the
University of
Illinois issued its final report on
August 6, which calls for the resignation of the University of Illinois Board
of Trustees.
Also
during the week, two measures were signed into law to restrict the use of cell
phones while driving. One measure prohibits sending text messages while
driving, while the other restricts cell phone use in construction zones.
Senate Week in Review: Redistricting committee meets
SPRINGFIELD,
Ill. – This
week, the Senate Committee on Redistricting convened its first hearing in
Chicago to receive testimony from witnesses on
Illinois’ redistricting
process, and the state’s history of gerrymandering legislative and
congressional districts. Lawmakers
heard testimony from a panel of experts who provided background on the federal
census process and a historical perspective of redistricting in
Illinois.
Notably,
former State Senator and former Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch provided
information on the 1970 Constitutional Convention, where the current system of
drawing legislative districts was established. A 1970 Constitutional
Convention delegate, Netsch explained that the “coin flip”
process used to select the tie-breaking member of the legislative redistricting
commission was intended to force compromise among legislative leaders, and
noted that the convention delegates never expected the tie-breaker to be used.
Though delegates did not expect legislative leaders to allow their livelihood
to come down to a coin flip, Netsch commented that the drafters misunderstood
the political backbone and gambling nature of politicians. She
also indicated that it was her belief that
Illinois’
redistricting system is “broken” and that there is a need for reform, recommending
Illinois
devise a fair process that allows independent input, provides equality and
produces a fair map that will restore voter confidence in their state leaders.
