CHICAGO - June 30, 2011. In his office, Governor Pat Quinn today signed the fiscal year 2012 state budget and issued the following statement:

"Line by line, I have carefully examined the budget passed by the General Assembly and identified areas for improvement and reduction. I also re-prioritized government spending to protect our state's core principles.

"I then evaluated the proposed spending against last year's levels. The state will maintain current spending levels for school transportation by reducing the General Assembly's proposed amount by $89 million, and returning to the amount that was spent in fiscal year 2011. 

"Finally, state government must continue to address its Medicaid obligations. Neglecting our bills today only creates bigger problems tomorrow. With this in mind, I implemented a line-item cut to Medicaid in the amount of $276 million. 

"From day one, I have stressed the need to invest in education by reducing high administrative costs and reallocating those funds to the classroom, particularly in early childhood education. Implementing a budget is not a one-day event, but rather a year-round process filled with robust debate and difficult decisions. Today, I enacted a fiscal year 2012 budget of $32.987 billion. Overall, I reduced the budget passed by the General Assembly by $376 million. With these reductions, I am implementing smart efficiencies that support Illinois on its continuing path to fiscal and economic recovery."

Today, Governor Pat Quinn took action on the following bills:

Approved

HB 116    AN ACT concerning appropriations

HB 124    AN ACT concerning appropriations

HB 326    AN ACT concerning appropriations

HB 2107   AN ACT concerning appropriations

HB 2109   AN ACT concerning appropriations

HB 2165   AN ACT concerning appropriations

HB 2167   AN ACT concerning appropriations

HB 2168   AN ACT concerning appropriations

HB 3639   AN ACT concerning appropriations

HB 3697   AN ACT concerning appropriations

HB 3700   AN ACT concerning appropriations

SB 2414   AN ACT concerning appropriations

SB 266    AN ACT concerning state government

SB 335    AN ACT concerning finance

SB 401    AN ACT concerning revenue

HB 2858   AN ACT concerning finance

SB 1802   AN ACT concerning state government

SB 2172   AN ACT concerning finance

Line Item Vetoed

HB 117     AN ACT concerning appropriations

HB 123     AN ACT concerning appropriations

HB 132     AN ACT concerning appropriations

Reduction and Line Item Vetoed

Reduction Vetoed

HB 3717    AN ACT concerning appropriations

For a more detailed explanation of reductions, please see attachments.

New Laws Will Boost State's Efforts to Increase Seatbelt Use and Prevent Traffic Fatalities

CHICAGO - June 27, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by law enforcement officers, public safety officials and a bipartisan group of lawmakers to sign two traffic safety measures as families throughout the state prepare for the July 4th holiday weekend.

House Bill 219 requires all passengers in a vehicle to wear a seatbelt, regardless of age or where they sit. Under currently law, people in the front seat of a vehicle must use seat belts, but backseat riders are only required to buckle up if they are under 18-years-old. Emergency vehicles, buses and taxicabs are exempt from the new law.  

"What's tremendous about this law is that there is no question that it will save people's lives," said Senate President Cullerton.

In 2010, Illinois experienced one of its best years ever in traffic safety. For the first time since 1921, Illinois has seen two consecutive years with less than 1,000 traffic fatalities. Statewide seat belt usage increased from 64.5 percent in 1998 to nearly 93 percent in 2010, contributing to the reduced fatality rate.

"The Illinois State Police is proud to support legislation which has a positive and direct impact on the safety of the motoring public and reduces the risk of injury to passengers," said Illinois State Police Director Hiram Grau. "We will continue to partner with local and state agencies in support of enforcement initiatives and programs which effectively target and reduce traffic crash fatalities in Illinois."         

Governor Quinn also signed House Bill 1315, which prohibits passengers from riding in trailers, semitrailers, farm wagons and other vehicles while they are being towed on a public highway. Exceptions are made for farm-related activities and parades. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. John D'Amico (D-Chicago) and Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) and takes effect Jan. 1, 2012.  

###

Reaffirms Commitment to Doubling State's Exports by 2015;

Presents 2011 Illinois Export Awards

CHICAGO - June 21, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today reaffirmed his commitment to doubling Illinois' exports by 2015 during an address to kick off Illinois Export Week, a five-day event that helps Illinois businesses expand into the global marketplace. The Governor also presented the 2011 Illinois Export Awards.

"More than half a million Illinois jobs are supported by exports, but we cannot stop now. Our state's continued economic vitality depends on our ability to build key global partnerships," said Governor Quinn. "To continue to grow and lead in the 21st century, we must continue to take every step necessary to increase our exports, ultimately doubling them by 2015."

Expanding global trade partnerships is critical to Illinois' continued economic recovery. Illinois ranks first in the Midwest for exports and foreign direct investment. The state's exports totaled nearly $49.8 billion in 2010, a 19.6 percent increase over 2009. In the first quarter of 2011, Illinois exported more than $14.74 billion worth of non-agriculture goods - an increase of 30.43 percent compared to the same period in 2010.

Illinois Export Week, which runs June 20-24, features a series of seminars designed to help educate business owners on export opportunities. The Illinois Export Awards recognize companies that have achieved excellence in exporting and organizations that have provided substantial export assistance to Illinois companies. Governor Quinn presented 17 companies and organizations with awards at a luncheon on Tuesday. A list of 2011 Illinois Export Award winners is attached.

Illinois Export Week events feature top leaders from Illinois's export business community. Caterpillar Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Doug Oberhelman was the keynote speaker.

"Last year Caterpillar exported more than $13.4 billion in products from the United States?more than a third of that is from Illinois ? two figures that would have no doubt been higher had the U.S. fully embraced trade liberalization," Oberhelman said. "Simply put, many of our 47,000 employees in the U.S. and 23,000 employees in Illinois depend on trade."

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is partnering with local Small Business Development Centers this week to provide businesses with insight into export opportunities around the world. Information is available at www2.illinois.gov/gov/exportweek.

###

Nationally-Recognized Reforms Emphasize Teacher Performance, Strengthen School Administrator Standards

CHICAGO - June 13, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed landmark education reforms, which have garnered national attention for provisions that facilitate longer school days and stronger standards for teachers. The landmark reforms, sponsored by Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) and Rep. Linda Chapa La Via (D-Chicago), passed the General Assembly after months of collaboration between Governor's Office, legislators, education groups and teachers unions.

"Enacting education reform has been one of my top priorities as Governor, and one of my administration's main objectives for the spring legislative session. These historic reforms will help us make sure that students across Illinois learn from the best teachers," said Governor Quinn. "I would like to thank Sen. Lightford, Rep. Chapa La Via, members of my administration and the many education groups who worked tirelessly to put Illinois at the forefront of the nation in education reform."

The reforms are expected to improve education in Illinois through enhanced accountability and training for teachers, administrators and school board members. The historic measure sets clear standards for teacher evaluations and prioritizes performance evaluations above tenure for decisions on teacher hiring and dismissal. These reforms represent unprecedented statewide agreement on issues that have gone unresolved across the nation.

The new law also requires professional training for school board members, as well as a regularly administered survey of classroom conditions in school districts statewide.

"While some states are engaging in noisy and unproductive battles around education reform, Illinois is showing what can happen when adults work through their differences together," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "Through this very impressive collaboration of school management, teacher unions, education reform advocates, legislators and the governor, Illinois has created a powerful framework to strengthen the teaching profession and advance student learning in Illinois. This is an example that I hope states across the country will follow."

Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, who spent a decade as a university professor, also praised the legislation, as well as the collaborative process that led to its passage.

"This wave of education reform brought together teachers, administrators, parents and policymakers to do what was best - not for the adults in the room - but for the children of Illinois," said Lt. Governor Sheila Simon. "The result is meaningful legislation that will help us weed out bad teachers and seed new ones. These bills put students first, while also preserving the collective bargaining rights of students' greatest advocates. Today, we become a national model for education reform."

"This is a historic day for children and parents in Illinois," Sen. Lightford said. "I'm proud to have been able to keep all of the education stakeholders at the table actively involved in discussions. We put politics and personal agendas aside and put the children first. I look forward to seeing the enormous positive impact this bill will have on millions of students in Illinois."

House Sponsor Rep. Chapa La Via also praised the measures, pointing out the importance of their impact on children across Illinois.

"These reforms are a turning point for education in Illinois, and an example for states nationwide to follow," said Rep. Chapa La Via. "Education reform will help to ensure every child has a chance to receive a quality education, and that teachers are treated fairly."

Additionally, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who spoke at the event, praised the reforms for the impact they will have on students in Chicago.

"This legislation will help ensure that Chicago has the tools we need to give our children the education they deserve," said Mayor Emanuel. "By giving students a longer school day and improving the performance standards for teachers, today we take a major step towards ensuring that every child, in every Chicago neighborhood, has access to a world-class education."

Groups that participated in drafting and passing the reforms include the Illinois Education Association, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the Chicago Teachers Union, Stand for Children, Advance Illinois, the Illinois School Management Alliance, Illinois Association of School Administrators, Illinois Association of School Boards, Large Urban District Association, ED-RED, Legislative Education Network of DuPage, Chicago and Illinois Principals Association, and the Illinois Business Roundtable.

Senate Bill 7 and its trailer bill, House Bill 1197 take effect immediately.

###