Homer Township Fire Protection District Referendum Results March 2014

On the March 18, 2014 ballot, voters in the Homer Township Fire Protection District will vote on a referendum "for the sale of $4.7 million in Bonds by the Fire District in order to secure funding to alter, repair, improve and equip existing facilities, procure vehicles, firefighting apparatus and equipment", according to homerfire.org. 

To view results for the Homer Township Fire Protection District referendum, go here.  Results will begin to post once polls close.

Illinois 11th Congressional District Republican Primary 2014

Five Republicans are vying for the chance to represent the 11th Congressional District of Illinois.  The 11th Congressional covers parts of several Will County municipalities, including Joliet, Crest Hill, Naperville, New Lenox, and Bolingbrook.

The Republicans running in the March 18, 2014 Illinois General Primary are:

Chris Balkema of Channahon

Bert Miller of Hinsdale

Darlene Senger of Naperville

Ian Bayne of Aurora 

Craig Robbins of Lisle

Map of the Illinois 11th Congressional District:

5 Republicans are running in the March 18, 2014 General Primary Election in Illinois.  The Republican winner will face Congressman Bill Foster in the November 2014 election

Kinzinger Responds to Obama's 2014 State of the Union Address

Map of Illinois 16th Congressional District, represented since 2013 by Adam Kinzinger

Representative Adam Kinzinger represents Illinois's 16th Congressional District, which includes parts of southwestern Will County.  Kinzinger released this response to President Obama's 2014 State of the Union Address:

“Tonight, the President talked about working across the aisle to find common ground, but words alone don’t bring about results. With families across the country struggling to make ends meet, the American people need tonight to be about more than just a speech; they need a real commitment to results, to getting people back to work, to finding bipartisan reforms to bring healthcare costs down, and to making government work for the people again. If the President wants to work with Republicans, we are willing to roll up our sleeves and have the tough conversations it will take to find common ground.”

O'Dekirk Announces Candidacy for Mayor of Joliet

Standing on the steps of the Joliet Police Station, Bob O'Dekirk announced his candidacy for Mayor of Joliet:


O'Dekirk then took questions from the small group of citizens, supporters, and reporters gathered.  One citizen asked what we can do about low voter turnout in local elections.  O'Dekirk said he hopes Joliet residents who saw four new taxes and are seeing crime increasing in Joliet will take ownership and vote.

O'Dekirk said during his 10 years as a police officer in the City of Joliet he developed deep ties to the community and that those ties would help him forge the gap between the community and city hall.

In regards to Joliet's economic situation, O'Dekirk said promoting a 5 Guys Restaurant coming to Joliet is not an economic plan.  O'Dekirk said Joliet needs a plan for economic development and that if Bolingbrook can do it, so can Joliet.

Republican Candidates for Governor at Plainfield Central High School

The Will County Tea Party Alliance is sponsoring a Forum for Illinois Republican Gubernatorial Candidates on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at Plainfield Central High School--24120 Fort Beggs Drive in Plainfield.  Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and the event starts at 7:00 p.m..  Seating is first-come, first-served

So far, Republican candidates Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, and Dan Rutherford have confirmed they will attend.  Bruce Rauner has been invited.

Voters will select a Republican candidate for Governor on March 18th, 2014 in the Illinois General Primary Election.

Senator Bertino-Tarrant Votes Against Pension Reform Bill

State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant released the following news release regarding her vote against the Pension Reform Bill in the Illinois State Senate:

December 4, 2013 

"SPRINGFIELD—Yesterday, a pension reform bill passed the General Assembly that adversely affects seniors and retirees in Illinois.

After various pension reform proposals failed to make significant movement last spring, a bi-partisan pension conference committee was tasked with developing a compromise between both parties and both chambers. Yesterday’s legislation reflects all of the concessions of the democratic members of the committee and fails to address the one requirement that Senate Democrats, like Senator Bertino-Tarrant, have stressed since the beginning of pension reform negotiations—that is, fair treatment for those who were already retired.

“Through support of other legislation, as well as numerous meetings with stakeholders, I have held fast to my position to protect retirees who now have no way to change their fiscal futures,” Senator Bertino-Tarrant said. 

The provisions of the bill include items such as increased retirement age and delaying of cost-of-living-adjustments, but most worrisome for Bertino-Tarrant was a change to the COLA computation that affects active employees and those already retired.

“It forces reductions to the anticipated life savings of our current retirees, as well as excessive concessions from our current employees,” she said.  “For this reason, I simply could not support the proposal.”

Bertino Tarrant firmly believes that a balanced solution could have been achieved.  Everyone involved knows that sacrifices would have to be made all around, however the bill that passed the General Assembly did not achieve this balance. 

It is expected that the constitutionality of the pension proposal will now be evaluated by the Supreme Court. 

“It is my hope that the benefits already earned by retirees will be acknowledged by the judicial branch and that their decision will give us a detailed framework for the work we will need to do in the future,” Bertino-Tarrant said.

Despite Senator Bertino-Tarrant’s opposition, the bill passed both chambers of the General Assembly and will now be sent to the governor for his approval."

Bertino-Tarrant Supports Bill To Expand Eligibility for Illinois Medicaid

February 28, 2013

Illinois State Bill 26 passed today in the Illinois State Senate.  Beginning January 1, 2014, the bill:

"extends benefits under the State's medical assistance program to persons aged 19 or older, but younger than 65, who are not otherwise eligible for medical assistance under the Code, who qualify for medical assistance under specified provisions of the Social Security Act, and who have income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level plus 5% for the applicable family size. Provides that the 4-year moratorium on the expansion of medical assistance eligibility through increasing financial eligibility standards shall not apply to this new class of persons. Provides that such persons shall receive coverage for the Health Benefits Service Package. Defines "Health Benefits Service Package". Provides that if Illinois' federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) is reduced below 90% for persons eligible for medical assistance under the specified provisions, medical assistance eligibility for this new class of persons shall cease no later than the end of the third month following the month in which the reduction in FMAP takes effect. Effective immediately."

This means that an individual with an annual income below 15,415 would be able to enroll in Medicaid starting January 14, 2014.  As part of the federal Patient Care and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), the State will be repaid by the federal government for the entire cost of these new Medicaid enrollees through 2017. The rate of reimbursement will decrease from 100% after 2017 but remain at least 90% after 2020.  

Illinois State Bill 26 Full Text HERE.

State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) issued the following statement today after the Senate passed healthcare  expansion legislation (SB 26) out of its chamber: “There are over 4,000 needy people in the 49^th District who will benefit from this proposal. I am pleased that the Senate was able to pass legislation that extends protections to people and families whose health and well-being are too often overlooked.”