March 5, 2010

Legislative committees met continuously during the week as Senate lawmakers attempted to move all Senate bills out of committee by the scheduled March 5 deadline.

The Senate Executive Committee considered legislation that would require a photo of any prisoner who received early release to be posted online, while additional measures would increase the speed limit for cars and trucks to 70 mph on rural interstates and allow $300 million in short-term borrowing for health care providers.

Following reported problems and abuses related to Gov. Pat Quinn’s “MGT Push” inmate early release program, Senate Bill 3411 was introduced to make public identifying information and a photograph of any inmate who is released earlier than was delineated in their initial sentence. The information would not only include the inmate’s name and age, but also his or her physical attributes, address, the offense that was committed and the county where the conviction took place.

March 4, 2010

On March 3, Sen. Radogno met with former professional hockey player Stan Mikita. The hockey legend and Hall of Famer played for the Chicago Blackhawks throughout his entire career. In 1961 he and his fellow Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.

Mikita traveled to Springfield to meet with lawmakers and attend a cable industry reception.

March 2, 2010

Sen. Radogno was happy to stop by and participate as a guest speaker during Telemundo Hispanic Day at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show.

Hispanic Day featured live music and dancing, as well as appearances by dignitaries, celebrities and television personalities. The Chicago Auto Show is the nation’s largest auto show, boasting just fewer than 1000 cars with an estimated crowd of 1 million estimated in attendance.  

February 25, 2010

Springfield, IL – Limiting free rides on buses and trains to the state’s lowest-income seniors could save an estimated $37 million said State Sen. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), who has sponsored legislation to curtail Illinois’ free rides for seniors program.

“There is no reason why high-income seniors should ride on public transportation for free, while working men and women across Illinois pick up the tab,” Radogno said. “Income-based limits are a reasonable way to ensure the state’s poorest senior citizens will continue to benefit from the program, while also saving much-needed revenue.”

The senator explained that House Bill 4654 would tie the free rides for seniors program to the same qualifications that are in place for the state’s Circuit Breaker program. Citizens who are 65 or older living in a one-person household with an annual income of $27,610 or less, or a two-person household that brings in less than $34,635, would qualify for free transportation on Metra, PACE and the CTA.

Radogno noted that even if a senior citizen exceeds the income limits for a free ride, they will still only be required to pay half price for the fare.