In an effort to bring an end to the stalemate over a capital bill, a select group of colleagues and I are meeting to try to reach consensus on a capital proposal that could win enough votes for passage. (With gallows humor it has been called the inmates taking over the asylum.) Our group of 12 rank and file legislators from both parties and both chambers is combing through several different proposals. To show members we have considered all options we are working on three different plans: bare bones, moderate and comprehensive.

Setting priorities is very important, because the needs are great. None of us are in a leadership position of either party, but we believe we have to take the reins because our party leadership is spending valuable time posturing. It is hard work because we do not have the benefit of support staff and we personally research the line items from various departments. This coming week we will concentrate on the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and other state departments by questioning chiefs of staff regarding needs and priorities.

We are also making a list of revenue sources, the other and hardest part of the equation. While I support a capital plan, the revenue sources most often talked about are unacceptable. I have not supported three new casinos (the plan that came out of the Senate) and I am skeptical of leasing all or part of the lottery, because it would be giving up an ongoing revenue source for a one-time cash infusion. Through our analysis, we can scale back the capital bill if we do not find support for the revenues.

It is an interesting perspective to hear from some of the senators working with us, because we generally are not involved in policy discussions between chambers. It is an ambitious undertaking and may not totally solve the standoff, but at the very minimum, all of us involved will get a better understanding of the proposals much as we did by participating in workgroups during the budget standoff last year. And, we will also get a better idea of what the members of the four caucuses will vote for, which is important as we lobby our leaders.

We had a good discussion of revenues at our town hall meetings, but questions from the audience concentrated more on the tax swap idea (swapping property taxes for income taxes to fund education). While a capital budget may not be on everyone's mind, the investment in infrastructure is a core mission of government that we should not neglect. The Senate sponsor of the tax swap legislation, Senate Bill 2288, announced that he would not call the bill in the Senate this year. It is unclear if the House sponsor will call the bill for a vote in the House.

On Wednesday, I voted for the two most widespread property tax relief packages introduced this year. In a response to the slumping housing market and lower than usual property values, I voted to pass House Bill 6302. The measure would require the Cook County Assessor to reassess all residential property in 2008 so that tax assessments in the northern suburbs are not based on inflated, out-of-date home values. This would require the assessor to re-assess all residential property in the northern suburbs ahead of schedule.

With the housing market bringing property values down, it is important that tax assessments reflect current realities. We have not faced difficulties like this in the housing market in more than half a century and it is important for the legislature to respond quickly to address the potential tax impact on our constituents.

I also voted in favor of a parliamentary procedure to keep a measure alive that would increase several property tax benefits and exemptions for senior citizens. House Bill 4916 would increase the senior homestead exemption by $1,500, remove Social Security income from the definition of income for the exemption's eligibility, and include individuals with disabilities in the program. The measure would also lower the eligibility age for the property tax assessment freeze from 65 to 55 years old. This measure remains held in the House Rules Committee.

I am honored that I will be recognized by the Respiratory Health Association (RHA) of Metropolitan Chicago at the second annual Inspiration Benefit for Women's Lung Health on May 1 at the Metropolitan Club at the Sears Tower, Chicago. RHA will be recognizing my leadership as an advocate on clean indoor and outdoor air quality initiatives and my efforts to help advance RHA's mission in the fight against lung disease.

Most people depend on their employer to provide health insurance coverage. When employment with a large employer is disrupted, federal law requires that continuation of health care coverage be offered to the employee for up to 18 months after employment ends. Smaller employers are exempt from the federal requirement and as a result, they only need to offer their employees a health insurance continuation that lasts for up to 9 months after employment ends. I am proud that my House Bill 4830 passed and now moves to the Senate. The bill provides that the employee may extend health insurance coverage for up to 18 months after employment disruption. This provides the necessary health insurance gap coverage for people when they are financially vulnerable and least able to handle the high risk of being uninsured for health care.

When a prescription is written for a patient, it is considered good medical care to correlate that prescription to the patient's health condition and other medications being taken. I am proud that my House Bill 4391 passed and now moves to the Senate. The bill provides that the prescriber either has physically examined the patient or has reviewed a documented patient evaluation, has discussed treatment options with the patient, and maintains the patient's medical records. My goal is to prevent the dangerous practice of medication prescription with no professional interaction with the patient.

I have heard from many constituents supporting House Bill 5705, the Child-Safe Chemicals Act, which regulates the sale and distribution of children's products containing dangerous chemicals to children. I am proud to be a Co-Sponsor of the bill and will work hard to enact stronger regulations to protect our most vulnerable citizens.

To help consumers shop with confidence and to ensure that dangerous products are kept away from children, the Illinois Attorney General's office developed a Safe Shopping Guide which provides a photograph and short description of each and every children's product recalled during the year. The website will be updated monthly under Children's Product Recall Guides. The link is: http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/safe _shopping.html. You can also sign up for e-mail notification of all recalled products at www.recalls.gov and call the Attorney General's Product Recall Hotline at 1-888-414-7678 (TTY: 1-800-964-3013) if you have questions or if you see a recalled product being sold in stores.

On Monday, April 21, Senator Barack Obama's legislative staff will be on-hand in my district to provide on-site assistance to constituents with federal concerns. My staff and I will also be participating in an effort to make sure that your voices are heard on matters that concern you. Contact my office for locations and hours.

email: karenmay58@aol.com

phone: (847) 433-9100

web: http://www.repkarenmay.org