Dear Friends,

As we approach the July 4th holiday, the budget situation in Springfield is weighing heavily on my heart. I am upset that we are not protecting grants to the developmentally disabled, mentally ill and seniors while we work to resolve our overall budget problems. We all want to finalize the budget, but unconscionably, people who need our help the most are being hurt in the process.

Throughout this session, I have been an advocate for reform and fiscal responsibility. Resolving the budget crisis remains the focus of my constant attention, even during this the holiday weekend. We are scheduled to return to session on July 14, but we are ready to return to Springfield at any time before then if called upon by the Governor, especially if progress is made to solve the impasse.

As I wrote in last week's newsletter, a pension note bill, SB 415, created a five-year bond to raise funds. I supported this pension note specifically to obtain $2.23 billion for human services. The bill passed the House 101-7. It was then called twice in the Senate, but failed both times.

During this week's session, the House passed SB 1221, which would provide for the implementation of capital spending and the pension bond proposal. I was torn about supporting the bill, but ultimately decided to vote for it to keep the government functioning and to provide $2.23 billion more for human services. (The tough choice is to stand firm against deep cuts in human services or to use the money we have available to cover critical services in the interim.) The bill passed overwhelmingly in both chambers, but has not yet been signed by the Governor. Obviously, a compromise is needed.

Since returning home, Senator Susan Garrett and I have met with human services providers and citizens affected by the impacts of the lack of a budget to ease their worry and uncertainty. I will continue to make myself available to those who wish to discuss the crisis. It is imperative that we protect our state's neediest citizens and their services.

In 2007, when we faced a similar budget impasse, we passed a one-month temporary budget to keep state programs going while the budget problems were being resolved. There is no reason why we cannot pass a similar temporary budget now. I am sick over the cuts in services that have begun, and frustrated that our leadership has not constructively resolved our budget issues.

In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you during our July 4th celebrations and wish you a happy Independence Day. We are blessed with freedom in a great democracy and this budget crisis has provided the opportunity for many hundreds of you to share your views with me. I'd like to thank my district staffers for going "above and beyond" the call of duty to help me respond to so many of you.