Carbondale… State Senator David Luechtefeld (R-Okwaville) and State Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) are making preparations to help save four state facilities Governor Quinn proposed to close in his annual budget address.

“Senator Luechtefeld and I are working together to stop Governor Quinn’s proposal to close four state facilities in Southern Illinois, but we need help,” Bost said. “Visit our websites and sign our petitions urging the Governor to reconsider his plan to close these facilities. Once we have collected the signatures, we will personally hand-deliver them to the Governor and our colleagues in the Illinois General Assembly.”

“We have been down this road last year with the IYC and Chester Mental Health Center and again we are headed this direction – towards closures,” Luechtefeld said. “Representative Bost and I are committed to these facilities and working with local officials to prevent these closures. Again, the Quinn administration is advancing a plan that appears to have very little preparation behind it. We are confident the communities will rally behind their facilities again and hopefully change the course that Governor Quinn has laid out.”

The four facilities Governor Quinn plans to close include; The Adult Transitional Center in Carbondale, Tamms Correctional Center, the Illinois Youth Center in Murphysboro and the Illinois State Police Forensics Lab in Carbondale.

“These facilities are important to our economy,” Bost said. “Over 325 hard working men and women would lose their job if these facilities are forced to close. Governor Quinn must forgo his actions if he wants to avoid creating excessive hardships on the families of Southern Illinois.”

Petitions to help save the four facilities may be found in both Rep. Bost and Sen. Luechtefeld’s district offices and/or by visiting bost.ilhousegop.org or luechtefeld.senategop.org.

The Quinn Administration filed the facility closures last week and will release more information on COGFA hearings in the near future.

Click here to view petition for Tamms Correctional Center

Click here to view petition for Illinois Youth Center

Click here to view petition for Adult Transitional Center

Click here to view petition for ISP Forensic Science Centre

Carbondale, IL…Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) will host an Illinois Cares Rx Sign-Up at his office in Carbondale on March 6^th & 7^th – registration is required.  Illinois Cares Rx provides prescription drug assistance to low-income seniors and disabled persons.  The program also lowers the cost of co-pay for low income senior and disabled citizens.

“This program improves the lives of seniors by giving them the ability to purchase needed prescriptions,” said Bost. “I invite low income seniors and disabled Illinoisans who qualify, to take advantage of this cost lowering prescription drug service by calling my office and registering for this sign-up,” said Rep. Mike Bost. 

Rep. Bost’s Sign-Up is in conjunction with the Egyptian Area Agency on Aging.  Registration is required for this event.  Seniors must bring the following information:

1. Proof of 2011 Income.
2. Property tax, mobile home tax, rent or nursing home cost for 2011.
3. Red, White & Blue Medicare Identification Card.

 Please call (618) 457-5787 to register for this event.

 Who:  Rep. Mike Bost & the Egyptian Area Agency on Aging

What:  IL Cares Rx Sign-Up

When:  March 6^th & 7^th

Where:  300 E. Main Street, Carbondale, IL 62901

Registration is required:  (618) 457-5787

Springfield… Today, Governor Pat Quinn delivered Illinois’ budget address outlining his budget plan for FY13. The proposal included increased spending, additional facility closures and state agency reductions. State Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) was dissatisfied with Governor Quinn’s budget plan that included closing four state facilities, three within his district.

“The four facilities Quinn plans to close are vital to the community and surrounding areas,” Bost said. “We need to communicate to Governor Quinn that he cannot keep closing state facilities in communities where the facilities provide significant economic support.” 

The four state facilities being targeted by Governor Quinn include the Adult Transitional Center in Carbondale, the Juvenile Center in Murphysboro, an Illinois State Police Forensic Lab in Carbondale and Tamms Super Maximum Correction Center just outside Rep. Bost’s district near Cairo. The closures are all apart of Governor Quinn’s budget plan to cut 9 percent of state agencies.

“Governor Quinn abolished Illinois’ death penalty and now wants to close the only lever we have (Tamms) to protect Illinois citizens from the most vicious criminals,” Bost said. “Closing Tamms would not only put the citizens of Illinois at risk, but the guards at the prisons these criminals are transferred to. We must put pressure on Governor Quinn and his administration to keep these facilities open.”

The Quinn Administration said they would have more details on closure dates and COGFA hearings in the near future.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is proposing legislation that would require the state’s handgun owners to register their weapons with the state to make it “easier for police to figure out where they came from.”  Emanuel says the majority of guns recovered at crime scenes in Chicago – about 56 percent – come from outside city limits, but within the state.

The proposal would require a $65 registration fee that would be good for 5 years.   A renewal fee would then cost $25.  The person registering the gun would need to provide name and address, along with the weapon’s serial number, place it was purchased and the date of purchase.  The registry  would be in addition to the firearm ownership standards all gun owners must already meet.  Gun owners and dealers would need to get in touch with the Illinois State Police if a gun changes hands or is lost or stolen — or else they would risk a misdemeanor charge. Those caught with an unregistered gun could face a felony charge.

State Representative Mike Bost said it is once again the city of Chicago trying to force their opinion on guns down the throats of downstate residents.

Click to hear Rep. Bost’s comments on the proposal……

Springfield… Today, Governor Pat Quinn delivered his annual State of the State address to the Illinois House. The speech mainly focused on job creation and tax relief for Illinois families. State Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) also focused on job creation and Illinois’ current jobs climate.

“Illinoishas to start creating more jobs,” Bost said. “Illinois’ job climate is struggling to maintain, much less create new jobs. We have to provide relief for businesses by decreasing regulation and lowering the corporate income tax that the Governor and legislative Democrats passed last year.”

Since the Democrat tax increases were enacted, unemployment has risen nearly a full percentage point to 9.8 percent. The Civic Federation recently issued a report stating howIllinois’ backlog of unpaid bills will rise from $9 billion to $35 billion five years from now.

“How can we expectIllinoisfamilies to pay their bills when the state is reported to have $35 billion in unpaid bills in just five years,” Bost said. “Governor Quinn worked with legislative Democrats to impose the largest income tax increase inIllinoishistory last year. We must provide relief forIllinoisfamilies by rolling back the largest tax hike inIllinoishistory.”

Governor Quinn also touched on education issues and said he would mention more about the pension system and Medicaid during his budget speech three weeks from today.

Rep. Bost may be contacted at his district office located at300 East Main Street,Carbondaleor by calling (618) 457-5787

Rep. Bost discusses State of the State address