State Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) stands before the House and expresses his concern that the Speaker of the House (Madigan) has too much power for one individual.

Springfield… On a day that saw a rare, bi-partisan effort to rein in state spending, State  Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) voted in favor of historic Medicaid reform legislation aimed at cutting Illinois’ Medicaid spending and reversing a decade long trend of exploding costs.

“Today’s vote was crucial to stabilizing Illinois’ budget.  If we did nothing, our backlog of unpaid bills was expected to grow to $21 billion by 2017 –  that’s more than our entire Medicaid budget this year,” said Bost.

According to Bost, a key component of the bill is the hiring of a private vendor to “scrub” Illinois’ Medicaid rolls.  “Individuals who make too much money, are not residents of Illinois, aged-out of the KidsCare program, or have died will be removed from the Medicaid rolls.  It is anticipated that 300,000 individuals will be taken off the Medicaid rolls – this eligibility verification alone will save Illinois’ taxpayers $350 million.”

Senate Bill 2840 also rolls back the Blagojevich expansion of Family Care by reducing the eligibility limit for parents and imposes a $10 co-pay for emergency room visits. Medicaid recipients will also now be required to make a $3.60 co-pay for all services and a $2 co-pay for generic medications, and eliminates funding for adult chiropractic services.

The bill also provides for a moderate rate reduction for hospitals of 3.5% and exempts Critical Access and Safety Net Hospitals from the reduction.

Rep. Bost added that he voted against the so-called Obamacare expansion for Cook County, contained in House Bill 5007.

Springfield… On Monday, State Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) voted in favor of a measure that would force members of the General Assembly to take twelve, unpaid furlough days and forgo any pay increases during Fiscal Year 2013. This is the fourth year in a row that the legislature has voted in favor of this bill.

“It’s important that we lead by example,” said Bost. “We cannot expect taxpayers to be the only people in Illinois take a financial cutback. This legislation should demonstrate that lawmakers are willing to share the burden.”

House Bill 3188, co-sponsored by Rep. Bost, will require members of the General Assembly, Constitutional officers, and directors of state agencies to take twelve, unpaid furlough days in Fiscal Year 2013.  The furloughs will amount to a nearly 5% reduction in salary and will save taxpayers approximately $642,000 for the upcoming budget year.  The legislation will also ensure that these officials do not receive a cost of living increase in FY 13.

“This legislation is a small step in the right direction,” said Bost. “As we continue to find ways to save the state money, we have to make sure to involve lawmakers in the process. The savings from this bill could help ensure we have money for child-care providers, hospitals, nursing homes or even pay down some of the backlog of unpaid bills.”

House Bill 3188 now heads to the Governor for final approval.

Rep. Bost may be contacted at his district office located at 300 East Main Street, Carbondale or by calling (618) 457-5787.

Springfield… State Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) and State Representative Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg) today want to put state and university employees at ease about potential changes to their pension benefits. Both representatives are concerned that rumors and misinformation may lead employees to make hasty decisions before the facts are known.

“There is a lot of inaccurate and misleading rumors being spread about pension reform and I’ve heard from many constituents who are wondering if they would be better off by retiring right away,” said Bost. “While there might be changes to retirement benefits eventually, there is certainty with your active employment. As an employee you know what your salary and health benefits are and should a pension proposal be put forth and approved, employees will be given ample time to examine the options and react.”

While it is possible a pension reform bill will be forthcoming, to date there is no agreement and no legislation filed.

“The spreading of rumors is a disservice to hard working state and university employees and is causing a lot of angst,” said Phelps. “Please don’t believe everything you hear. There are many rumors circulating that simply aren’t true. First of all, there is no legislation filed. If and when reforms are adopted, there will be plenty of time for employees to review the changes and then make a decision based on actual facts.”

For more information, please contact Rep. Bost at his district office located at 300 East Main Street, Carbondale or by calling (618) 457-5787 and Rep. Phelps at his Constituent Service Office at (217) 782-5131.

Springfield, IL… State Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) is asking Second Amendment supporters to sign a petition supporting the passage of House Bill 148 which would allow law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed weapon.

“Illinois is the only state in the union without a concealed carry law in the books,” Bost said. “I am urging citizens in favor of concealed carry legislation to sign our petition urging Speaker Madigan to release conceal carry legislation out of the House Rules Committee and onto the House floor for a vote before we adjourn later this month.”

Illinois is the only state in the nation that has no procedures in place for law-abiding citizens to apply for concealed carry permits. In 2008’s Heller Decision, the U.S. Supreme Court recognized gun ownership as an individual right. In 2010, the Supreme Court overturned Chicago’s long-standing handgun ban, ruling that the Second Amendment limits state and local governments to the same extent that it limits the federal government.

“There has never been a better time to get conceal carry legislation on the books in Illinois. I am hoping we can garner enough signatures to get the attention of leaders from the Chicago area to get a vote this spring,” said Bost.

Representative Bost is urging Second Amendment supporters to visit his website at www.bost.ilhousegop.org to sign the conceal carry petition.

Rep. Bost may be contacted at his district office located at 300 East Main Street, Carbondale or by calling (618) 457-5787.

Click to sign the petition in support of House Bill 148

Springfield… State Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) is advising his fellow legislators that welfare reform must be one of the fixes the state makes to help repair the current budget mess in Illinois.

“We have had a problem in Illinois for too long that needs to be corrected,” said Bost.
“As we look at ways to cut the state budget, we should begin by passing reforms that ensure welfare is available to those truly in need and not spent on illegal immigrants or out-of-state residents.”

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) requirements include:

• Be pregnant or have a child under age 19 who lives with them. A child who is 18 must be a full-time high school student. A pregnant woman (and her husband, if he lives with her) may qualify for help, even if they don’t have any other children.
• Live in Illinois. You can be homeless and still qualify.
• Be a U.S. citizen or meet certain immigration requirements.
• Develop a plan for becoming self-sufficient and follow it.

“Sadly, and at the expense of taxpayers, there is no real enforcement of these requirements,” said Bost. “Last year, we passed into law reforms requiring individuals applying for Medicaid to show proof of Illinois residency and two pay stubs. Unfortunately, to date our Governor has refused to implement these reforms fully. Because Illinois’ enforcement is so lax there is plenty of room for fraud. If we are going to seriously reform the system and save taxpayers’ dollars, we must stop subsidizing illegal immigrants, people who live out of state, and those who can afford to stand on their own. Welfare is supposed to be a safety net – not a way of life.”

Senate Bill 1313 does not take away health care benefits

Springfield… On Wednesday, the Illinois House passed Senate Bill 1313, Amendment #9 that aims to stabilize the state’s health care system by requiring state retirees to pay a portion of their healthcare premiums.

“Today was the hardest vote I have taken in office to date, but it was the best option for our retirees that have dedicated their lives to public service,” said Bost (R-Murphysboro).   “As lawmakers we have a fiduciary duty.  We are up against the wall.  Many have said to do nothing. How can we do nothing? I get calls all the time from retirees and current state employees saying ‘my doctor will no longer take my state insurance.’  That will only get worse if we do nothing. How is that the responsible thing to do?  This is a vote for the next generation.”

Currently, there are 78,000 retirees who pay no premium for healthcare. Another 7,400 pay a portion of their premium and 36,000 dependents are enrolled but whose premium does not cover the true cost of the healthcare benefit.

“This bill does not take away retiree health care benefits,” said Bost. “This legislation protects retirees and their health care benefits from being entirely lost.”

The change puts in place a mechanism that allows the Director of CMS to determine the State’s premium payments on behalf of retired employees – including lawmakers. CMS has proposed guidelines for determining what retirees’ contributions will be based upon a sliding scale that takes into account length of service and ability to pay.  The percent of cost the retiree will pay will also be based on his or her pension level.

If the remaining payment determined for retirees is deemed unacceptable, the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules (JCAR) may object.  In addition, his suggested retiree contributions will be subject to union negotiations.

Senate Bill 1313 House Amendment 9 passed through the House 74-43-0 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Click to Listen to Bost Speak on SB 1313

Springfield… State Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) released the following statement in response to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) votes to keep the Tamms Correctional Center and Warren G. Murray Developmental Center open.

“COGFA members made a wise decision in voting to keep the Tamms Correctional Center and Murray Developmental Center open. The Governors plan to execute the closures is formatted in an unrealistic manner and timeframe.

Tamms is a facility that deters the violence through our other correctional facilities; violence against the guards, violence against the inmates and violence against outsiders from gangs.

Murray Center has the most needy people and the families there depend on that facility to care and provide for unfortunate individuals who would be otherwise helpless.

We have to continue to convince Governor Quinn that these two state facilities must remain open.”

Click to hear Rep. Bost discuss the vote……..