Rep. Lou Lang Brings Illinois Jobs Task Force to Decatur for Hearing

(Decatur, IL) — April 2, 2010. House Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and chair of the House Jobs Task Force brought the panel to Decatur on Wednesday for a public hearing to generate local job creation and retention ideas.

Decatur Herald & Review reporter Chris Luvardi wrote:

Small-business owner Otto Klemm would like to see smaller government, less regulation and a tax cut.

Klemm is the owner of C&K Custom Signs, which he said is a three-person business dependent on the general economy in the Decatur market. During a state jobs task force meeting Wednesday, Klemm took issue with some of the things small businesses are forced to do by the government.

“We have to pay the unemployment tax,” Klemm said. “How am I going to lay myself off and still have a business? We should be exempt.”

Klemm was one of those whom state Reps. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion, and Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, heard from during the meeting in the Decatur City Council chambers. Flider and Mitchell were joined by colleagues Lou Lang, D-Skokie, and Naomi Jakobsson, D-Urbana.

Lang, chairman of the bipartisan task force set up by House Speaker Michael Madigan, told those sharing their ideas to be specific. The task force was created because jobs are a major issue in the state, with the Decatur area January unemployment figure hitting 14.4 percent.

For the rest of Luvardi’s report, read it here …

Based on the Decatur hearing and others across the state, Lang expects to introduce a jobs package of legislation to the Illinois General Assembly this year.

Lou Lang Opposes Failed Bill to Elect University of Illinois Trustees

(Springfield, IL) — March 17, 2010. The Illinois House today defeated, 44-69, legislation that would have reinstated the direct election of the Board of Trustees for the University of Illinois.

The measure, House Bill 4608, sponsored by State Rep. David Reis (R-Ste. Marie), would have enabled voters to chose seven trustees starting in 2012. A total of six additional trustees would have been appointed by the Alumni Association. Additionally, one faculty member and one student would have been appointed from each of the three main campuses.

House Deputy Majority Lou Lang (D-Skokie) voted against the legislation claiming the bill was a political stunt.

“It’s designed to make a political statement about a university,” Lang said. “It’s not designed to deal with the philosophy of how these trustees become in place.”

Governor Pat Quinn replaced seven of nine trustees several months ago and appointed Christopher Kennedy as the Board Chairman.

Lang, Schakowsky–Despite Battered Limbs–Limp, Not March–in Skokie July 4th Parade

(Skokie, IL) — Despite battered limbs, State Representative Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and U.S.

State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston)

Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) still participated in Skokie’s 4th of July parade–limping rather than marching in the village’s annual Independence Day event.

Lang had torn a leg muscle and Schakowsky had broken her ankle during a tour of the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The parade began on Oakton Street at the Oakton Community College parking lot, heading east from Downtown Skokie to Oakton Park.

Lang Hopefull on Illinois Medical Marijuana Approval

(Springfield, IL) — The Illinois medical marijuana bill did not come to a vote in the Illinois House before Illinois General Assembly’s spring legislative deadline expired on May 31, but House sponsor State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) remains hopeful.

The legislation, Senate Bill 1381, passed both the Senate 30-28 and the House Human Services Committee 4-3

State Senator Bill Haine (D-Alton), left, State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie)

last week, but still lacked enough votes in the full House.

“Although (the) top priority was the tax bill, I think the time has come for Illinois to enact a medical marijuana law. We just need to shore up a few votes before calling this bill to the floor,” said Lang, a Deputy Majority Leader and chief House sponsor of the plan.

State Senator William Haine (D-Alton) sponsored the bill in the Senate.

“It was dramatic that the bill got out of the Senate,” Haine said in an interview with the Alton Telegraph. “We had a busy spring. This bill was one of hundreds. It had one of the highest profiles because it surrounded the whole debate on drugs and marijuana and came with a lot of baggage.”

Lawmakers retun to Springfield for the veto session in the fall.

Other legislative sponsors:

State Senators: Iris Martinez, Jeff Schoenberg, Donne Trotter, Kwame Raoul and Linda Holmes.

State Representatives: Angelo Saviano, John Fritchey, and Karen Yarbrough.

Lou Lang Says Illinois Casino Expansion Bill Has “Flaws that Are Fixable”

(Springfield, IL) — A gambling expansion plan – including slots at horse tracks and four new casinos – pushed through the Illinois Senate by State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills)–stalled in the Illinois House, but the plan is “fixable” according to State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie).

Lang, a Deputy House Majority Leader, oversees gaming in the House, said there are provisions he called

House Speaker Michael Madigan

“problematic.”

“There are flaws that are fixable, but they were unfixable before the deadline,” Lang said. “I think this can be win-win, just not yet.”

The Link bill proposes four new casinos in Chicago, Park City, Rockford and Danville; increasing gambling positions at existing casinos from 1,200 to 2,000; and permit riverboats to become land-based.

“I think naming specific communities is problematic, although I actually personally support the communities he named in the bill. But in terms of passing the bill out of the House, it would be better to have a more general approach,” Lang said.

Link’s bill would also allow existing Illinois casinos to operate slot machines at horse tracks.

“I think if we’re going to help the racetracks, we ought to help the racetracks. We ought to give them their opportunity to get a few bucks out of this to save the 40,000 jobs in the horse-racing industry,” Lang said. “The way the slot machines at the racetrack are treated, I would treat them differently.”

Passing legislation after May 31 requires 3/5th of lawmakers in both chambers. After January 1, only a majority will be necessary.

“Speaker Michael Madigan has staked out a position opposed to gambling, and even though I support gaming expansion, while I’m on his leadership team, I support the Speaker’s position,” Lang said.

“That said, I don’t support everything in Senator Link’s bill and I’m sure he and I could work out our differences, but until and unless the Speaker decides we’re going to take a look at this probably nothing will happen.”

Lou Lang Wins Passage of $29 Billion State Construction Program to Fix Roads, Schools, Bridges, Parks, Mass Transit

(Springfield, IL) — The Illinois House on Thursday approved a $29 billion capital plan to build or rebuild schools, roads, bridges, public parks, and mass transit.

The House supported the legislation to fund the plan passed 86-30, but the bills to spend the money each

Deputy House Majority Leader Lou Lang (D-Skokie)

passed 117-0. Many House Republicans opposed the revenue bills, but voted in favor of the spending.

“This construction program represents Illinois’ economic stimulus package,” said State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), the chief sponsor of the legislation.

“This is the bill that will put thousands of our people to work, repair the infrastructure of our state and do great things moving forward for the citizens and the economy of the state of Illinois,” Lang said.

This is the first Illinois capital program in more than 10 years, Lang notes.

“This new construction program represents a significant, and some ways a historic, achievement by the Illinois General Assembly,” said Lang. “We have put the dysfunction of the Blagojevich years behind us.”
Some of the construction highlights include:

• $2.8 billion in new road projects
• $1.5 billion for school construction
• $1.4 billion for universities and community colleges
• $150 million for Amtrak
• $2 billion for public transportation: 10 percent for downstate, the rest to the Chicago area
• $875 million for environmental and water projects
• $150 million for state parks

For the RTA, the capital plan provides $1.8 billion, plus $900 million in the recent “mini” capital bill, bringing to $2.7 billion from the state for mass transit infrastructure needs in the Chicago area.

Governor Pat Quinn has announced that he will not sign the capital bill until lawmakers approve new state budget. For that reason, Lang initiated a parliamentary maneuver to withhold the bills from Quinn until the Governor commits to signing the measures.

“When the governor is ready to sign the bill, I’ll send it to him,” said Lang

Lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn on May 31.

House Ok’s Bill to Fire State Education Board, Curtail Gov’s Power to Appoint Board; Superintendent Could be Booted

(Springfield, IL) – The Illinois House yesterday approved legislation, 91-24, that would end the terms of the current nine-member Illinois State Board of Education, strip the governor’s power to directly appoint board members, and curb the governor’s power to propose a state superintendent to the board.

State Rep. Lou Langboard.

Sponsored by State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), the bill creates a new and permanent seven-member nomination panel that would identify, evaluate, and submit a list of qualified education board candidates to the Governor for his or her consideration.

““This bill would reform the State Board (of Education) by taking it farther away from the political system,” said Lang.

Lang’s proposal empowers a new state board of education to fire the current superintendent if it chooses.

The House approval of Lang’s proposal is a dramatic reversal for the legislature.

In 2004, lawmakers gave the Governor’s authority to bring the state board more directly under the office’s control, granting former Governor Rod Blagojevich the power to immediately appoint seven board members.

Lang said he has no opposition to the current board.

“I just want to get to a point where this board is no longer beholden to the governor in any way, shape or form,” he said.

State Board of Education board is neutral on Lang’s bill.

Last year, the House approved a nearly identical measure 86-21.

House Rejects Blagojevich’s Autism Insurance Hoax

(Springfield, IL) — The Illinois House on Monday voted down Gov. Rod Blagojevich‘s maneuver to use an amendatory veto to add autism insurance coverage to an unrelated bill. The move violates the Illinois constitution, House Democratic lawmakers say.

“For the governor to take legislation and completely rewrite it is dangerous because where does it start and stop? And it is a cruel hoax on the families who need the insurance,” said State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie).

“Were the legislature to approve the governor’s changes, the courts would quickly recognize the unconstitutionality of the Governor’s move and could strike it down in a New York minute.”

There are two autism-related proposals pending before the General Assembly. Lang says the legislature could send the legislation to Gov. Blagojevich’s desk for his signature as early as November.

“I want Illinois families to get reliable autism insurance they need without violating the constitution and without deceiving families,” said Lang.

Comment: House Lottery Lease Bill as Good as the Governor’s Going to Get

The Illinois House passed, 78-35, a $10 billion state lottery lease bill this wek to jump start a statewide capital construction program to build and rebuild, schools, roads, bridges, and public transportation. It’s the right move.

The lease of the state lottery—as the source of revenue to fund construction projects—emerged as the least objectionable funding source after nearly six years of long, polarizing, and paralyzing debate. I voted for this bill. I dislike this bill. But I dislike the alternatives far worse. And our infrastructure needs to be upgraded.

Governor Rod Blagojevich

This bill is better than the original proposal that Governor Rod Blagojevich presented. This plan creates more transparency and accountability. The Treasurer and Comptroller will help handle the lease process. A revamped, independent Gaming Board will monitor the lease. Lawyer and broker fees will be capped.

The legislation authorizes the Governor to proceed. It authorizes the Governor to seek and accept a $10 bid billion, but not a dime less. If no vendor bids at least $10 billion, there is no lease. No projects. There is no cheap give-away of a state asset.

School funding is protected. The legislation holds education funding harmless at $600 million. Schools will get next year what they got this year from the lottery. No loss.

Will the Governor agree to the proposal? Not sure. But he would be foolish to disagree. It is as good as he’s going to get. The Governor will get the money for his long sought-after capital construction program. And he will get new road, bridge, and school bragging rights. He will just need to share the decision-making, and, perhaps, some of the bragging.

Of course the Illinois Senate must still consider the plan before any bragging can begin. Will the Senate agree? Not sure there either. The Senate is focused on succession. But were I a betting man, I would say a gubernatorial “nod” would be sufficient to secure Senate approval.

We’ll see.

Illinois Auto Workers Union Endorses Lang for Reelection

(Lincolnshire, IL) — The political arm of the Illinois Auto Workers Union on August 19 endorsed State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) for reelection to his 16th district Illinois House seat.

State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie)

“We appreciate the work that you have done on behalf of working people in the past, and we look forward to working with you in the future,” wrote Illinois Region 4 Director Dennis Williams, notifying Lang of the endorsement.

The Illinois State CAP Council is the political organization of the United Auto Workers. It represents almost 70,000 Illinois members. 

Lang, an Assistant House Majority Leader, was first elected to the Illinois House in 1987.

The 16th House District includes parts of Skokie, Lincolnwood, and Morton Grove and parts of the 49th and 50th Wards in the City of Chicago.

In March 2006, Lang was elected Committeeman of the Niles Township Regular Democratic Organization.