Springfield, IL—(ENEWSPF)—June 1, 2011. As lawmakers concluded the 2011 spring legislative session yesterday, State Representative Anthony DeLuca (D-Chicago Heights) highlighted several notable legislative developments, namely the passage of state budget reforms and legislation allowing landlords to evict tenants who engage in criminal activity.
“Through the budget reforms enacted by the General Assembly earlier this year, we have been able to construct a state spending plan that curtails state spending, while taking care of our state’s obligations,” DeLuca said. “These reforms have reinvigorated the appropriations process by returning the power to make decisions about what to fund and what to cut back to the members of the Appropriations Committees. The final product is not a budget that everyone likes, but it is a budget that certainly follows through with our pledge to make significant spending reductions and force the state to live within its means.”
Public Act 96-1529 created a new budgeting process called Budgeting for Results. Under this process, the state must base its budgets on existing revenues available, rather than revenue streams that have not yet been created. DeLuca helped usher in extremely strict budgeting parameters for House Appropriations Committees through the passage of House Resolution 110, which established realistic and extremely conservative state revenue estimate for Fiscal Year 2012. The General Assembly passed a $33 billion dollar budget, which awaits further action from Governor Pat Quinn.
The legislative session was also marked by the culmination of DeLuca’s efforts over the past two years to help create3 safer neighborhoods by passing crime-free hosing legislation. DeLuca’s Senate Bill 1677 requires landlords to notify tenants that they can be evicted when crimes are committed on the rented property.
“We must do everything in our power to protect our families by taking on crime in neighborhood rental properties,” DeLuca said. “This legislation represents the continuation of my push over the past two years to pass crime-free housing legislation. This year we have been successful in agreeing on a version that is supported not only by members of the House, but also our Senate colleagues. This crime-free rental housing legislation will effectively help reduce crime through a partnership between law enforcement and rental property owners.”
In an effort to provide property tax relief for businesses located at the Lansing Municipal Airport, DeLuca passed House Bill 503 out of the House. This legislation was requested by Lansing officials because the businesses located at the airport are faced with an undue tax burden not faced by other municipal-owned airports around the state. H.B. 503 awaits further action in the Senate.
“One of the most important things that I can do as State Representative is to help local businesses and industry when they have been disadvantaged by an unfair policy or tax,” DeLuca said. “This legislation provides much needed assistance for the Lansing Airport which ultimately helps to preserve jobs in our area. I am hopeful the Senate will take action on this legislation when we return in November.
DeLuca also backed an initiative that requires all sex offenders and those arrested for other felonies to submit DNA samples to law enforcement, as well as legislation requiring sex offenders who were convicted of their crimes before registration was mandatory to begin registering with law enforcement if they are convicted of new felonies.
“Even though we have made substantial progress in making spending reductions and passing a more fiscally responsible budget, we still have a lot to accomplish to get Illinois back on the right track,” DeLuca added. “As this legislative session draws to a close, I certainly welcome the opportunity to meet with my constituents in the months to come and hear their thoughts on the important issues that we have addressed in the past few months in Springfield and the challenges that remain.”
Source: Rep. DeLuca
