[il-talk] FYI letter from Mr. Clinton

[Bill Reif]

Hello Rick and list,

It's very important to note that HB 174 actually says nothing specific about 
the schools for the deaf or visually impaired, ICRI-Wood, or services for 
the blind or disabled generally.  HB 174 originally started out as a bill to 
tax some improper distributions from college savings funds, and was amended 
to become the vehicle by which income and corporate taxes would be 
considerably increased, and a tax similar to a sales tax would be imposed on 
many services.  I will paste a bill synopsis below.

I believe we make a tactical mistake in merely lining up with disabled 
organizations to demand such a large tax increase, one which has been voted 
down rather soundly in its proposed form.  A strong case needs to be made 
regarding the tremendous importance of ISVI in light of its very modist 
budget impact.  This school needs to be kept open even if the necessary tax 
increase is much smaller than that proposed.  Blind children have done 
nothing to merit their futures being held hostage in a power grab that's as 
much about enhancing revenue for new programs, some of which HB 174 creates, 
as it is about making up for past revenue shortfalls.  The necessary 
services these schools provide, and not SB 174, are what we ought to be 
supporting.

Bill

Synopsis of bill beginning with its first amendment:

Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Amends the State Budget Law of 
the Civil Administration Code of Illinois. Provides that certain amounts 
shall be transferred from the General Revenue Fund to the Common School 
Fund. Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the income tax rate for 
individuals, trusts, and estates from 3% to 5%. Increases the income tax 
rate for corporations from 4.8% to 7.2%. Increases the residential real 
property tax credit from 5% to 10%. Increases the limitation on the 
education expense credit from $500 to $1,000. Increases the percentage of 
the earned income tax credit from 5% of the federal tax credit to 15% in 
2009 and thereafter. Makes changes concerning distributions to the Local 
Government Distributive Fund. Amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. 
Provides that certain services are taxable under the Act. Amends the School 
Code. Creates the Education Financial Award System Fund, the Digital 
Learning Technology Grant Fund, and the STEM Education Center Grant Fund. 
Makes changes concerning the Early Childhood Education Block Grant; 
financial awards for school improvement and other awards; academic early 
warning and watch status; an educational improvement plan; the creation of 
the Digital Learning Technology Grant Program, a best practices 
clearinghouse, the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
Education Center Grant Program, and a resource management service; audits; 
school board member leadership training; a school district's school report 
card; financial policies and plans; a capital improvement plan; protection 
from suit; financial accountability; non-referendum bonds; the foundation 
level of support under the State aid formula; the New Teacher Induction and 
Mentoring Program; school board associations; and transportation 
reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 3
Adds a preamble stating that the Act may be referred to as Senate Bill 750 
of the 96th General Assembly. Provides that in fiscal year 2010, no 
appropriation made from general funds to the Illinois Mathematics and 
Science Academy may be decreased from its fiscal year 2009 general 
appropriation level. Makes related changes and technical corrections.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 4
In the State aid formula provisions of the School Code, provides that the 
foundation level of support of $6,190 is for the 2009-2010 (instead of 
2010-2011) school year. Provides that moneys that are transferred to the 
Common School Fund instead of the Local Government Distributive Fund shall 
be transferred until July 1, 2010 (instead of July 1, 2009).

Senate Floor Amendment No. 5
Increases the corporate income tax rate from 4.8% to 5% (instead of 7.2%).


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rick canode" <rcanode at sbcglobal.net>
To: "NFB of Illinois Mailing List" <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 2:24 PM
Subject: Re: [il-talk] FYI letter from Mr. Clinton


The best way to react to this issue is to contact your State
legislators, and tell them to pass house bill 174.  If possible, you
can also attend a rally at the capitol in Springfield, on Tuesday, at
noon.  This is very important. The sooner we act the better.
Rick W Canode
Member
ISVI Alumni Association
Board of Directors

At 09:43 AM 6/19/2009, you wrote:
>For those who are more familiar with this type of issue,
>Please offer us some suggestions on how to react to this news and
>the most effective way to tell the powers that be that we are
>against such an action as closing this school.
>Imagine closing a school that educates the blind and deaf to become
>successful members of society and tax payers.
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Patti Gregory-Chang" 
><pattichang at att.net>
>To: "NFB of Illinois Mailing List" <il-talk at nfbnet.org>; "Illinois
>Association of Blind Students List" <iabs-talk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:57 PM
>Subject: [il-talk] FYI letter from Mr. Clinton
>
>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Flora Dennison"
>><Flora.Dennison at illinois.gov>
>>
>>Subject: letter from Mr. Clinton
>>
>>
>>>** High Priority **
>>>
>>>June 18, 2009
>>>
>>>
>>>Good Morning
>>>
>>>I wanted to write to the parents and supporters of our school due to
>>>the recent events and announcements from State Government.
>>>
>>>Tuesday morning it was announced that as of July 1, 2009, the Illinois
>>>School for the Visually Impaired will be closed due to state budget
>>>woes.  I realize that times are tough across the state.  We all have
>>>felt it in our own personal situations and have made choices to reduce
>>>our spending to make ends meet.  It appears that the State of Illinois
>>>is going to make an attempt in some manner to do the same.  But right
>>>now it is not a cooperative effort among state leaders, which has lead
>>>to the announcement regarding ISVI.  I wish I had further
>>>information to share with you regarding details of
>>>the cuts to be made beyond what has been published on the State of
>>>Illinois web site.  But at this time I don't.  I only have the
>>>information that is available to the public by visiting that web
>>>site. Thus, I can verify that ISVI has been named on a list to be closed 
>>>July
>>>1, 2009, but I don't have any further information or verification.
>>>
>>>I write this letter to you because I am concerned for our school and
>>>hope that everyone is doing what you can to voice your concerns about
>>>the possible closure.  I have been asked if this really will happen?  I
>>>can't answer that question as I am not one of those who will make that
>>>decision.  What I can tell you is that in the past rumors and rumblings
>>>have been made about consolidating our school or doing some other sort
>>>of reduction in services.  But those situations were always of a verbal
>>>nature.  This time it has been put in black and white, ink on paper, and
>>>is there for all to see.  Not a rumor, but a proposal that has been
>>>submitted.  That is a first.  Thus, it raises the level of concern.
>>>
>>>We all have decisions to make in this situation regarding what personal
>>>action we need to take.  I trust each person reading this letter has
>>>thought through this and has already taken some type of action, as is
>>>the legal right of every tax-paying citizen in the State of
>>>Illinois. For us to sit quietly to a side and watch services and
>>>programs for our
>>>students and children be dismantled would be the same as agreeing to
>>>close ISVI.  I personally do not agree with that concept.  Thus, as a
>>>citizen of Illinois I will do what I can on my own time to ensure this
>>>does not happen.
>>>
>>>In closing, below I have copied a letter to the editor from the
>>>Jacksonville Journal Courier.  This is the local newspaper here in
>>>Jacksonville and I think this letter sums things up pretty well.  Thank
>>>you for your past, present and future support of ISVI and the
>>>opportunities we provide to students from across the State of Illinois!
>>>
>>>Sincerely,
>>>
>>>Reggie Clinton
>>>
>>>Jacksonville Journal-Courier
>>>EDITORIAL: Schools are more than Jacksonville institutions; they are
>>>part of community
>>>Wholesale closing of beneficial programs is wrong approach for state to
>>>take
>>>June 17, 2009 - 10:34 AM
>>>JOURNAL-COURIER STAFF The words were delivered from Springfield
>>>with painful but clinical
>>>precision: "Cut funding for state-provided services by $232
>>>million."  In the middle of the four-item list from the
>>>governor's office was the proposed shuttering of the Illinois
>>>School for the Deaf and the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired.
>>>It was - and still is - a take-your-breath-away moment, a time when
>>>saying "oh, no" and wrinkling the forehead in disbelief is an
>>>understatement. Looking at the move from cold unemotional numbers, it
>>>seems just a pittance of the $9.2 billion hole into which the budget has
>>>sunk. Closing the Jacksonville institutions would save the state an
>>>estimated $18 million. We cannot be unemotional. This is more than a
>>>line item in a financial ledger. These are people who desparately need
>>>specialized services offered at the schools to build their own
>>>self-sufficiency. These are schools that are a part of Jacksonville's
>>>community fabric. The loss of either would be devastating to the city,
>>>which has been the benefactor of the economic and cultural impact of the
>>>schools. Both facilities have been embraced with a warm acceptance and a
>>>willingness to integrate unique lifestyles. Closing the schools would be
>>>painful to Illinois' deaf and visually impaired students and families.
>>>The School for the Visually Impaired brings school-age people to its
>>>18-acre campus for an education that goes beyond what could be offered
>>>in most environments. The school also offers outreach programs that
>>>start as early as infancy. The same for the School for the Deaf, which
>>>has grown to a 50-acre campus since founded in 1839, offers similar
>>>programs for the deaf or hard of hearing. Most important is the
>>>self-sufficiency these schools help bring to students. That can't be
>>>defined by a price tag. Sure, we've heard the cry-wolf tactics before.
>>>In fact, it has grown tedious to hear the cacophonic tales of "we
>>>said/they said" and know it comes at the expense of real progress. But
>>>this seems serious.  What is at risk is clear: State agencies would
>>>suffer and, in turn, so would the people and families who rely on such
>>>services. It's a double-edged sword. While we believe lawmakers need
>>>to make sure the state lives within its means like any individual or
>>>business would be expected to do, the depth of the cuts being discussed
>>>seems almost spiteful at this point. Times are tough on the economic
>>>front. Less money is coming into the state and expenses are on the rise.
>>>We know, we get it - our wallets have been hit hard, too. In some
>>>cases, we've had to make adjustments to live within our means, and we
>>>recognize the state could do a better job of that. But the wholesale
>>>slaughter of programs without careful evaluation or, even worse, just
>>>ignoring the problem until it "goes away," is a wrong-headed
>>>approach that demonstrates a lack of leadership needed more than ever in
>>>these turbulent times.
>>>
>>>
>>
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