Patch on Politics

ComEd Wants You to Pay More for Electricity You Used Last Year

The utility wants lawmakers to amend a 2011 rate-hike law to allow the utility to retroactively collect money for electricity already used.

 The Illinois Senate Executive Committee unanimously approved a request by ComEd and Ameren to "clarify" a 2011 law that allowed the utilities to raise electricity rates, Illinois Public Radio reports. The clarification would allow the power companies to retroactively charge higher rates for the electricity you've already used, potentially raising up to $70 million for ComEd, according to Sun-Times Media. The 2011 law changed the formula used to determine charges. But the utilities say it didn't work as intended. They say regulators aren't letting them charge what they need. Now the companies are back, asking the legislature to pass another law, clarifying the old one.  (Says) ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore: "Without it we are stalled in these…

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Tom S

9:42 pm on Sunday, February 17, 2013

Under the Smart Grid law passed in 2011, ComEd committed to spend $2.6 billion over 10 years to modernize the electric grid in Northern Illinois. The ICC's interpretation of the law reduced funding to complete the modernization program. As a result, ComEd faced a reduction in funding of nearly $100 million per year in 2014 and beyond. Without the additional funding, ComEd stated it could not …   more ›

Illinois Senate Approves Gay Marriage: How La Grange/Western Springs Reps Voted

See how your five most-local state senators voted on the Illinois Senate's same-sex marriage bill.

The Illinois Senate approved legislation Thursday that would allow same-sex marriage in Illinois, according to the Chicago Tribune.  The Senate voted 34-21. The bill provides "equal opportunity for the same federal marriage benefits to same-sex couples that are currently awarded to other couples," according to a release from Illinois Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant.  Here's how La Grange, Western Springs, La Grange Park and the surrounding area's state senators voted:  See how each member of the Illinois Senate voted.  The measure will now go to the Illinois House, where the fight to pass the bill is expected to be tougher, according to the Trib.  Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign the bill if it makes it to his desk. Get news alerts and …

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Illinois Takes Step Toward Gay Marriage

Legislators in support of same-sex marriage have a long way to go, but the ball is rolling.

A same-sex marriage bill may be voted on in the Illinois Senate as early as Valentine’s Day, the Chicago Tribune reports. Sen. Heather Seans, D-Chicago, sponsored the bill in last month’s lame duck session, but it took until Tuesday for it to advance past committee action in a 9-5 vote, according to the report. The bill will now go to floor process where the entire Senate will consider its passage. Should it make it through the Senate readings, it will go before the House, where the process will be repeated. If it passes the House—a big "if," according to the Tribune—it then goes up for consideration by Governor Pat Quinn. Quinn recently told the Tribune he completely supports same-sex marriage. For more, read the Chicago Tribune report.

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Ice Man

5:30 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013

I agree that is an historical issue, and that they need to get movig on the fiscal crisis. It looks like they don't want to fix it. They risk getting dirty and losing re-election, but what they don't realized they have already lost.   more ›

$1-a-Pack Cigarette Tax to Help Cover Health Care Shortfall

Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign the bill that is designed to raise $800 million to help cover Medicaid costs. Check out how your local legislators voted.

When Illinois smokers take a drag, more than tobacco will go up in smoke. They face a new $1-per-pack state tax in a bill that now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn to sign into law. The Illinois Senate on May 29 and the House on May 25 approved a cigarette tax increase to raise revenue to avoid even deeper cuts to health care for low-income people. No Senate Republicans voted for the tobacco tax measure. Four Democrats, primarily those representing districts on the state's borders, voted against it. According to the Chicago Tribune, the tobacco debate unfolded as House members appeared poised to take action on plans for a revamp of public employee pensions, which have been major drivers of spending in a state that can't pay its bills and has the …

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State Senate May Vote on Controversial Legislative Scholarship Program

Here is a wrap-up of some of the latest political news.

The Illinois House of Representatives has voted to dismantle the scandal-ridden legislative college scholarship program, and the program’s most ardent supporter, Senate President John Cullerton, says he will not stand in the way of a vote on the tuition waiver ban. “Like any other bill, it will go through the normal committee process and there will be an opportunity for a vote,” Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon told Progress Illinois. Phelon’s comments follow Chicago Tribune reports that the Senate President may work to prevent the bill from getting a vote. The Illinois House passed legislation 79-25 March 21 to ban legislative scholarships. Gov. Pat Quinn has spoken against the scholarships. And, The State journal-Register in …

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