Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has earned his share of criticism - and could use some easy victories to improve his appeal if he wants to win a second term. Neither of these are knockouts by any means, but here’s a chance for Blagojevich to shine - he can sign Senate Bill 75, the Rental Housing Support Program, approved by the Illinois General Assembly last Wednesday, into law and he can sign the even easier Senate Bill 40 for Veterans Benefits Review, that also passed the House last Wednesday, in a unanimous vote (following the State Senate’s unanimous vote for it on April 11).
Illinois Senate Bill 75
While campaigning in 2002, Blagojevich told the Metropolitan Planning Council that “Illinois should increase resources for affordable housing within fiscal constraints, and worthy goals that include affordable rental housing…I think [are] very important….” Now he can do something substantial about it with SB 75, a bill that Democratic State Representative Julie Hamos of Evanston has advocated for since 2003, which provides rental assistance to low income people. DuPage residents, as members of the collar counties, would receive a portion of about $9 million based on their needs according to Chicago Coalition for the Homeless Policy Analyst Samir Goswami. Goswami went on to note that those who fear the governor raiding the roughly $30 million a year rental housing assistance fund have the governor’s written assurance for the first year not to touch it - and the willingness of housing organizations to fight against any future raids in the court of public opinion (which is about all most defenders of budget items can say given current law permitting the funding raids).
Senate Bill 75 for affordable rental housing, was a truly bipartisan bill in the House, with both Democratic Majority Leader Michael Madigan and Republican Minority Leader Tom Cross in the House joining to pass it. The final tally showed substantial support with 72 yeas to 43 nays. Locally Republican State Representative Jim Meyer voted for the bill, as he had in a prior version. Republican State Representative Joe Dunn also stayed consistent and voted against the bill. One surprise to me was Democratic State Representative Linda Chapa LaVia from Aurora, who voted against the bill. I spoke to her office the other day and got a reasonable explanation. Linda thought the bill in general was good - but objected to the new $10 real estate document fee (for things like housing sales) that will fund the rental housing support (as she objects to other fee increases that hit constituents). While I am sympathetic to her anti-fee principled stance, especially since it has become the funding method of choice the last couple of years (see the comments here), I think on balance this is a good bill that deserves the governor’s signature. The bill will provide about $30 million annually in rental subsidies for 5,500 families that earn under 30% of area median income, which will help prevent homelessness - and it will help fulfill a meaningful goal Governor Rod Blagojevich articulated while campaigning for his office.
Illinois Senate Bill 40
This bill, led in the House by Army Veteran and Democratic Vice-Chair of the Veteran Affairs Committee Linda Chapa LaVia requires the Department of Veteran Affairs to annually review the benefits Illinois veterans receive - and compare them in a number of categories to veterans receiving benefits in other states.
The bill is a proper response to a strikingly poor record of Illinois veterans receiving benefits. As Representative Chapa LaVia notes, Illinois veterans are “close to last when it comes to benefits received.” The bill requires the annual review reports to go to the governor, General Assembly and congressional delegation. Hopefully with most major politicians being kept informed, more veterans from Illinois who served their country will in turn be served in their time of need. It’s about as easy as it gets for the governor to sign - and it can really benefit deserving Illinois citizens in need too.
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