The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Governor Is Getting Noticed

by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher

25 June 2003

It is always popular for a politician to show up among the people it represents and it was no different in Oquawka on Tuesday afternoon.

Republicans and Democrats alike were there to meet the man who is in charge of this large and diverse state of Illinois.

I think you will find everything from one of the largest and most important cities in the United States to the down-state large acreages for farming, hunting and fishing-familiar to us in Henderson County.

It's amazing Bill Brown said, that zoos have cows and pigs and sheep in them. Many from the cities have never even been on a farm before.

But not so with Governor Rod Blagojevich who is getting noticed for his first hand visit at the Oquawka Senior Center.

He talked of his outlook for Illinois, his budget cuts, and his new bill signed into law effective January "04 which is to reduce the cost of drugs to seniors over 65 if they buy a $25 club card.

This should allow them a state negotiated discount rate at pharmacies, up to 20 maybe 30%, he said, if drug companies agree.

However, the negative e-mails at the newspaper have started flowing in upset with our new Governor.

A couple of e-mails this week invite us to a seminar in Chicago to discuss problems with the Governor:

"Topic:

Blagojevich's New Budget to Cause Massive Job Layoffs, Less Revenue and Will Drive Business Out of State

"Employees facing job layoffs, members of the Illinois business community and national taxpayer and consumer groups to speak out against the devastating impacts of Governor Blagojevich's budget on jobs, consumer costs and the state's economy.

"For more information, please contact Jennifer Ellison at (Cell) 310-367-1326 "

The email referred to a June 22nd USA Today front page story found on the web at

It is entitled: "Bad moves, not economy, behind busted state budgets" and says:

"The financial problems racking many state governments this year have less to do with the weak national economy than with the ability of governors and legislators to manage money wisely."

Go to the USA Today web site.

It is worth the read about governors and states across our nation.

But if you go to the Illinois Governor's web site at http://www.illinois.gov/ you will see the optimistic Illinois Governor moving quickly.

For instance 6/23, at the Streator Firehouse, he announced the release of $1.25 million state grant for a new state-of-the-art fire station replacing a 100-year old firehouse.

The group then broke ground for the project on a vacant lot across the street. The new firehouse is the first phase of a three-part project. Eventually, the city block will also be the site of a police station and a community center.Ê

6/23 Blagojevich touts legislation to lower prescription drug costs in Kewanee and Oquawka visit

6/23 Blagojevich announces energy grant of $80,000 grant to Princeton's city-owned electric department to assist residents, businesses, schools and non-profit agencies become more energy efficient.

6/24, he signed legislation at the Mercer Court House in Aledo allowing establishment of special hunting seasons to help combat wildlife diseases threatening Illinois' deer herd.

6/24, Blagojevich signs bill creating interest-free loans for fire truck purchases.

Although many have their doubts about a Chicago Governor who has yet to move to its capitol city, he is definitely making waves across the state that voters are watching.