As a State Representative my job is to do my best to represent each of the 105,248 citizens of the 89^th District. Often I’m asked to write letters of support, letters of recommendation and to take a stand on an issue. Such was the case some three plus years ago when a newly formed group called HOMES, asked me to meet with them and to take a stand on the Bos Dairy proposal in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. At the meeting I was cautioned not to bother visiting Fair Oaks Dairy in Indiana, as it was not at all like the one being proposed. Of course, the first place I went was Fair Oaks Dairy and quickly learned that five of the ten 3,500 cow dairies on 30,000 acres of adjoining land were built by the extended Bos family. I also learned that Fair Oaks is among the top three tourist attractions in Indiana. HMMM! Thereafter I traveled the nation visiting a total of nine dairies built in the past ten years learning that they were all environmentally sound, ecologically friendly, and supported by their communities. Accordingly I took a stand.

Jo Daviess County is dairy country. Sadly, over 11,000 dairy cows have not been replaced over the past twenty years for a variety of economic reasons.

We have a proposal from a California dairyman to bring 5,500 cows to this fair county. Two years ago this month the silage trucks were running the roads. Farmers were selling their corn to A. J. Bos. Farmers were buying trucks and equipment and hiring new employees. Warren was bustling with business and the Stockton Motel was full as workmen built the new facility.

An injunction was filed by the anti-folks and it all stopped. This is America, that’s democracy, it will work its way out.

The anti-folks don’t like me much for my stand. I’m an elected person and that goes with the turf.

What I will not accept is half truths and bold face lies and insinuating I am in some way corrupt and on the take for supporting this tremendous endeavor. This is the anti-group’s latest effort through letters to the editor both locally and to other areas in the state as well as obtaining information through the Freedom of Information Act and then funneling what they want you to see and ignoring the factual basis.

Responsible publications quickly learn that they are being fed what is hoped they will print without doing their own independent investigation. This article would not be written were it not for this latest distortion.

Tradition Dairy is a positive economic development for our area. The spin doctors will have none of it. Do your home work before you buy in to their allegations. You will conclude as I did. The “not in my back yard” folks are wrong on this one.

I will be at the Market House in Galena from 1:30 PM until 3:00 PM on Friday, September 24, 2010.

A month has passed since the devastating floods of late July. Governor Quinn, shortly thereafter, declared eleven Northwestern Illinois counties disaster areas, including all five of our counties here in the 89^th District. For days following the flood, I met with many local officials and representatives from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Simply put, they were magnificent and responsive. Their promptness in assessing the significant damage brought President Obama to the table on August 19^th, declaring all of the 89^th District, Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Carroll, Ogle and Winnebago Counties along with Cook and DuPage to be federal disaster areas.

Why is that declaration so significant? The federal disaster declaration allows families to apply for individual assistance and hazard mitigation. The federal assistance for government infrastructure (damage to counties and municipalities) is still pending.

There is a procedure to follow, and Sam Ventura, the public information officer for FEMA, has been most helpful. Many of you who suffered a loss have already contacted your emergency management officer for your particular county or municipality, but that will not get you federal assistance. For federal help, you need to contact FEMA at 800-621-3362 or go to www.disasterassistance.gov. It is absolutely imperative that you make that contact to verify your loss. I know I’m being repetitive, but everyone needs to know that unless you contact FEMA directly, you will not be on the list for federal assistance.

Sam noted that 1-800-621-3362 will be manned by his trained operators seven days a week from 7am to 10pm until further notice. Be prepared to provide information about where you’re living now, the address of the damaged property and the extent of your damage including loss of furnace, water heater, or other equipment or property. If you have insurance, have your policy available when you call or go online if possible. The operator will assist you in scheduling an inspector to meet with you at the damaged property. Sam also wanted me to share with you that the inspectors are specially trained to find problems that perhaps you have not. Whatever the extent of the cost of your damage, do make the call.

As of this writing on August 25^th, 21,356 residents from the seven affected counties have contacted FEMA. More than $17.3 million has already been approved for payment, and of that amount, $9 million in checks have already been issued. The Disaster Recovery Center at the Stephenson County Highway Administrative Building on West Lamm Road in Freeport will be open to assist anyone who has questions about the flooding, personally impacted or not.

Five years ago FEMA was highly criticized for its response to Hurricane Katrina. The agency truly has its act together today, and staff is there to help you. So, again, the number to call for help is 1-800-621-3362 or go to www.disasterassistance.gov.

You have to admire entrepreneurship and ingenuity. We all talk about jobs and their availability, but seldom do we comment on those small businesses that, on little more than a dream, started a successful operation.

You don’t have to look much further than the small town of Seward, Illinois, to find one of the finest examples. Eickman’s Processing Company is a three generation livestock processing facility that has proven hard work and family values pay off. Merlyn Eickman started the business many years ago and is still around with advice and counsel. Mike, his son, is the driving force today and Mike’s son Tom is actively involved in all aspects of a great family endeavor.

Having the privilege of being one of the auctioneers at the State Fair “Governor’s Sale of Champions” again this year on August 17^th, I wasn’t even a little surprised to see the grand champion bacon, the grand champion ham and the grand champion summer sausage we sold all came from – you guessed it – Eickman’s Processing Company. Merlyn, his lovely wife Marilyn, Mike and Tom were in the audience beaming with pride as the great radio announcer Orion Samuelson acknowledged them as outstanding exhibitors who this year went home with three “grands”. That truly is an amazing accomplishment.

I have more good news from the district: our early morning “gas station gathering” at Harry Bowen’s BP station in Orangeville was a tremendous success with more than sixty in attendance, some coming and going throughout the morning. It was a great opportunity for me to hear your thoughts and concerns.

Senator Bivins and I, with help from Lisa Madigan’s Office, sponsored a Financial Safety Seminar at Lincoln Mall. Mike Hughes, the downstate coordinator for the Attorney General’s Office did his usual exceptional job as did our Chief of Police Jerry Whitmore. We expected about fifty participants and three times that many showed up, thanks to Kelly Hillan at the Senior Center getting the word out. Tim and I will continue to sponsor these well-received programs.

I just received information from the Partnership for Prescription Assistance asking me to help get the word out on prescription assistance available to those struggling financially. I invite you to go to www.pparx.org or call 888-4PPA NOW (that’s 888-477-2669.) You can also call my office for further assistance.

Today I had the privilege of addressing the Jo Daviess County Leadership Institute at Scales Mound. The program has been ongoing for nearly nineteen years starting in Stephenson County and still instructed by Alan Wenzel of Highland Community College. My opportunities to address the group go back to my former life as an FBI Agent. I have always found the group to be the “movers and shakers” of tomorrow and they come from all walks of life.

What has always made the makeup of the group so exceptional is their upbeat optimism in making our world a better place. These are our leaders who will certainly do their part.

The contrast hit me between the eyes. Arriving back at my Freeport Office I received the following email compiled by a wonderful staff in Springfield dealing with Illinois’ mounting debt crisis.

Illinois Mounting Debt Crisis

• The total cumulative deficit run by the State of Illinois will be approximately $13.0 billion this year (Source: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA).

• In addition, state-managed pension and retirement funds have accumulated a total actuarial deficit that approximates $94.3 billion (Source: Pew Center on the States).[1] The total debt of the state and its sub-entities approximates $107.3 billion.

• The $107.3 billion debt, when divided by Illinois households, tops $23,200 per Illinois household – which is more than the equity that many Illinois families have in their private homes.  There are 4.59 million households in Illinois (Source: U.S. Census Bureau).

• The same $107.3 billion debt, when divided by Illinois residents, tops $8,250 per Illinois resident.   There are 12.91 million residents in Illinois (Source: U.S. Census Bureau).  In other words, each Illinois resident, when he or she starts out in life, bears a total debt burden roughly equivalent to the typical debt that a college graduate owes for a year of tuition at a typical Illinois public community college or university – but without receiving, in return, any valuable skills or job training in exchange for this debt.

• That means the state’s red ink continues to grow at more than $684,000 per hour,[2] more than $11,000 per minute, and more than $190 per second.

Where lies the answer? What does it all mean? We cannot wring our hands and say what now. As evidenced by the leadership institute, we are a society made up of all kinds and there is always a bright line of good, intelligent people to work on the fix at all levels of government. We will turn this thing around. We can accept nothing less.

[2] Actually $684,932 per hour.

I’ve written many times of the deplorable condition of our state’s finances. I’ve shared my opinion that we cannot spend money we do not have; my frustration over the continuation of “free rides for seniors” costing us $70 million per year; an All Kids insurance program that spent $79 million in 2009, of which $56 million can’t be accounted for because a large percentage of the children covered for treatment were from other states or other countries. There’s no accountability.

I’ve introduced legislation the past two consecutive years demanding accountability from welfare recipients who in some cases are now 4^th and 5^th generation recipients that have no incentive to work. I have always shared my sincere belief that if someone is in need we, the more fortunate, should be there to help them. I don’t think anyone reading this would take issue with this common sense approach.

Now, many in Illinois are sharing the grief of significant flood damage. If water did not affect you, you are one of the fortunate few. The following e-mail was forwarded to me from an area school superintendent from the Lee Ogle Regional Office of Education to all Northwest Illinois school districts: “subject: flooding and homeless.  I am sending this out as a reminder …possibly your district did not get the flood waters, but if you did, the families that were forced to leave their homes (even for one night) would qualify as homeless. This fact needs to be dealt with when they come in to register. Remembering their school fees would be waived, they would qualify for free meals, school supplies and such.

A fact to keep in mind, it does not matter, if at registration time, they are back in their homes. If after July 1, 2010 they were displaced because of flood waters they would qualify as homeless for the FY 10-11 school year. Also keep in mind, even if an eligible homeless family refuses the services you still need to report them as homeless. The information has to be entered into SIS.”

This is nuts. Our school districts have always taken care of their own in a sensible manner. Would anyone care to put a pencil to the potential costs to your school district, the state and the federal government? Here is the craziness folks –  If you were out of your home for one night on July 24^th for , say water in your basement, come late August when your five kids go back to school, all of the aforementioned is free to them for the entire school year. What a deal…let’s let the government pay for it. More and more we seem to forget that the government is us and we are the ones who pay. My personal applause to those of you with minor damage who at registration time say “thanks, but no thanks.”

Yes, I called the lady at the Regional Office of Education who sent the e-mail. She assured me she was just doing her job and passing along the information…and we wonder why we’re broke.

I will be at the BP Gas Station in Orangeville on Friday, August 13, 2010, at 6:30 AM – coffee and doughnuts are on me.

It’s a somewhat dubious honor – the Governor declared 12 Illinois counties disaster areas following the 12 to 14 inches of rain that fell over parts of the state last weekend. Five of those counties make up our 89^th district.

I listened in disbelief to WBBM radio in Chicago, once again reporting that the Chicago Water Reclamation District discharged millions of gallons of waste water into Lake Michigan. The 1:00PM news on July 28^th reports that each year municipalities, including Chicago, discharge more than 25 billion gallons of sewer water into Lake Michigan. Contrast that with our many livestock confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) which are held to a zero discharge standard. Once again, they come through with flying colors in what is considered by many a “100 year flood”. The ones built in the past ten years have amazing EPA standards. Other flood-related damage throughout our district is significant and you just have to admire neighbor helping neighbor to make repairs.

Not an easy segue, but certainly timely, are the significant scams and myths that are being reported to my office. Once again the Nigerian scam letters are hitting area mail boxes. This particular letter has been circulating for years. You know, you are the only one who can be trusted with this information as your bank may be the culprit. My good friend Attorney Dan Gilbert, who practices in both Winnebago and Jo Daviess Counties, shared the latest twist with me: you receive a letter from an FBI agent with the return address in Washington D.C. They have confiscated trunks at JFK or another airport. The trunks are addressed to you and of course they are full of money. You must immediately do the following or face arrest.

You say “come on Sacia, nobody would fall for that crap.” Want to bet? Each year hundreds perhaps thousands do what the scam artists demand of them to get their make-believe trunk full of money or whatever is the latest twist…and very few of the scam artists are arrested or convicted.  One area lady, who lost thousands in a similar scam, told me that it had to be legitimate because the man on the phone was a great Christian and even prayed with her on the phone. The point is they will stop at nothing to get your money, so ignore the letters and phone calls, notify law enforcement and get on with your life.

Myths that continue to circulate include the claim that legal immigrants, who come to this country and start businesses, don’t have to pay any taxes for seven years. Sadly, some believe that. No way. They pay taxes just like you and I.  Another one is that congressmen and senators receive all their pay in pensions when they leave office. No, they are in the Federal Employees Retirement System. They must serve a minimum number of years to qualify for pension. Senator Burris will leave office with no senate pension. And then there’s the free “Obama” cell phones to welfare recipients. Not true. No federal or state money is being spent. Low income families can qualify for phones provided through the private telecommunications system. For more information, go to www.safelink.com.

I will be at the BP Gas Station in Orangeville on Friday, August 13, 2010, at 6:30 AM – coffee and doughnuts are on me.

It’s been an interesting week.  At the request of Alderman Ronnie Bush of Freeport, Senator Bivins and I met with citizens of the third ward and others to discuss issues of concern. At the meeting, retired Freeport School District Deputy Superintendent Joe Crawford, a long-time friend, criticized my columns for “not offering solutions”. That set me back a bit because I believe I do offer pros and cons of issues I discuss. If Joe sees it as not offering solutions, then others likely do as well so I need to fix it.

Long-time friends C.J. and Jeff Gregg of Davis contacted me. C.J. of the “Neighbors” newspaper in Durand, Illinois, inquired if I would be willing to accept questions from constituents and answer them in my columns. The answer, of course, was “I’d love to”.

Speaking to the Jo Daviess County Tea Party event last Thursday, a gentleman took me to task for not having a list of legislation I planned to introduce next January. I explained to the group that I always have an active “New Bill” file and I rely on you, my constituents, to provide me with input on legislation you’d like to see introduced. Again, my solicitations through these columns provide me with a multitude of ideas from you and issues you’d like to see addressed. I do follow through.

Many of you comment on my columns. Often it’s along the lines “I don’t always agree with you, but thanks for keeping us informed”. I know I only touch the tip of the iceberg, but I see it as my solemn duty to do the best I can.

As I write this I’m sitting in the jury assembly room in Winnebago County with about one hundred other citizens waiting to be called. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the comments from Joe Crawford, C.J. Gregg, the gentleman at the Tea Party meeting and other comments I receive. I believe our jury system is one of the purest institutions in our democracy. We, seated here, are from all walks of life, old, young, rich, not-so rich, all ethnicities and all answering that simple summons that is so important to justice and fairness.

We in elected office, and certainly those of us in the Illinois House, in many ways mirror those of us here in the jury room today – a cross section of America. We are all functioning in a system of government that certainly has its flaws, but it’s certainly better than any other system in the world. Struggles on the national, state and local stage affect us all. Each and every one of us has an obligation to make the system better. To me the best compliment you could ever pay to anyone is to say “the world is a better place because he or she is here”.

My columns are my effort to share the observations of an elected person, and to ask for yours in return. Your thoughts and concerns are a reflection of all of you in the district. No, we won’t always agree, but I will always listen, take your concerns to heart and try my best to fix the problem.