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IGNN: State/All Press Releases

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June

2003

June 28, 2003
Governor announces progressive plan to improve public safety and quality of justice in Illinois
The Illinois Integrated Justice Strategic Plan is nationwide model
CHICAGO -- Seeking to arm law enforcement and the justice community with the necessary tools to protect public safety, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich announced today the release a progressive plan to integrate state, county, and local justice information systems throughout Illinois.

June 25, 2003
Blagojevich reinforces Prevailing Wage Act
Public Work Contracts must pay prevailing rate of wages
ROCK ISLAND, ILL. – Continuing to protect working families and encouraging responsible employers, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich signed legislation today that strengthens the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act by requiring enforcement, accountability and assurances of the prevailing wage law for contractors and subcontractors on state projects.

June 25, 2003
Governor announces technology center training grants
DIXON, ILL. – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced 55 training grants totaling nearly $2 million have been awarded to help establish, administer and expand 55 community-based technology centers throughout the state.

June 25, 2003
Blagojevich touts legislation to lower prescription drug costs in Mt. Carroll visit
Program for 1.5 million seniors and disabled set to begin January 2004
MT. CARROLL, ILL. – A new state initiative designed to reduce prescription drug costs for seniors and the disabled by up to 30 percent should be ready to be rolled out in January 2004, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich said today during a visit at the Carroll County Senior Center, 306 N. Main.

June 25, 2003
Blagojevich announces $20 million to continue U.S. 20 improvements
Four-lane expansion designed to improve safety, help economy
ELIZABETH, ILL. – At the Apple River Fort, directly off Route 20, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced $20 million has been earmarked in the state’s next fiscal year budget to continue efforts to widen U.S. Route 20 – Glacier Shadow Pass -- in northwestern Illinois to four lanes from Freeport to Galena.

June 24, 2003
Blagojevich signs bill creating interest-free loans for fire truck purchases
GALESBURG, ILL. – With outdated fire trucks in the background at the Galesburg Fire Station, 150 S. Broad, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation creating an interest-free loan program to help local fire departments purchase new vehicles.

June 24, 2003
Blagojevich touts legislation to lower prescription drug costs in Oquawka visit
Program for 1.5 million seniors and disabled set to begin January 2004
OQUAWKA, ILL. – A new state initiative designed to reduce prescription drug costs for seniors and the disabled by up to 30 percent should be ready to be rolled out in January 2004, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich said today during a visit at the Oquawka Senior Center, 4th and Schyler.

June 24, 2003
Governor signs legislation allowing special hunting seasons
Designed to combat chronic wasting and other wildlife diseases affecting wild deer herd
ALEDO, ILL. – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation at the Mercer Court House in Aledo allowing establishment of special hunting seasons to help combat wildlife diseases threatening Illinois’ deer herd.

June 23, 2003
Gov. Blagojevich visits Streator
Breaks ground on new fire station
Streator, IL – With the historic Streator Firehouse, 613 Main Street, in the background, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today joined state Senator Patrick Welch, Streator Mayor Ray Schmitt, Fire Chief William Wissen and local residents to announce the release of state funds for a new state-of-the-art fire station.

June 23, 2003
Blagojevich signs bills to assist workers displaced by foreign trade to acquire federally subsidized health insurance
Those with bankrupt pension funds also can benefit
HENNEPIN, ILL. – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation that allows several thousand men and women in Illinois who have lost their jobs due to the effects of foreign trade or whose pension funds are bankrupt to obtain health insurance and have the federal government pay the majority of the premiums.

June 23, 2003
Blagojevich announces energy grant for city of Princeton electric department
PRINCETON, ILL. – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced an $80,000 grant to Princeton’s city-owned electric department to assist residents, businesses, schools and non-profit agencies become more energy efficient.

June 23, 2003
Blagojevich touts legislation to lower prescription drug costs in Kewanee visit
Program for 1.5 million seniors and disabled set to begin January 2004
KEWANEE, ILL. – A new state initiative designed to reduce prescription drug costs for seniors and the disabled by up to 30 percent should be ready to be rolled out in January 2004, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich said today during a visit to an assisted living center here.

June 22, 2003
Blagojevich honors baseball great Lou Gehrig, Signs ALS income tax check-off bill
CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today honored the late baseball legend Lou Gehrig, who would have turned 100 this week, by signing into law legislation adding a donation check-off for the Les Turner ALS Foundation to Illinois income tax forms.

June 20, 2003
Governor announces 2003 Illinois State Fair grandstand line-up; Tickets on sale June 28
SPRINGFIELD, ILL. – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced a star-studded Grandstand line-up featuring country music Male Vocalist of the Year Kenny Chesney and platinum-selling country rock duo Montgomery Gentry and the Goo Goo Dolls with special guest Lisa Marie Presley will entertain visitors to the 2003 Illinois State Fair.

June 16, 2003
Governor signs legislation to dramatically lower prescription drug costs for seniors and the disabled
Appoints special advocates to oversee first-in-the nation drug discount club and leverage state drug purchases
CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation aimed at making prescription drugs more affordable for Illinois’ senior citizens and the disabled by creating a first of its kind program that combines the purchasing power of a drug discount club with that of state agencies that spend nearly $2 billion a year on drugs for state programs.

June 12, 2003
Governor puts teeth in ethics reform legislation
CHICAGO – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich used his amendatory veto authority today to significantly strengthen the comprehensive ethics reform package passed recently by the General Assembly.

June 11, 2003
Blagojevich signs legislation to spur growth in Illinois corn and soybean industries by investing in ethanol and biodiesel fuels
Approves bill to extend ethanol tax exemption for 10 years and to create grant program encouraging renewable fuel facilities development
DECATUR, ILL. – In an effort to boost the use of Illinois grown corn and soybeans as renewable energy sources, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation that extends the state sales tax exemption on ethanol, creates a new tax credit for biodiesel fuels and sets up a new grant program to encourage construction of renewable fuel production and research and development facilities.

June 6, 2003
Governor appoints committee to select new Illinois poet laureate
Takes part in ceremony renaming state library after former poet laureate Gwendolyn Brooks
SPRINGFIELD – At a ceremony in Springfield to rename the state library after Illinois’ former Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced a search committee to find a new Poet Laureate for the State of Illinois.

June 5, 2003
Governor breaks ground on innovative genome institute
New facility launches Illinois to the forefront of biological research
CHAMPAIGN – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today helped mark the start of a major development project at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign that will put Illinois at the forefront of modern biological research.

June 4, 2003
Blagojevich announces first vetoes for FY04 budget
Funding Cut for Corrections’ Captains, Pay Raises Cut for Judges, Constitutional Officers, Agency Directors, Legislators
CHICAGO –Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced the first vetoes of the FY04 budget – totaling just under $22 million – including a reduction of $17.3 million from the Department of Corrections, $3.7 million that would have been used for pay raises for judges, and $791,000 that would have been used for pay raises for government officials, including constitutional officers, agency directors and legislators.

June 1, 2003
Governor’s budget passes, solves worst fiscal crisis in Illinois history without sales or income tax increases or gambling expansion; provides nearly $1 billion in new funding for education, health care and public safety
SPRINGFIELD, ILL. – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that his first budget solves the worst fiscal crisis in Illinois history without raising the sales or income tax or expanding gambling, while at the same time investing nearly $1 billion in new funding for education, health care and public safety, and creating a rainy day fund.