FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                             April 17, 2009

Springfield, Ill. – The Capitol was quiet this week, with lawmakers remaining in their respective districts for the second week of the legislative spring break. However, legislators will return to Springfield on April 21 to begin the final weeks of the spring legislative session.

State Senator Dan Duffy (R-Lake Barrington) explained that upon their return, the Senate will begin consideration of measures that have passed the Illinois House, while House members will review proposals that have been approved by the Senate.

Employees and communities throughout the state received good news this week, when the reopening of over a dozen state historic sites was announced. Despite strong opposition, former governor Rod Blagojevich closed the sites last November, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), lawmakers and the public have been working for months to see the sites reopened.  

In early April, the General Assembly approved the $1.6 million appropriation necessary to reopen the sites. Several sites are scheduled to reopen on April 22, with other facilities opening later due to required maintenance. Senator Duffy applauded the reopening, noting that these sites are not only important to Illinois’ tourism industry, but are critical to ensure the preservation of Illinois’ vibrant history and heritage.

Illinois Medicaid providers should also be relieved after receiving notice this week that the governor has plans to utilize $200 million in federal dollars to pay the state’s Medicaid providers. For years, Illinois has lagged behind in payments to the hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies and physicians—some waiting as long as 150 days to receive payment.

The federal government will give the state stimulus dollars to help cover Illinois’ overwhelming Medicaid obligations on the condition that the state reduces the payment cycle to 30 days or less by June 1.

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