tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69835140956754299582024-02-21T10:28:50.446-08:00ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-15877512894776041022017-05-03T09:30:00.003-07:002017-05-03T09:30:36.276-07:00Become a Member...Update Your InformationIf you are a member of ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002 and you have not updated your information in a while, please contact our Administrative Assistant, Dottie at (217) 523-2002.<br />
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If you are a fair share member and would like to become a full share member, please contact Dottie and let her know. She will mail you a dues deduction card and a copy of the collective bargaining agreement.<br />
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If you are not receiving our emails, please send us an email at: isealaborerslocal2002@gmail.com and we will add you to our database.<br />
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Keep us updated so that we can keep you updated!ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-52754531853356438022016-01-08T13:25:00.001-08:002016-01-08T13:25:00.283-08:00GOVERNOR DECLARES IMPASSE IN AFSCME NEGOTIATIONS<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Dear Members,</span><br />
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The word is out that the Governor has declared impasse in the negotiations with AFSCME and its membership. </div>
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We have already received some calls on this matter so we wanted to be sure to inform our membership. </div>
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<b>VR-704 is a security unit and does not have the right to strike. We are NOT at impasse at this time, but even if we were, the unresolved issues would be decided by a 3rd party arbitrator in Interest Arbitration. </b></div>
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At this time we are awaiting negotiation dates confirmation from the State. As soon as we get confirmation, we will let you know and continue to keep you updated on the status of negotiations. </div>
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<b>Again, the Governor declaring impasse with AFSCME does NOT impact our Union and its members. </b>We will continue to meet and negotiate with the State and bargain in good faith.</div>
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Sincerely,</div>
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Mike, Kendra, and Kelly</div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-9831133924231781662015-03-02T11:14:00.000-08:002015-03-02T11:14:11.213-08:00Governor's Budget BreakdownHere is a link to the Governor's Budget that designates specific Agency spending, i.e. programs, staffing, etc. <div>
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Please note under CMS Group Insurance (Chapter 3-21), the Governor proposes nearly a $1.2 billion reduction. This line item covers health care benefits for State employees. </div>
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Also, in Chapter 3-25, the State Employees Retirement System proposal reduces this line item from $1.1 billion to $855 million. </div>
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Although some Agencies may see increases in their budgets, such as Corrections, keep in mind his budget proposes draconian cuts on health care insurance and SERS funding.</div>
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In closing, this is the Governor's proposal which must be debated and passed by both the House and the Senate. The House and Senate did not conduct an analysis of the Governor's Budget because they were not given an advanced copy of it. If one is performed, we will share with the membership.</div>
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We want our members to know and understand what the Governor is proposing and we will do everything in our power to protect and restore health care and retiree benefits. </div>
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To view, click this link- <a href="https://www.mediafire.com/?bmsberc2euvr22i" target="_blank">Governor's Budget</a></div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-18378329780631937672015-02-18T11:15:00.000-08:002015-02-18T11:15:02.662-08:00Governor's Budget Address <span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" xml:lang="EN-US">Illinois' Turnaround Budget</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17pt; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{1}" paraid="1496836924" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 439px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 38px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">GoodAfternoon. PresidentCullerton Speaker Madigan</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 38px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Leader </span><span class="SpellingError SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Radogno</span></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Leader Durkin</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Lieutenant Governor </span><span class="SpellingError SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Sanguinetü</span></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Attorney General Madigan</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Comptroller </span><span class="SpellingError SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Munger</span></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Treasurer </span><span class="SpellingError SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Frerichs</span></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Members of the General Assembly,</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{28}" paraid="1231530452" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Thank you for attending today. Thank you for your service to the people of</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{31}" paraid="337147684" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 6px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Over the past week, we've commemorated the life of Illinois' greatest leader, Abraham Lincoln.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{34}" paraid="1329033906" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">In the lead up to his signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, President Lincoln delivered a letter to Congress, in part:</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{37}" paraid="2098151876" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">"The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion... We must think anew and act anew."</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{42}" paraid="385022740" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">VThile</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> the challenges before us are very different than those that faced our 16</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SpellingErrorSuperscript SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">President, here, in the Land of Lincoln, we recognize that the road ahead — our road to a more prosperous future — is a difficult one.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{45}" paraid="1495994211" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">And like President Lincoln's call to Congress, we too must "think anew and act anew."</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{48}" paraid="1995015341" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">We must be willing to take actions we'd rather avoid, and make decisions that may seem unpopular in the short run.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{51}" paraid="143094023" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">The budget outlined today is the budget Illinois can afford, and that in itself is an example of "thinking anew."</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{54}" paraid="292238093" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Because for far too long we have been living beyond our means—spending money that Illinois taxpayers could not afford.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{57}" paraid="1301605372" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">This budget is honest with the people of Illinois, and it presents an honest path forward.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{60}" paraid="124957564" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Like a family, we must come together to address the reality we face.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{63}" paraid="1242270947" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Families know that every member can't get everything they want.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{66}" paraid="249485324" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">But we can pay for what we need most.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{69}" paraid="1667610371" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">And we can reform our system so we are able to invest more in the future.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{72}" paraid="470308732" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Because the task before us is so large, all our challenges cannot be solved by a single budget.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{75}" paraid="551186803" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">It will take time to restore Illinois to fiscal health.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{78}" paraid="593548768" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Now is the time to start on a responsible path after years of financial recklessness.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{81}" paraid="1028344571" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Instilling discipline is not easy, saying "no" is not popular - but it is now or never for Illinois.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{84}" paraid="2020610189" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">It is make or break time.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{87}" paraid="742646737" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Before we can address next year's budget, we must first solve the current year's crisis.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 347px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{90}" paraid="222006648" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 7px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 87px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B66e4620a-cca0-5bbf-b75d-4c985553175a%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 1px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 81px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{96}" paraid="815987769" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">As you know, the current budget was $1.6 billion in the hole when it was </span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 23px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 21px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B2b21c382-b0a3-54ea-a9ff-98cab6244b1d%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 17px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 15px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 15px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 6px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7Bc1b34151-7f22-5c3e-962a-ac001cf7c7b9%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 9px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">signed last year.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{100}" paraid="2077616900" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 37px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">And the prior administration directed state agencies NOT to control their </span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 37px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">costs.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 37px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{103}" paraid="1243029420" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">As a result, we are in the middle of a crisis that gets worse every day.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{106}" paraid="1123277339" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 5px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">The Child Care Assistance Program is out of money and families are worried about how to care for their children.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{109}" paraid="15349864" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Court reporters will start missing payroll next month, threatening to grind our justice system to a halt.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 245px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{112}" paraid="1473542640" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 8px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 119px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B4ab5ce87-5979-55f1-8a18-25a435493386%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 2px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 113px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 6px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{117}" paraid="1668320991" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 8px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 8px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B9741a938-8586-5665-86be-276a5434cb9f%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 2px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 2px;" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">And our state prisons will start missing payroll in early April, making them unable to fulfill their most basic operations.</span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 26px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 19px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B124bdcde-835f-520b-8f6e-0650c6e041e5%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 20px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 13px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{122}" paraid="858258138" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="WACImageGroupContainer SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; display: inline-block; float: left; margin: 0px; min-height: 10px; min-width: 9px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span class="WACImageContainer AttachedToBeginning SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 7px; left: -3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3px; width: 6px; z-index: 1;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7Bb76bcdde-f5fc-59be-8818-410ca0db134c%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 1px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;" unselectable="on" /></span></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Everyone in this chamber understands the severity of what is immediately </span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">in front of us.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{125}" paraid="49406005" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Leader </span><span class="SpellingError SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Radogno</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> and Leader Durkin — thank you for allowing your staffs to meet with our administration these past few weeks to find a responsible solution to our immediate budget crisis.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{128}" paraid="952734481" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">It appears that we are very close, literally days away, from a resolution. And every day counts.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{131}" paraid="631234862" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Members of the General Assembly — now is the time for action.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{134}" paraid="608587383" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">It is time to solve this crisis.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{137}" paraid="1375315861" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Let's </span><span class="SpellingError SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">confinue</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> the Child Care Assistance Program.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{140}" paraid="2078384413" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Let's keep our court rooms open.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{144}" paraid="1431804089" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Let's keep our corrections officers on duty.</span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 23px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 39px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B92ac533d-6c52-515e-b2f2-079dd0f365ce%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 17px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 33px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{147}" paraid="168389251" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Let's put the people of Illinois over </span><span class="SpellingError SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">paräsan</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> politics.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{150}" paraid="218723993" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Solving this year's crisis will eliminate $1.6 billion from next year's deficit.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 4px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{153}" paraid="1247351600" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Let's get it done.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{156}" paraid="1583026578" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Even after we solve this fiscal year's crisis, we will still be left with a budget hole of $6.2 billion for the coming fiscal year.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{159}" paraid="287810324" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">This huge deficit is the result of years of bad decisions, sleight-of-hand budgeting and giveaways we couldn't afford.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{162}" paraid="219359833" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">It is NOT the result of decreasing tax rates.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{165}" paraid="1822455055" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Some in the General Assembly are eager to discuss new revenue.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{168}" paraid="376694486" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">But before revenue can be discussed, reform is essential.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{171}" paraid="363860818" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Before we ask the people of Illinois to pay more to fund state government, we must ensure taxpayers are getting value for their money.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{174}" paraid="647822563" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Asking for more of the taxpayers' hard-earned money without fundamentally reforming the structure of state government would further erode public confidence and accelerate our decline.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{177}" paraid="388452804" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Waste and inefficiency are rampant in the system. Illinois government is currently designed to benefit those inside the system rather than the </span><span class="SpellingError SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">worldng</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> families of our state.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{181}" paraid="1644387610" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">We must institute major reforms, or whatever balanced budget we craft this year will be undone in the years ahead by the special interests that make their money from the government and pay politicians to spend more. We must eliminate conflicts of interest in state government and end our broken </span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">system.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{184}" paraid="1668643562" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 22px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">These reforms won't be easy. Decades of special interest laws will be difficult to undo. But to be compassionate, we must be competitive. And that means having the political courage to put the people's interests first and the special interests last.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{187}" paraid="1000271314" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Our top priority for financial reform must be our pension system. That is true regardless of the Supreme Court's decision on SB 1.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{194}" paraid="59233982" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 23px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 11px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B32358690-8f72-5e5e-a00a-0f883b22cbd7%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 17px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 5px;" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Even if our pension systems were fully funded, taxpayers would still be on </span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 17px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 9px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B075ddca5-b0c9-5575-a05e-71e80e10dd27%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 11px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 3px;" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">the hook for $2 billion.</span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 18px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 15px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B9981c7aa-a602-53b9-b6e6-bf8b3a635289%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 12px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 9px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 90px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{197}" paraid="127744159" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 12px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 296px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B7ceeb13a-95cd-5d77-be1b-e83baa955b7f%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 6px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 290px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{200}" paraid="897490507" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">But our pension systems are not fully funded. They are $111 billion in the hole—the worst pension crisis in America.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 174px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{203}" paraid="604120220" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 12px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 420px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7Bb95390ac-3b08-50f2-abbe-03e4239b47b9%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 6px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 414px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px -24px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-indent: 23px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{212}" paraid="1432320999" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 17px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-indent: 0px; top: 2px; width: 10px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B57a85ca1-33dd-58a1-a253-503591728d1c%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 11px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 4px;" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">As it stands right now, one out of every four dollars taken from taxpayers by the state goes into a system that is giving more than ELEVEN THOUSAND </span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 8px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-indent: 0px; top: 2px; width: 6px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B225051a2-820b-579d-bd54-7b4ace5820ac%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 2px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">government retirees tax-free, six-figure pensions worth as much as, in one </span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 24px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-indent: 0px; top: 2px; width: 32px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7Bddbb0369-e4e7-561e-890f-21c925a6a301%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 18px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 26px;" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">case, $450,000 per year!</span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 15px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-indent: 0px; top: 2px; width: 61px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B8b33f5cb-b66f-51e8-8a01-d06a85c0f821%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 9px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 55px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 88px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
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<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px;"><img alt="Shape" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/ResReader.ashx?v=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000014&n=E2o43482.img&rndm=ca8f58e6-b053-453b-a050-c5e4bfae4689&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: auto; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px -2px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-indent: 5px;">
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<span class="WACImageGroupContainer SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; display: inline-block; float: left; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; min-width: 23px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span class="WACImageContainer AttachedToBeginning SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 19px; left: -1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: 0px; top: -3px; width: 12px; z-index: 1;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7Bd5c21c81-532e-5161-af3c-4b9ad3572f2b%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 13px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 6px;" unselectable="on" /></span><span class="WACImageContainer AttachedToBeginning SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 6px; left: -3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: 0px; top: -3px; width: 6px; z-index: 1;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B0b6729ca-06a5-52f6-b013-c00b9a971dff%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 0px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;" unselectable="on" /></span><span class="WACImageContainer AttachedToBeginning SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 6px; left: 6px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: 0px; top: -3px; width: 6px; z-index: 1;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7Ba5ee3487-8d01-51d1-bb82-a76d37b2d0e3%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 0px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;" unselectable="on" /></span><span class="WACImageContainer AttachedToBeginning SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 8px; left: 7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: 0px; top: -3px; width: 6px; z-index: 1;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B42a16348-2cd2-5397-aa04-21273ee7b857%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 2px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;" unselectable="on" /></span><span class="WACImageContainer AttachedToBeginning SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 6px; left: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: 0px; top: -3px; width: 6px; z-index: 1;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7Bb159f3d4-3691-533e-b419-7140c17be6c4%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 0px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;" unselectable="on" /></span><span class="WACImageContainer AttachedToBeginning SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 6px; left: 11px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: 0px; top: -3px; width: 6px; z-index: 1;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B3b3db6e4-3d47-56ca-9eef-3a3224d645ed%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 0px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;" unselectable="on" /></span><span class="WACImageContainer AttachedToBeginning SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 8px; left: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: 0px; top: -3px; width: 7px; z-index: 1;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B179ef381-be9c-54a4-bde3-9dd0635f9084%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 2px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;" unselectable="on" /></span><span class="WACImageContainer AttachedToBeginning SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 11px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: 0px; top: -3px; width: 15px; z-index: 1;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7Bd543591c-b917-5a7f-9b45-4ff6cc103b10%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 5px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 9px;" unselectable="on" /></span><span class="WACImageContainer AttachedToBeginning SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 6px; left: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: 0px; top: -3px; width: 6px; z-index: 1;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7Bd6e47cc3-e3c4-5aca-90a6-3adb2d4e7f57%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 0px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;" unselectable="on" /></span></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Without the reforms proposed in this budget, nearly 25 cents of every tax </span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 21px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-indent: 0px; top: 2px; width: 10px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B5ef6ae62-9a88-58e8-92f9-8c55652e0766%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 15px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 4px;" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">dollar will continue going into a broken pension system instead of into our </span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 6px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-indent: 0px; top: 2px; width: 7px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B20ea3460-3579-5893-a838-5ac1a77855e3%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 0px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">social services safety net, our schools, or back into the pockets of taxpayers and small businesses!</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{234}" paraid="18875741" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">That is unfair and unsustainable — and it changes with this budget.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{241}" paraid="576195168" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 7px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 8px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B466c47f3-1f14-5ab7-bcc8-edc422021c1d%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 1px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 2px;" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Government employees deserve fair and competitive benefits, but we cannot continue to raise taxes on all Illinoisans in order to fund the </span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 14px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 7px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B44149a8c-8644-51ea-8c42-a40aba30253c%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 8px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">retirement benefits of a small </span><span class="SpellingError SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">fracüon</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> of our residents.</span></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 7px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 25px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7Bf96ef83f-c2ad-5a1e-b68f-978800184709%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 1px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 19px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 51px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{244}" paraid="893500499" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px;"><img alt="Shape" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/ResReader.ashx?v=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000014&n=E2o43484.img&rndm=5852af81-6e8b-4379-a837-9d5e86c73d7a&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: auto; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{249}" paraid="503577859" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">The pension reform plan in this budget will protect every dollar of benefits </span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 21px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 20px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B4292d841-90bc-536c-948e-70d7ba16fbe9%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 15px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 14px;" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">earned to date.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{252}" paraid="465624989" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Let me repeat that: the pension reform plan protects every dollar </span><span class="SpellingError SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ofbenefits</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> earned.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{188d2960-63b7-4ac5-9b98-afa3eaae3a42}{255}" paraid="1034020633" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">What you've earned, you're going to get.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{3}" paraid="1711752678" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">And if you are </span><span class="SpellingError SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">reüred</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">, you get everything you were promised. That's fair and it's right.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-indent: 2px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{11}" paraid="1790634997" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">But moving forward, all future work will be under the Tier 2 pension plan, </span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 8px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-indent: 0px; top: 2px; width: 9px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7Bb7e64f6f-f486-5f1a-9daf-24d52b78ecf7%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 2px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 3px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 14px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-indent: 0px; top: 2px; width: 7px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B0785b315-ad8c-580d-98c5-99bd252fc0fe%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 8px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;" /></span><span class="TextRun Underlined SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">exc</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ept for our police and firefighters.</span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 26px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-indent: 0px; top: 2px; width: 27px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B29533990-f88d-5d5f-ae33-4c8499410e81%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 20px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 21px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{14}" paraid="1865062682" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Those who put their lives on the line in service to our state deserve to be treated differently, and I believe the public </span><span class="SpellingError SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">SNill</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> stand with me in this single case of special treatment.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 270px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{17}" paraid="34157121" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 7px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 120px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B5fff2880-534f-53df-a80a-5885e6aea199%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 1px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 114px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{20}" paraid="1099321659" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 6px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">This budget also gives employees hired before 2011 a choice to take a buyout option — a lump sum payment and a defined contribution plan in return for a voluntary reduction in cost-of-living adjustments. It's time to empower our workforce and address one of the biggest fiscal challenges we face.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 354px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{23}" paraid="1280491687" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 7px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 96px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B5f0e1a62-3963-58ba-84ed-bcebb9bd456c%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 1px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 90px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{26}" paraid="1341565210" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">These reforms will yield more than $2 billion in savings in the first year alone.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px -8px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{34}" paraid="636683286" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 22px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 22px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B9812a5e0-2e06-5cd2-bdc9-02e03554cea0%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 16px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 16px;" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">And by bringing health care benefits more in line with those received by the </span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 8px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 7px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7Bdbdbca13-b43a-50ab-81aa-ea67f53afad6%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 2px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 7px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 13px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B1c8b6c53-2e2b-535c-a768-fb4ad75d40f2%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 1px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 7px;" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">taxpayers who pay for them, we save an additional $700 million.</span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 23px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 18px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7Bb8ef6e76-f2a9-5744-bab7-1d22b83508eb%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 17px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 12px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{40}" paraid="36270987" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="WACImageGroupContainer SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; display: inline-block; float: left; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px; min-width: 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span class="WACImageContainer AttachedToBeginning SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 6px; left: 7px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3px; width: 6px; z-index: 1;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7Bce1ba382-6edd-5fc0-bf0a-b3c7ca496f61%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 0px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;" unselectable="on" /></span><span class="WACImageContainer AttachedToBeginning SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 21px; left: -3px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3px; width: 24px; z-index: 1;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B38ec11c3-fb12-54e6-b6d9-5bbef82e677e%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 15px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 18px;" unselectable="on" /></span><span class="WACImageContainer AttachedToBeginning SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 8px; left: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3px; width: 8px; z-index: 1;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B2dc8098e-130f-5727-b9bc-7e6298b9a53d%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 2px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 2px;" unselectable="on" /></span></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">We recognize that some of these reforms cannot be achieved through legislation alone.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 147px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{43}" paraid="1447143694" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px;"><img alt="Shape" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/ResReader.ashx?v=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000014&n=E2o43493.img&rndm=c6ab7dcb-bae4-4169-888e-6d78ad9866b0&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: auto; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px -17px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-indent: 17px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{51}" paraid="1595481705" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 7px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Some must be achieved through good faith bargaining, and I hope that </span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 8px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-indent: 0px; top: 2px; width: 6px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7Bd1dbd928-51e3-5e7d-a29e-c309af46b5ba%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 2px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 0px;" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">those on the other side of the table are as committed as I am to achieving </span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 24px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-indent: 0px; top: 2px; width: 18px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B22ce162d-42d7-50b9-9ad2-3ed20a7ea3ec%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 18px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 12px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 23px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-indent: 0px; top: 2px; width: 22px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B62894a95-f2bd-5a5e-8bcd-0634eea01bd2%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 17px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 16px;" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">the </span><span class="SpellingError SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Wpes</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> of meaningful reform that are necessary for Illinois' future.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{54}" paraid="220764334" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">While the state tightens its belt, so too must local governments and transportation agencies.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{57}" paraid="1056400214" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">The amount of money transferred to local governments has grown 42 percent over the past decade. The state currently transfers $6 billion every year to local governments. Those governments are currently sitting on more than $15 billion in cash reserves.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{60}" paraid="1011236664" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">The reduction in local government sharing in this budget is equal to just 3 percent of their total revenue.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{63}" paraid="487949275" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 29px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Along with this modest cutback, our turnaround reforms will reduce unfunded mandates, and give local governments and voters the tools to save hundreds of millions of dollars through consolidation, employment flexibility and compensation restructuring.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 7px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{66}" paraid="1984681058" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Similarly, waste and inefficiency can be cut from the complex web that comprises our public transportation structure.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{69}" paraid="2145423290" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Statewide, our public transportation agencies spend billions of </span><span class="SpellingError SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">tocpayer</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> dollars.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{72}" paraid="596104310" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 18px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Our budget reductions for the state's largest transit agency amount to less than 5 percent of its overall budget, and here, too, the proposals in our turnaround agenda give our transportation entities the tools to save hundreds of millions of dollars.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{75}" paraid="29558904" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Reining in these costs allows us to minimize reductions in other areas of the budget.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{78}" paraid="1015234699" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">For Medicaid, our budget reduces costs significantly while maintaining eligibility levels for most lower-income Illinoisans.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{81}" paraid="1033812144" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">We plan to re-implement many of the Medicaid reform measures that were enacted just a few years ago but have already been undone.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{84}" paraid="954269951" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">By re-instituting the SMART Act and prioritizing our re-determination efforts, we will save hundreds of millions of dollars.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{87}" paraid="78410996" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Our budget will also reduce costs by fixing our broken criminal justice system.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{91}" paraid="1764414111" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="WACImageContainer AttachedToBeginning SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; left: 416px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: -3px; z-index: -1;"><img alt="Shape" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/ResReader.ashx?v=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000014&n=E2o43502.img&rndm=003ef210-f4fc-411a-ab38-7b5791483ee6&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: auto; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;" unselectable="on" /></span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Far too many offenders return to prison within three years of leaving — a vicious and costly cycle.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{95}" paraid="885867701" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Our prisons are overcrowded.</span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; height: 7px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px; width: 13px;"><img alt="Image" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/GetImage.ashx?&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&ObjectDataBlobId=%7B706f782a-5c52-5608-a595-46a841a9e467%7D%7B1%7D&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2&Word=1&lcSessionId=08B59973-4E62-4ADD-A6AD-ED6B0544EE54&lcBackup=true&lcMachineId=f8aff0115764&lcClusterId=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: 1px; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 7px;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{98}" paraid="19788965" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Our corrections officers are overworked.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{101}" paraid="2053335918" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 31px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">By reforming our criminal justice system we can make our prisons safer, rehabilitate ex-offenders so they become productive members of society, and save many tens of millions of dollars.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{104}" paraid="356720365" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Taken together, our turnaround reforms, along with the difficult but necessary choices in this budget, will enable us to invest in our future.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{107}" paraid="506976771" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Making these tough choices is a small price to pay for the promise of a better tomorrow for our children and grandchildren.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{110}" paraid="551721188" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 27px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">In the gallery today, we are joined by students from Lincoln Community High School in Lincoln, and </span><span class="SpellingError SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Lanphier</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> High School and Lincoln Magnate School in Springfield.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{113}" paraid="1910144290" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">This budget allows us to invest in them.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{116}" paraid="467306872" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">For years, state support for education has been cut, even when it didn't have to be.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{119}" paraid="1618886126" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">It's time to make education our top priority again — and that's what this budget does.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{122}" paraid="1298017121" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">We start by increasing high-quality early childhood education options for our most vulnerable children.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{125}" paraid="163950505" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Every dollar invested today in early childhood education saves us more than $7 in the future.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{128}" paraid="264608984" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Increasing funding for our youngest is the smart AND the compassionate thing to do.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{131}" paraid="1233938095" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">This budget also increases K-12 education funding by $300 million, helping school districts in our state that most need our support.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{134}" paraid="1106388417" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 12px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">We have much more work to do to make our schools among the best in the nation, but we're proud of the commitment we are making in this budget. What we proposed today is a turnaround budget.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{137}" paraid="1325676287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 16px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">It improves public safety, provides care for our most vulnerable, boosts funding for education, and restructures the core costs of state government that are holding us back.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{140}" paraid="17119361" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">However, while this budget begins to fix our financial problems, the only real answer to our challenges is to become pro-growth again.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{143}" paraid="412416575" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">We need a booming economy — more small businesses and entrepreneurs starting here, and more people and businesses moving here.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{146}" paraid="1286843333" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">If we don't take action now to expand the economic pie, the people of Illinois will forever be left to fight over smaller and smaller slices.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{149}" paraid="1906304090" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Our citizens deserve a path to economic growth and empowerment — and that means putting people first and special interests last.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{152}" paraid="42921445" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px;"><img alt="Shape" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/ResReader.ashx?v=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000014&n=E2o43504.img&rndm=c207ad43-d477-4ce2-a4bf-c2717e2cc2d4&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: auto; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{155}" paraid="1504367799" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">To grow our economy, we must enact meaningful workers compensation reform, unemployment insurance reform, lawsuit reform, pension reform and tax reform.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 107px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{158}" paraid="638743643" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; cursor: default; display: inline-block; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; top: 2px;"><img alt="Shape" class="WACImage SCX241313688" src="https://word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/ResReader.ashx?v=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000014&n=E2o43506.img&rndm=ffc8a262-642c-4b5d-992d-1aca09668c2b&Fi=SD15D3CE461175411C!153&C=5_810_BL2-SKY-WAC-WSHI&ak=m%3Den%2Dus&usid=114f9337-aa29-4b10-ac71-3698c04411f1&build=16.0.3629.3014&waccluster=DM2" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; border: none; height: auto; margin: 1px; padding: 2px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;" /></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{161}" paraid="756873135" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">We've got to freeze property taxes, cut the red tape inside state and local government, and let people control their own economic destinies.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{164}" paraid="1706633452" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 8px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">We need to end the corrupt bargains and the conflicts of interest. And we need to finally let the people have their say on a "Term Limits Amendment" to the state constitution.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{167}" paraid="1229484683" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">If we make these reforms, we will be laying a solid foundation for economic growth and prosperity.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{170}" paraid="253343132" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">With reform, we will be able to:</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{173}" paraid="1698161051" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Invest more in education and give our kids world class schools;</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 49px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{176}" paraid="822234526" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Invest more in our social safety net to help our most vulnerable residents;</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 49px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{179}" paraid="1242005180" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">And invest more in our infrastructure.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{182}" paraid="1818312848" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 4px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">This turnaround plan reflects President Lincoln's call to "think anew and act anew."</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{185}" paraid="377277585" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">In it, we end the irresponsible and reckless practices of the past, and make sure they never happen again.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{188}" paraid="1575692740" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">We make difficult choices that no one wants to make.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{191}" paraid="2105709079" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">It is what this occasion requires.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{195}" paraid="1095925742" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">And it's what we were elected to do - make choices based on what's best for </span><span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">the next generation, not the next election.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{198}" paraid="387820664" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">This is our last, best chance to get our house in order.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{201}" paraid="1816526793" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Let's get it done.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{204}" paraid="1293739571" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Thank you. And God bless you.</span><span class="EOP SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 15pt; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX241313688" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX241313688" paraeid="{8ce9fd2b-81d7-46ce-91bf-c62ffc4f8708}{206}" paraid="543929792" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; font-size: 6pt; margin-right: 439px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
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ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-9925571070927496782015-02-12T07:18:00.002-08:002015-02-12T07:18:24.355-08:00EXECUTIVE ORDER ATTEMPTS TO IMPACT FAIR SHARE<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Memo to : ISEA Laborers Local 2002 membership<o:p></o:p></div>
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From: Mike Stout & Kendra Best<o:p></o:p></div>
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Subject: Fair Share lawsuit<o:p></o:p></div>
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Date: February 11, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
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Many of you are aware that the Governor issued an Executive Order and
filed a lawsuit in Federal court yesterday challenging the fair share dues that
non-members pay for receiving benefits from the union contract and
representation. The Governor claims that State employees are “strong armed”
into joining their union. He tosses the word “corrupt” around to describe past
contract negotiations between the State and labor unions, which would include
the Thompson, Edgar, Ryan, Blagojevich and Quinn administrations. His lawsuit
lists our local, district council and international unions, along with
approximately 25 other labor unions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Governor argues that fair share funds are being used for political
purposes. The Governor claims his Executive Order and federal lawsuit protects
the free speech rights of fair share members.
The Illinois State Labor Relations Act and subsequent case law clearly
states that fair share dues cannot be used for political purposes. Our union
contract is an agreement between the State of Illinois and this union that
provides for the deduction of fair share fees. Our outside certified public accountant
certifies what percentage of our costs are to negotiate and represent our
members, that being 99 percent.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our office was notified by telephone late Monday of the Governor’s
Executive Order prohibiting fair share fees, which impacts agencies, boards and
commissions under his control. Our office did not learn of the federal lawsuit
until yesterday morning. Our staff attorney, Kendra, spent the day reviewing
the 22 page legal document and researching court cases cited in the lawsuit. On
the other hand, I reached out to our district council and international union
to notify them of the Governor’s actions. LIUNA Vice-President John Penn called
to assure support from his office and our International Union.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We will fight this case all the way to the United States Supreme Court,
along with the other unions impacted by this unfounded lawsuit. As always, we
will keep everyone informed of the status of this waste of time and money. Now
more than ever, we must remain united.<o:p></o:p></div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-57637465660965322312013-09-20T12:40:00.000-07:002013-09-20T12:40:28.924-07:00Back Pay Update<div class="im">
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We wanted to touch base with you to let you know where we are with the back pay situation and what to expect in the next few months. </div>
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First and foremost, most employees have, at this point, received some backpay owed to them by the State. However, these amounts are just a fraction of what you are owed and we are still in the middle of the fight. Fortunately, in the current collective bargaining agreement we were able to secure language that requires the Employer to pay. So, the issue of whether or not the Employer <em>will </em>pay is no longer a part of the battle- we have won that fight. But there is still much to be done in the next few months to ensure that we get every single member- current and retired- paid all monies owed to them.</div>
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We have had many questions from employees regarding how the State has figured the back pay owed and what percentage of that amount has been paid to each individual. Due to increasing pressure from the Unions, the Governor has instructed the Agencies to put together a detailed document which will reflect what is owed to each individual employee and what amount has been distributed. Once we have received that information we will be able to share with each individual what you are specifically owed and what has been paid. We will notify the group as soon as we have that information in hand. It is due to the Unions by September 30th. </div>
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Next, and very important to the fight, the State and the Unions have banded together to seek legislation that would appropriate the funds necessary to make all employees whole with regards to the 2011 wage freeze. There was a bill introduced in the last sessio but Legislators were concerned about pension changes and did not pass the appropriations bill. Over the Summer, the Legislature held a special session and set up a committee to work on possible new pension legislation. Business Manager Mike Stout has been actively involve in meetings with Legislators as part of the We Are One coalition to both advocate for our members as well as to monitor the conversations that are happening regarding what new pension legislation proposals may look like. We expect the pension issue to be resolved sooner rather than later. </div>
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As such, we have continued to lobby our fight for the funds to be appropriated so that you can all be made whole. The Legislature is set to return on October 22, 2013 and we will be putting out to the membership in the following weeks talking points and other information necessary for you to contact your local legislators while we continue the fight at the Capitol and lobbying for our members. Be watching your emails in the upcoming weeks leading up to the new session.</div>
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Lastly, it has been brought to our attention by our Retiree members that the SERS website states that AFSCME employees will be receiving credit for the backpay at SERS once it is received. However, AFSCME members are not the only employees who will receive said credit as that applies to all affected Union members, including ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002 members. We have contacted SERS and they are going to be updating the website by the end of the week to include and reflect all affected Unions.</div>
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We must continue the fight united! We will not stop until we have won!</div>
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ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-45992714075576841732013-07-25T08:33:00.001-07:002013-07-25T08:33:15.249-07:00VR-704 Back Pay Update<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On July 31, 2013, you will receive a paycheck that
should reflect all of the wage increases you were owed under the previous
Agreement. If you were owed a step during FY12 (July 1, 2011 through June 30,
2012) then that step should also be on your paycheck. There is also an
additional 2%<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>increase that is effective
July 1<sup>st</sup> that will be reflected on your paycheck. Please refer to
the new Agreement for your correct base pay. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Note:
There will NOT be backpay on this check.</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">FY13
(July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013)</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">: Any back pay you are
owed from FY13 will be paid in a separate check in August 2013. It will NOT be
added to your regular paycheck. This backpay will include the difference
between what you were paid during FY13 and what you should have been paid
during FY13. It will include the difference in the rate you were paid for
overtime and/or temporary assignment pay and the rate you should have earned
for overtime and/or temporary assignment pay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Note:
DOC/DJJ will pay as much as they can from existing funds. If there are not
sufficient funds to cover all backpay, you will receive a portion of what you
are owed. This check will issue in August 2013 as a check separate from your
paychecks.</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">FY12
(July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">: Any back pay you are
owed from FY12 will be paid in a separate check in August 2013. It will NOT be
added to your regular paycheck. This backpay will include the difference
between what you were paid during FY12 and what you should have been paid
during FY12. It will include the difference in the rate you were paid for
overtime and/or temporary assignment pay and the rate you should have earned
for overtime and/or temporary assignment pay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Note:
DOC/DJJ will pay as much as they can from existing funds. If there are not
sufficient funds to cover all backpay, you will receive a portion of what you
are owed. This check will issue in August 2013 as a check separate from your
paycheck.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Also,
please remember that state and federal taxes will be applied to any back pay as
it is legally subject to such taxes. All payments are also subject to
involuntary withholding of State-owed payments currently on file with the
Illinois Comptroller’s Office.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Contact
Information:</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> If you wish to inquire with the
Employer regarding this information, they have asked that you contact the
payroll department at your facility. Please do not call the Illinois Office of
the Comptroller. As always, you can contact us at any time with any questions
you may have as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Finally, a list of step increases and wage ranges
can be found on the Illinois Department of Central Management Services website
under the “Personnel” tab/Bureau of Personnel/State job Titles and Class
Specifications/Alphabetic Index.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ISEA Staff<o:p></o:p></span></div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-46936403822332898232013-07-19T15:27:00.002-07:002013-07-19T15:27:50.504-07:00SB 1910 Signed Into Law<div>
As you may recall, earlier this year a bill was passed that exposed approximately 50 members and many more positions to potentially being removed from our bargaining unit. It exposed groups that were certified on or after December 2, 2008. In the last session we were able to get SB 1910 passed which protected nearly all of the titles exposed. Today, the Governor signed that bill into law. CMS has told us that we will meet soon to reclassify titles that were not included in SB 1910 so that they will not be removed from our bargaining units! This is a great victory for ISEA Laborer's Local 2002 and our VR-704 bargaining unit. </div>
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Thanks to the hard work of all by campaigning, making calls to legislators, and making our voices heard we are proud to say that we have saved our members. </div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-9375764046109639992013-06-05T14:28:00.003-07:002013-06-05T14:28:28.906-07:00Step Increase Update- DOC<div>
We just received word from DOC Labor that they have confirmed that we will see one step increase <u>in this pay period.</u> </div>
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The remaining steps and COLA's owed under the previous agreement, as well as the 2% COLA for 7/1/13 will come on as of July 1, 2013. </div>
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We've had many inquiries about this and wanted to let you know as quickly as possible.</div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-3103180156143482822013-06-04T14:08:00.002-07:002013-06-04T14:08:25.682-07:00VR-704 Wage Increase & Backwages Update<div>
We have received many inquiries regarding the 2008-2012 frozen wages increases and steps implemention as well as the backwages owed and the subsequent payment of those wages. </div>
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We were notified by CMS that they would seek to implement one step increase as quickly as possible as they have done with other Unions who have settled their contracts.</div>
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On July 1, 2013, all wage increases (COLAs) and step increases due will be reinstated as well as an additional 2% increase per the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement.</div>
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Regarding backpay, both the Union and the State jointly sought and pushed for legislation that would appropriate funding for all backwages owed in conjunction with the wage increase freeze implemented by the State under the 2008-2012 agreement. Unfortunately, the legislature did not pass the funding during this session. </div>
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Nevertheless, we still have our grievances, lawsuit, and unfair labor practice before the Illinois Labor Relations Board pending which protects your rights to the backwages owed. Furthermore, both the Unions and the State continue to lobby the legislators, even during their time away from session, for the backwages funding. We have also received word that CMS will attempt to utilitze any surplus in funding from this Fiscal Year to pay out some of the backwages owed to offset the sum required that will be requested to be appropriated by the Legislature when they return to session.</div>
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If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. </div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-52827290714786285792013-05-06T14:24:00.000-07:002013-05-06T14:24:04.467-07:00Pension Update
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">An agreement concerning pension legislation has been reached with Senate President Cullerton. Attached is a summary of what was agreed upon by Senate President Cullerton and the We Are One Coalition.<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you are aware, the House passed Senate Bill 1, now called the Madigan bill, which we feel is both unfair and unconstitutional. The details of the Madigan plan have been well documented, but are also included on the attachment. The Governor has stated he will sign Senate Bill 1 if it passes the Senate. Earlier a bill similar to Senate Bill 1 received 23 votes in the Senate. It takes 30 votes for a bill to pass the Senate. If Senate Bill 1 were the only option, we fear it might attract 6 more votes and then we have disaster. We do believe the Madigan bill is unconstitutional, but don’t want to gamble on a law suit, too much is at stake.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all agree something must be done to salvage Illinois’pension plans. Yes, our members did not create this problem, but to believe the legislature would pass a bill that solely raised taxes enough to reduce the unfunded pension liability would be foolish. The Madigan Plan goes too far! Although not included on the attachment, the Cullerton bill guarantees state funding of the pension systems.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This afternoon, Cullerton will meet with his caucus to discuss this plan, He will endorse the bill. We have also demanded Senate Bill 1 be killed. We wanted to share a copy of the agreement at the same time it was released to Senate members.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you have questions, please feel free to reply to this message. Please understand we are sending this email to every member of the local union that we have an email address for. If you do have questions, we will respond as quickly as possible. If there are a lot of questions, we may send out a blanket response to the entire membership, please be patient. </span></span></span></div>
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The new legislation will be Senate Bill 2404.</div>
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Below is the information. We have also sent you the following in a document over email.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Choice A:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3 percent simple COLA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Two year delay in receiving COLA for active
state employees upon retirement</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Receive retiree healthcare</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enrollment in optional cash balance plan on a
pre-tax basis by making irrevocable election to join plan after choosing Choice
A</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eligible for ERO (TRS only not SERS)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All future salary increases offered as
pensionable</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Choice B</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3 percent compounded COLA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Three year delay in receiving COLA for active state
employees upon retirement</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Agree to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>2 percent contribution increase</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Receive retiree healthcare</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All future salary increases offered as
pensionable</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Choice B</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Option 2:</span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3 percent compounded COLA</span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No retiree healthcare</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Future salary increases offered as
non-pensionable</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Choice for Retirees</span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Choose two year freeze on compounded COLA in
non-consecutive years and continue to receive retiree healthcare</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Choose to keep 3 percent compounded COLA without
freeze and forego access to retiree healthcare</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Senate Bill 1 (Madigan Plan)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Increase retirement age from 1 to 5 years for employees
under 45 years of age</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5 year or age 67, whichever comes first wait to
receive COLA upon retirement</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">New formula to determine amount COLA to be based
on, $1,000 per year of state service multiplied by 3 percent simple for most
employees</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wage cap of $109,971 for determining retirement
benefit.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-1395472911009855632013-04-10T10:39:00.004-07:002013-04-10T10:39:42.079-07:00Negotiations UpdateWe wanted to take a moment to update you on the current economic negotiations status. Monday and Tuesday we spent negotiating with the State regarding the financial aspects of the new agreement. <br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
We do have some good news- It is agreed that we will essentially get what the other Unions are receiving in the way of wage increases during the new agreement, a small longevity pay increase, a small shift differential increase, as well as other issues including the step and COLA increases from the previous agreement. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
There are, however, issues specific to our Union that we are still negotiating over and we have another date scheduled next week at which we hope to wrap up the agreement. We are pleased to tell you that they have responded positively regarding some of those issues. But, there are still details to work out. As soon as we have additional information to share we will be sure to send out an update to you. </div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-22831508458294966742013-03-07T13:49:00.002-08:002013-03-07T13:49:58.283-08:00HB1154- Pension Bill- UPDATE<div>
Today, amendments to HB1154 were voted on and here are the results:</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Amendment 6 to freeze COLA's for ten years failed 2-67.<br /><br />Amendment 7 to cap pensionable salary at $113,000 passes 65-7-1.<br /><br />Amendment 8 to increase employee contributions by 4% fails 11-58-2.</div>
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</div>
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</div>
<div>
This is great news for our members and for all State employees!! </div>
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</div>
<div>
Keep checking back for more updates on legislative issues and if anyone at your workplace reports that they are not receiving our emails, please have them get in touch with us immediately so that we can get their email address added or updated. </div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-15166128244351717162013-02-27T06:24:00.003-08:002013-02-27T06:24:37.112-08:00Office Move<div>
Effective March 1, 2013, the local union office will be relocated to:</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
534 South Second Street</div>
<div>
Springfield, IL 62701</div>
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</div>
<div>
The new telephone number will be <a href="tel:217-523-2002" target="_blank" value="+12175232002">217-523-2002</a>, new fax number will be <a href="tel:217-523-2006" target="_blank" value="+12175232006">217-523-2006</a>. Our toll free number will remain the same.</div>
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</div>
<div>
<strong><u>Please keep in mind, staff will be moving on February 28th & March 1st, the best means of communications those days will be via email.</u></strong></div>
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<strong><u></u></strong> </div>
<div>
Mike Stout - <a href="mailto:mstout2002@att.net" target="_blank">mstout2002@att.net</a></div>
<div>
Ron Rohlfs - <a href="mailto:local2002oc@aol.com" target="_blank">local2002oc@aol.com</a></div>
<div>
Kendra Best - <a href="mailto:liunalaw@hotmail.com" target="_blank">liunalaw@hotmail.com</a></div>
<div>
Michele Rohlfs - <a href="mailto:michele.rohlfs@att.net" target="_blank">michele.rohlfs@att.net</a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Sincerely,</div>
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</div>
<div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002 Staff</div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-36276465348377022292013-01-23T13:01:00.000-08:002013-01-23T13:01:45.437-08:00Pay Case Update<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There has been a new development in the pay case. When AFSCME appealed Circuit
Court Judge Billik's ruling, they obtained a stay of the order issued by Judge
Bilik. That means, as long as the appeal is pending the State does not have to
obey the order from the Circuit Court. However, Judge Bilik retired, being
replaced and the new Judge in the Circuit Court presiding over Judge Bilik's
ruling has removed the stay. That means, the money the State set aside in
accordance with a pre-ruling order by Judge Bilik must be used to pay out to
the employees monies owed. Now, there is a hitch. Some of the money set aside
is from special grants and is designate for particular programs which means
that only employees within those programs would be able to be paid from those
grants. However, there is still other money set aside that can be paid out to
employees in the State. This is a great development in the matter. We hope to
have more news to come. As we learn about the State's compliance with the
lifted stay we will keep you informed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002 Staff</span></span>ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-56752683690983296062013-01-08T16:27:00.001-08:002013-01-08T16:27:47.472-08:00PENSION UPDATE: PENSION BILLS STOPPED!!<div>
WE WANT TO THANK <strong><u>YOU!!!!</u></strong> OUR MEMBERSHIP'S VOICE HAS BEEN HEARD!! </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
IT LOOKS LIKE THE HOUSE WILL <strong><u>NOT </u></strong>VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT. THEY HAVE RECESSED UNTIL NOON TOMORROW. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
THE PENSION BILLS ARE DEAD FOR NOW!!!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
WE KNOW THAT OUR VOICES HAVE BEEN HEARD! THANK YOU FOR MAKING PHONE CALLS AND GETTING THE LEGISLATORS TO STOP THE PENSION BILLS!!</div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-7223554188857334052013-01-08T13:31:00.000-08:002013-01-08T13:31:27.442-08:00PENSION UPDATE, PART 2- URGENT!!!!<div>
WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED WORD THAT AMENDMENT 15 TO SB1673 HAS BEEN PASSED OUT OF THE PENSION AND PERSONNEL COMMISSION!! IT WILL NOW GO BEFORE THE HOUSE!!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
WHAT THAT BILL DOES IS REPLACES THE ENTIRETY OF SB1673 AND WOULD SERVE TO ESTABLISH A PENSION COMMITTEE THAT WOULD HAVE UNTIL APRIL 30, 2013 TO RECOMMEND A PENSION PLAN. <strong><u>WE ARE GREATLY OPPOSED TO THIS AMENDMENT!!!</u></strong> </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
UNDER THIS AMENDMENT, IF EITHER THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE FAILS TO RESPOND OR REJECT THE PLAN, <strong><u>IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY BECOME LAW!!! </u></strong>THAT WILL ALLOW ONE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH TO ULTIMATELY MAKE IT LAW BY NOT REJECTING THE PLAN!!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<strong><u>PLEASE CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS IMMEDIATELY AND TELL THEM TO VOTE "NO" TO SB1673, AMENDMENT 15!!!!!!</u></strong></div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-69161656841041764812013-01-08T12:04:00.001-08:002013-01-08T12:04:54.821-08:00PENSION LEGISLATION UPDATE!!!<div>
AN AMENDMENT TO A BILL HAS BEEN FILED AND PENSION/PERSONNEL ARE MEETING NOW!!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
THE AMENDMENT WOULD ESTABLISH A PENSION COMMITTEE THAT WOULD HAVE, WE BELIEVE, UNTIL APRIL TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON PENSION CHANGES AND <strong><u>IF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FAILS TO ACT OR REJECT THE RECOMMENDATION IT WILL BECOME LAW!!!</u></strong></div>
<div>
<strong><u></u></strong> </div>
<div>
WE ARE OPPOSED TO SUCH A CHANGE AS IT REVERSES THE WAY THAT LAWS ARE PASSED. THERE WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE A VOTE BY THE GA FOR IT TO BECOME A LAW!!</div>
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</div>
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<strong><u>CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ASAP AND TELL THEM TO VOTE AGAINST SUCH AN AMENDMENT!!!</u></strong></div>
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<strong><u></u></strong> </div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-2542200325427436182013-01-07T12:42:00.002-08:002013-01-07T12:42:27.982-08:00PENSION LEGISLATION UPDATE!!!<div>
A pension bill was passed out of committee today. We have no word yet on whether or not it will be picked up for a vote, but we have to keep up the pressure on the Legislaors to VOTE "NO" AGAINST House Amendment 10 to SB1673!!!</div>
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</div>
<div>
Here is a summary of what the bill would do:</div>
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</div>
<li><b>Unilaterally reduces benefits for current workers and retirees in all State retirement systems except judges. <u>No</u> back up of offer and consideration.<u></u><u></u></b></li>
<b><u></u> <u></u></b><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li><b>Does NOT contain any cost shift </b>to local school districts or colleges. <u></u><u></u></li>
</ul>
<u></u> <u></u><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li><b>Freezes (pauses) ALL COLAs for current or future retirees for almost <u>7</u> years</b> (from the immediate effective date of the bill until January 1, 20<u>20</u>). <u></u><u></u></li>
</ul>
<u></u> <u></u><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li>Once the freeze is over, no COLA until age 67, and then a 3% compounded COLA only on the first $25,000 in benefits for those without Social Security (teachers, university staff, legislators and some State employees) or the first $20,000 for those with Social Security (some State employees). No minimum on years of service. The maximum COLA payable would become a simple $750. <u></u><u></u></li>
</ul>
<u></u> <u></u><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li><b>Raises employee contributions by <u>2%</u></b> of salary, phased in over two years. Does not allow the contribution increase to be used for the Money Purchase Benefit. <u></u><u></u></li>
</ul>
<u></u> <u></u><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li>Caps benefits at final average salary (“pensionable” salary) at <u>higher</u> of (1) current salary for past 365 days or per union contract or (2) the indexed Social Security wage cap (currently $113,700). <u></u><u></u></li>
</ul>
<u></u> <u></u><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li>No defined contribution plan on salary above the Social Security cap. No cash balance plan for new hires and no change in Tier 2 benefits except makes Tier 2 legislators’ COLA match others at lesser of 3% or half CPI (legislators had been at lesser of 3% or <u>full</u> CPI).<u></u><u></u></li>
</ul>
<u></u> <u></u><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li>Prohibits the use of sick leave to be used for service credit for new hires. <u></u><u></u></li>
</ul>
<u></u> <u></u><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li><b>Strengthens funding formula to reach 100% funded in 30 years</b>. Even with this improvement, benefit reductions should mean net annual savings to the State. <u></u><u></u></li>
</ul>
<u></u> <u></u><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li><b>Adds a PERMISSABLE funding guarantee</b>: Allows systems to sue the State to enforce annual payment of normal cost plus payments on the unfunded over a “reasonable” period of time according to “accepted actuarial standards.” Tries to make this guarantee a constitutionally protected contract obligation. Additionally, the language provides for payment deviations if there is a hardship.<u></u><u></u></li>
</ul>
<u></u> <u></u><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li><b>Requires the State to contribute an <u>extra</u> $1 billion year </b>to the systems beginning in FY20 when FY11 pension bonds are paid off and current pension bond payments decline by $600 million from FY19. This extra payment continues through FY45 or until the systems are 100% funded. </li>
</ul>
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</div>
<div>
KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR UPDATES ON THIS AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE ISSUES!!! WE CONTINUE THE FIGHT!!! </div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-8935105090245800342013-01-06T16:40:00.002-08:002013-01-06T16:40:35.893-08:00COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BILL UPDATE<div>
WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING AND WE WILL KEEP UP THE FIGHT!!</div>
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</div>
<div>
Tonight an amendment to SB3681 was filed in the House which would serve to exclude certain titles from the potential elimination from a collective bargaining unit under SB1556. What that means is that the ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002 collective bargaining unit titles that could be impacted by SB1556 would be safeguarded from removal, as proposed in the SB3681 amendment. </div>
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</div>
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While there is no guarantee that the SB3681 amendment that would safeguard our positions will be passed, it is definitely an iron in the fire!</div>
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WE ARE WORKING HARD TO PROTECT OUR MEMBERS!!</div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-69839610866474798752013-01-06T09:41:00.003-08:002013-01-06T09:41:19.415-08:00Pension Update: 1/6/2013<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Governor met with legislative leadership yesterday, no agreement was made on pensions. The Speaker believes agreement can be reached before the new legislators are sworn in at noon on Wednesday. Please get your friends, family and anyone else possible to call their state representative and ask them to oppose pension legislation that reduces benefits guaranteed by the constitution. Call 1-888-412-6570 for more information.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">ISEA, Laborers Local 2002 Staff</span></div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-47847207675122276272013-01-05T08:45:00.004-08:002013-01-05T08:45:35.462-08:00Pension Update<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">The State House of Representatives will be in session beginning tomorrow and will be considering pension changes that will reduce future benefits for current and future retirees. We are not sure at this time what specifically will be included in the bill or bills. Please be prepared to make calls to your state representative asking them to oppose any such legislation. We will keep the membership informed throughout the weekend. Remember, the 'We Are One' toll free number of 1-888-412-6570 is your direct link.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="J-JK9eJ-PJVNOc" style="background: yellow;">ISEA</span>, Laborers' Local 2002 Staff</span></span></div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-15206770148307493582013-01-05T06:20:00.003-08:002013-01-05T06:20:46.313-08:00SB 1556 Update<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday the State Journal Register reported that Senator Harmon, AFSCME and other unions were meeting in an effort to determine which state employees would no longer have bargaining rights. We want to assure you that our local union is doing the same. We are working with the Senator to justify the exclusion of our membership. Please keep in mind that Senate Bill 1556 has passed and only affects positions certified after December 2, 2008.<span> </span>It does not matter what date an individual hires into a position but only the date on which the position gained union representation. An overwhelming majority of our members are <strong><u>NOT</u></strong> affected by Senate Bill 1556, regardless we are working in an attempt to exclude as many people as possible from being affected. Please continue to watch your e-mail, blog & Facebook; we will keep you posted on any new developments.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002 Staff</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Facebook Page: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/local2002" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>local2002</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">ISEA Local 2002 Blog: <a href="http://isealaborerslocal2002.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://isealaborerslocal2002.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a></span></div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-18941807756546428962013-01-04T08:51:00.001-08:002013-01-04T08:51:25.306-08:00COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BILL PASSES<div>
UPDATE: AFTER FAILING TO PASS THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BILL YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, THE SENATE RECALLED AND PASSED THE BILL</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
You may already know this but we are sorry to say that the Senate recalled SB1556 late last evening and that the Senate passed the Collective Bargaining Bill. We are reviewing every option available to us in order to stop this bill from going to the Governor's office. Please monitor your emails over the next several days as we will keep you informed of any changes or updates on the bill status. </div>
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</div>
<div>
THE FIGHT IS STILL ON!!</div>
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</div>
<div>
CLARIFICATION ON TITLES IMPACTED:</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
If your title was certified before December 2, 2008, this legislation will not impact you. This is NOT based on when YOU took the position but WHEN THE POSITION WAS CERTIFIED. </div>
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</div>
<div>
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL US AND WE WILL GET YOU A RESPONSE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE!! </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
EMAIL MIKE AT <a href="mailto:mstout2002@att.net">mstout2002@att.net</a></div>
<div>
EMAIL KENDRA AT <a href="mailto:liunalaw@hotmail.com">liunalaw@hotmail.com</a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
WE WILL BE AT THE CAPITOL TODAY WORKING ON THIS BUT WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN AND EMAILING US WILL GET YOU THE QUICKEST RESPONSE. </div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6983514095675429958.post-45663758359696509602013-01-03T13:54:00.002-08:002013-01-03T13:54:45.926-08:00COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BILL FAILS!!<div>
<strong>WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED WORD THAT THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BILL WAS CALLED AND HAS <u>FAILED!!! </u></strong></div>
<div>
<strong><u></u></strong> </div>
<div>
<strong>THIS <u>DOES NOT MEAN</u> THAT IT CANNOT BE CALLED UP AGAIN BEFORE THE SESSION IS OVER, <u>BUT FOR NOW WE HAVE PREVAILED!!!</u></strong></div>
<div>
<strong><u></u></strong> </div>
<div>
<strong><u>IT IS VITAL THAT WE KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON ALL OF THE STATE REPS AND SENATORS THROUGH THE END OF THIS SESSION!!!</u></strong></div>
<div>
<strong><u></u></strong> </div>
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<strong><u>PLEASE CONTINUE TO MAKE CALLS AND LOBBY AGAINST ANY CHANGES TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING LAWS AND SPECIFICALLY- SB1556!!!</u></strong></div>
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<strong><u>THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER BUT THIS IS CERTAINLY A VICTORY!!! KEEP UP THE FIGHT!! STAND UNITED!!</u></strong></div>
ISEA, Laborers' Local 2002http://www.blogger.com/profile/18194188726398660488noreply@blogger.com0