OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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January 27, 2009
"Unfortunately we're starting out this years budget with a $600 million deficit" but Myers says he is "optimistic we will have a productive session in the next session of the house. I think we can work together better with Pat Quinn plus there's new leadership in the senate." "The thing that disappoints me is we don't have truth in budgeting" Myers said. "The budget process should be open to the public. We, as representatives, barely get to see how it's written." Myers said that medicaid and education will be top priorities. "Elementary and secondary as well as higher education needs more money" Myers says. "It's going to be a difficult and challenging year, but could be very productive. We've been operating in a bad environment in Springfield. The Governor would call lawmakers back into session without concrete proposals. It was just pointless" he said. Rich answered questions from members about medicaid reimbursement and about a proposal to encode ammunition with a serial number to help with gun control. He said he anticipates some kind of tax changes. "We would like to provide lower taxes to encourage businesses to locate in Illinois but don't know how it can be done with the state of the state finances" Myers told members. Myers is a native of McDonough County and a farmer. He has served in state government for 14 years.
President-elect Debbie Vandemark presided at this weeks meeting. John Moon led us in singing "Onward In Kiwanis" and Chuck Nicholson gave the invocation. The 50/50 Drawing was won by Jeremy Benson who donated his share to the Salvation Army. Debbie reported that we have several members going to the Division 19 Mid-Winter Conference in Monmouth Saturday. Lt. Gov. Pat Stout will conduct the business meeting. If you would like to go, contact Debbie. Debbie urged members to volunteer to read books. We have added another class at Edison School to our Picture Book of the Month program and need members to read a book to the fourth grade classes. That book is then donated by the club to the school library.
Susan Thompson announced we will have a Valentine's dinner meeting at the Ponderosa February 10 at 6:00 PM. That will be instead of our normal dinner and meeting at St. George's. Sign up sheets were passed around so we can get an idea of the number attending. There will not be a meeting at St. George's that night. Next week we will learn more about the spastic paralysis Bowl-A-Thon February 21 at Abbe Lanes in Abingdon. Sue Dexter is working with the gumball machine representative on filling empty gumball machines, including the one at the State Police building in Macomb. Debbie recapped the January board meeting. The board voted to donate $150 to the Nature Quilt Project that we heard about at last weeks meeting. The I-I District is asking for donations from clubs to help fund Key Clubs. The board decided not to donate since we do not have a Key Club in Macomb but to instead fund other worthy local causes. The Pancake Day committee was planning on holding its first meeting this week. Debbie said that President Tim Moss would be promoting our club building of Kiwanis benches at future Kiwanis conferences. Susan Thompson has volunteered to be May program chairman and Ted Huston will be July chairman.
 
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