Tagged: Pat Quinn

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn vetoed energy  legislation that critics say could have raised the price of natural gas around the state.

The legislation would have forced natural gas companies Ameren and Nicor to buy synthetic gas produced by the Leucadia plant in order to help pay for its construction. The plant was proposed to be built on Chicago's south side. Leucadia planned to use technology that converts Illinois coal into gas.

Legislation requiring all college dorms in Illinois to have sprinklers installed within the next couple years is one of four new fire safety bills Governor Pat Quinn signed into law.

The bill beefs up past legislation by instituting tougher penalties for post-secondary schools that don't comply. That includes a $1,000 per day fine if sprinklers are not installed by September 1, 2014.

Democratic Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) support a proposal to shift the pension funding burden from the state to local school districts.

But State Senator John Sullivan (D-Rushville) said there are good reasons to oppose the plan.

“It's a triple whammy for the districts,” Sullivan said. He pointed out:

1) Local districts would be burdened with the responsibility for a major expense.

2) State financial support for school districts continues to decline.