samalw

Hello Pete! I'm surprised to even see a re-introduction of this bill but I guess I shouldn't be since it's all BS politics as usual, support the troops until they're vets, rah, rah...blah...blah...blah. But I'll do everything possible AGAIN to push these self-serving deadbeats as much as possible. Madigan killed it last time by simply ignoring it (or whatever they call his option to do so when it ends up on his desk). Who re-elects this a'hole????? And when did he get so much power???? I'd be in South Carolina already, never once looking back, if it weren't for this housing market! IL is #6 behind NV, CA, AZ, FL and MI. I'm sure Quinn, in his inimitable 5th grade level way, will explain to the entire poplulus of the state that we must all pull together, no one left behind (GMAFB!!!), etc., etc. as he pushes his TAX INCREASE!!! So veterans must continue to sacrifice. BS! I'm glad to see Brady has the Republican nomination. I hope he kicks Quinn out but in this Dem state...I doubt it. It's just amazing that people keep election such buffoons!!!

Illinois is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO crooked!!!!!!!!! How is IL going to get "hit in property tax revenue" when the tax values have NOT gone down???????????????????? These SOBS could care less about veterans much less disabled veterans. I didn't even get a reply to my fax/email to our newest member of self-serving elite, Mr. Dan Grant, the new "head" of the IL DAV. Thanks Danny boy!!!! Screw 'em all. I will NEVER vote for an incumbent EVER again in this God forsaken state. As soon as my house value comes close to what it was (if that ever happens, thanks to the B. Hussein types and his loans to deadbeats aka the Community Reinvestment Act), I'm out of here!!! I've never seen a more corrupt piece of geography in the United States than this thug run cesspool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grace, From the ilga.gov website, the Property Tax subcommittee is composed of just three members. Seems like a really small committee to make any big decision: http://www.ilga.gov/house/committees/membe...D=797&GA=96 Sub-Chairperson: Frank J. Mautino D Member: Linda Chapa LaVia D Member: Ed Sullivan, Jr. R

Pete, Since my rep, Rep. Suzanne Bassi is on the committee, I'm going to e-mail her asking the status of the bill. Can't hurt. Al

Five more co-sponsors of HB0273 signed on today. The total is now 65. Don't know the results of today's scheduled hearing of this bill in the IL Revenue & Finance Committee yet.

We now have 60 co-sponsors of HB0273 with 7 signing on today. This is a majority in the 118 member IL House of Representatives. Theoretically, it should pass the House. I suppose a committee could shoot it down. The Senate is going to be the tough nut to crack!!!!!

Pete, The one person who doesn't have an e-mail address on the committee is Rep. LaVia. I faxed her my letter just minutes before she was added to the committee. We won't know 'til it's over. Also, I had to dig to find Rep. Zalewski's e-mail address as it was not posted in the ilga.gov website. His address is: 'mikezalewski@gmail.com' Keep plugging away!!!! Al

I sent the following e-mail to all the members (including those added today) of the Revenue & Finance Committee: Dear Rep. ____ Tomorrow, on February 11, 2009, HB0273 will come before you. This bill increases the property tax exemption for disabled veterans based on their percentage of disability. No one is unaware of the dire economic times this country and its citizens are in now. My own representative, Rep. Suzzane Bassi, in response to my e-mail to her urging her support for HB0273 said, quote, "Maybe we can get it passed this time in both the House and the Senate. It may be a struggle since economic times are tough and everyone is broke, but I will do my best." In these "tough economic times", should the deciding factor be lost revenue for government entities or should it be helping a most deserving small group of people who not only need help because of these "tough economic times" but need it due to a disability incurred while serving their country? When Gov. Blagojevich "rewrote" HB4201 last August to include a property tax exemption for Illinois's disabled veterans, the number it reportedly would have helped was 16,000. I submit to you that a property tax abatement for these disabled veterans, based on their percentage of disability, will be insignificant in its impact on tax revenue to the state of Illinois, its cities and its counties. President Obama visited Elkhart, IN on Monday and described the plight of its citizens as a result of the economy. He cited Elkhart, no fewer than five times during his prime time press conference Monday night, as an example of the absolute need for a stimulus package. Its citizens, like so many across America, are in desperate need of financial help. I ask you, what group is more deserving of financial help than disabled veterans? Disabled veterans will not benefit from these proposals which are designed to create jobs and provide income tax credits. We are not able to work or are limited by our disability in how much or what kind of work we can do. Disabled veterans are not as visible as the citizens gathered in a small town like Elkhart, IN. We are spread out all over the country and the state of Illinois. But we do vote and we are becoming more and more organized through coalitions of the various veterans' groups. We have to, to survive. Please give serious consideration to HB0273 which would help improve the lives of Illinois's disabled veterans who have sacrificed so much for this country. Other states provide a 100% property tax exemption for disabled veterans as recognition of their sacrifice. Why can't Illinois? I'll close with a quote from an unknown author…a quote used by Dan Grant during his introduction as the new Director of the Illinois Department of Veteran's Affairs…"A veteran, whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to, and including his life." Thank you for your support.

HB0273 now goes before the House Revenue & Finance Committee. The Hearing is on Feb 11, 2009 at 10:00 a.m., Capitol Building Room 115 Springfield, IL This morning, for the first time, they have listed the members of this committee. Please contact these members urging them to support HB0273!!!! Chairperson :John E. Bradley D Vice-Chairperson :Frank J. Mautino D Member:Linda Chapa LaVia D Member:Barbara Flynn Currie D Member:LaShawn K. Ford D Member:Careen M Gordon D Member:Arthur L. Turner D Member:Michael J. Zalewski D

Good question, Bob! I was just about to post that we had 2 more co-sponsors sign on today for a total of 48 (49 with the original sponsor). The committee members for the Revenue & Finance Committee have not been posted yet so I don't know if the committee has even been formed. I would think it would have been. I will find out about the meeting and if testimony will be allowed. Thanks for following this thread! Al

5 more reps have signed on as co-sponsors today including my (and Grace's) rep, Rep. Suzanne Bassi.

For those of you willing to contact our Illinois congressmen to urge them to support HB0273, a bill introduced on 1/21/09 which will abate property tax for disabled veterans based on their percentage of disability, please see the attachment for e-mail addresses and fax numbers of each legislator. Thanks. We need your help!!!! IL_Legislators_fax___e_mail.xls

Pete, it's not encouraging that this same legislation failed in the two previous legislatures, especially now that the state is in a much worse economic situation. I can only hope that these congressmen have compassion for disabled veterans in these times and do the right thing. Someone recently said, "It's never about the money...it's about the money". When it comes to these sellouts we call politicians, especially in this state, I'm not optimistic. All we can do is keep the pressure on and add more pressure if we can come up with a way. Your adding the veterans groups you're a member of to your correspondence is a great way. Maybe an editorial to our newspapers is a way. The vets I gave copies of the bill to yesterday, seemed apathetic and less than enthused. Apathy is a huge problem. We can blame the politics of Illinois for this apathy on the part of the citizens. Hang in there! Al

Hi Grace, Small world indeed!!! I just sent Rep. Bassi a fax. Hope she responds. Thanks for all you're doing! Al

I just received a really nice letter in the mail from Representative Esther Golar (6th District) thanking me for taking the time to make known my concerns regarding HB073. Her last sentence says, "Rest assured that one of my highest priorities is making sure those who have served our country will be assisted to the fullest extent possible during these difficult economic times." I can only hope my own representative is as responsive as Rep. Golar!!! I've heard nothing from my Rep. (Suzanne Bassi) so far.