State Representative Jeff Keicher of Sycamore gave his assessment of the recently concluded legislative session during this week’s meeting. The veteran lawmaker said he was proud to sponsor two pieces of legislation that were approved and just recently signed by the Governor. One seeks to stop flying debris coming from waste hauler trucks. With Keicher’s district crisscrossed by interstates and major federal and state highways, a number of waste haulers use the routes to get from major urban areas to landfills in several more rural locations. Previously, truck drivers could be fined if their waste loads were not totally secured, but now the fines can be levied against the owner of the waste trailers as well. Keicher hopes this leads to stricter load monitoring using improved technology when haulers leave their point of origin. Keicher’s other bill seeks to protect victims of human trafficking who may have criminal juvenile records as a result of their victimization. Such records could hurt the person’s chances for jobs, loans, or educational opportunities. The legislation allows for these records to be expunged or sealed when there was force inflicted to commit illegal acts.
Keicher expressed frustration over the increasing cost of state government and some of the choices made for additional spending. Keicher said when he first went to Springfield six years ago the state budget was $37 billion. The latest budget is $53 billion. Keicher said he is concerned that many of the budget cost increases go to new or expanded programs with poor calculations for budgetary impact while existing health and human services programs are not receiving any inflation adjusted increases. He used as an example an “All Kids” health care program introduced during his early years in the legislature to guarantee benefits for the uninsured through age 18. This was later expanded to include senior citizens over 65 and a $10 million program became a $60 million program. Twice since then the adult age limit was lowered and it now covers adults beginning at age 42. When immigration coverage became an issue, costs were problematic because non-citizens do not qualify for federal subsidies of 53% through Medicaid. Keicher said other budget increases go for politically connected projects rather than based on statewide needs.
Keicher, a Republican, said even though Democrats have a voting super majority in the House, they ran into issues getting the votes needed to pass the fiscal 2025 budget because it included increases in certain fees and taxes. Twice they failed to verify enough members voting yes and eventually had to suspend chamber rules to get it passed on a third try.