Column falsely portrayed agenda
As a rule, I hesitate to respond to attacks in the news media but in a column by Daily Herald writer Eric Krol my integrity and political agenda were falsely portrayed.
Let me make it clear to Krol and your readers that there was no so-called deal with the governor.
In my entire political career I have supported measures to improve health care, including the proposal for the gross receipts tax and the employer payroll tax. It only makes sense that I would support the governor's efforts for health care when it can be done without taxes and fees on employers.
To imply that I was less than honest about the lawmakers' cost of living increase was totally unfair. While other legislators vote against increases and quietly accept them, I have supported cost-of-living increases throughout the years that I have been in the General Assembly, and I have told my constituents up front that I support such measures.
Regarding the utility rate increases, after roughly a decade without a single increase in electric rates,I publicly opposed a further rate freeze as prolonging the problem. In fact, virtually all informed interests agreed that utilities deserved consideration and that extension of the rate freeze was not the best long term solution, including most Illinois news media and the Daily Herald.
Krol is disingenuous in suggesting that I put personal interests and political contributions ahead of "economically disadvantaged persons" and I "dragged my feet" on the eventual negotiated settlement.
In fact, my representatives were at the table with the utilities working for a rate relief compromise months before the speaker and attorney general joined us.
In the end, all agreed with me that the continuation of the freeze was not the best long term solution. That is why we were able to reach a compromise.
After difficult bargaining, we prevailed in crafting a compromise that came close to my original suggested solution; no rate freeze, immediate relief for consumers and long term reliable service.
Emil Jones Jr.
President
Illinois Senate
Chicago