With Blagojevich gone, suburban senators turn focus to new laws

SPRINGFIELD - When several suburban communities learned the state wouldn't be able to help them get road salt as it always had, they were left scrambling to find it elsewhere, often at prices far higher than expected.

State Sen. Pamela Althoff, a McHenry Republican, hopes to get a law passed to help her local communities with the added expenses, which were incurred because of the state budget problems.

"We are going to provide them with some reimbursement so they can purchase additional salt to take care of the public safety of their constituents," she said.

But her idea, and dozens of others from various lawmakers, stalled as the Senate focused on trying the impeachment case of Rod Blagojevich.

With that trial now relegated to the history books and Pat Quinn in the governor's office, state senators are ready to move on to other topics.

"I am so relieved this impeachment trial is behind us, so we can get back to our real jobs, which is looking after important state business," said Sen. Susan Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat.

So far, there's been essentially no legislative action since the day senators were sworn in. No committee meetings, no floor votes. Friday, the day after Blagojevich's removal, was the first day proposed laws began being officially filed in the Senate.

Numerous proposals lawmakers want to pursue this session have been drafted, just waiting for the trial to end so they could be filed and the Senate could get back to normal.

"In my office, I have a stack of bills I'd like to file, but I have to go through them to make sure the language is right and all that. We were totally focused on all this," said Carol Stream Republican state Sen. John Millner.

By this point two years ago - the start of the last Senate session - nearly 200 proposed laws had been filed.

"I have just sort of put everything on hold, and I have several bills I want to file," said Sen. Dan Cronin, an Elmhurst Republican.

Cronin hopes to be among those pushing new campaign finance restrictions and letting voters decide if the constitution should be amended to allow elected officials to be recalled.

In the Illinois House, members wrapped up their impeachment responsibilities on the first day of the new session. The House has more than 360 proposed laws filed for consideration.

Both the House and Senate are scheduled to be back at the Capitol on Wednesday for the first post-Blagojevich session.