Republican state lawmakers continue tour

Turkey sandwiches, potato chips and salads weren't the only thing on the menu.

A coterie of female Illinois Republican state representatives in the midst of a statewide listening tour, on Tuesday broke bread at Al's Cafe with 12 women active on Elgin's community service, educational and social service scenes.

The initiative, called Women's Voices Illinois, includes a three-day bus tour, taking the dozen Republican lawmakers across seven counties in northern Illinois to chat with women.

Tuesday marked the tour's second leg, which took the group through Elgin, Downers Grove and Plainfield.

And though Republican women are leading this effort, it is by no means limited to women from that party, said state Rep. Ruth Munson of Elgin.

The lawmakers' intent is to gather perspectives from a diverse group of women. They'll take down what they hear, then devise a plan around the issues that will either require more research or become proposed legislation, Munson said.

The Elgin women gave the lawmakers a lot to chew on.

Gretchen Vapnar, executive director of the Community Crisis Center, a home for battered women and children, expressed concern that the center is forced to come up with new ways to raise money -- in part because its share of state aid has not increased in five years.

Karen Beyer, executive director of the Ecker Mental Health Center, is facing the same issues.

"In the mental health field, our funding has not changed in four years," she said.

Phyllis Folarin, chairwoman of the Elgin Community College board, says the state should have a program that rescues troubled students.

There also should be teacher training available that deals with the issues facing low-income students and those who are new to English, she said.

Other women expressed disappointment on current issues of the day, including the lack of state funding available for public transportation.

In less than two weeks, CTA and Pace are due to implement fare increases while cutting back on service.

"I can't believe we haven't been called back next week to deal with mass transit," said state Rep. Suzie Bassi, whose district includes Palatine, Inverness, Barrington and Hoffman Estates.

Meanwhile, the lunch was not complete without some of the women serving up choice words for the current administration.

State Rep. Pat Lindner, the assistant minority leader, says both parties in the house are united in their frustration with the governor.

"The Democrats disagree with his policies as much as we do," she said.