Fracking and Pensions, Rep. Renée Kosel's Legislative Recap

The 98th General Assembly was largely a disappointment to State Rep. Renée Kosel, R-37th Dist. Still it managed to find bipartisan support for fracking regulations and gathered majority support for conceal and carry legislation. On the other hand, pension reform measures loom overhead. It's set for a special session focus set to begin June 19.   

"It's been a tough year," according to Kosel. "A few good things were accomplished, but it had more downs that ups. So many things moved backwards rather than forward."

As for the positives, she spotlighted the passage of the Hydraulic Fracking Regulation Act (SB1715.) It will create jobs and serve to boost the state-wide economy, she said.  It also reduces "our dependence for natural gas from elsewhere."

As a co-sponsor of the House version, Kosel said, the bill that currently awaits Gov. Pat Quinn's signature, found consensus through compromise. The bill is aimed at providing regulation and state oversight for extracting natural gas from shale rock. The bulk of Illinois' hydraulic fracking sites are located in Southern Illinois.

Kosel called the bill, which passed in the House by a vote of 108-9 and cleared the Senate by a vote of 52-3, "an environmental model for the country." It found bipartisan support. It was done in a spirit of compromise and moving Illinois forward."

As the bill moved closer to passage earlier this month, Kosel said, it could have been derailed by a final push to force the industry to hire union-only employees. "It would have killed the bill," she said. Instead, the General Assembly reached a compromise by adding a tax credit provision for companies that hire Illinois workers. "Most of them will be union members," she said.

The bill found a degree of support from the Illinois Sierra Club, as well. While Illinois Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune pressed House Speaker Michael Madigan for a two-year moratorium on fracking to further study the potential environmental and public safety threats of fracking, the bill ultimately garnered the environmental group's favor  because it established regulation within the industry.

Conceal and Carry

The controversial conceal and carry bill passed through the General Assembly; it awaits the governor's signature.  The House passed the bill by a vote of 89 to 28. In the Senate the vote was  45 to 12 with one abstention. "You need to have consistency statewide." And local municipalities will still have the right to ban assault weapons.

READ: Governor Quinn: Local Communities Should Have Control in Conceal Carry Law

Pension reform still pending

The focus of the special session, which begins June 19, is going to be on pension reform, said Kosel. "We have to do something." Acknowledging the fact that years ago promises were made under a different economy, Kosel said the reality has changed. "We are trying to protect the annuity. We have to find a solution." 

Although Kosel, has supported a few proposed pension reform measures so far, none of the existing bills have garnered consensus.  "There is nobody working together on pension reform. " Any bill with a chance of passing is going to need bipartisan support. 

Related stories: 

• Illinois Pension Reform: How Did Your Representative Vote?

• Proposed Pension Reforms to Take Toll on NLSD122, Teachers