SXU hosts fifth annual “Breakfast With Your Legislators” question-and-answer and networking event

Attendees included Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3rd), State Sen. Edward Maloney (D-18th), State Rep. Al Riley (D-38), State Rep. Mary Flowers (D-31st) and State Rep. John O'Sullivan (D-35th)

Chicago (Oct. 19, 2010) Elected officials from the southern Chicago area answered questions from local business leaders about everything from the health care reform bill to Illinois' pension budget shortfall at the fifth annual “Breakfast with your Legislators” event today. The Beverly Area Planning Association and the Blue Island, Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn Chambers of Commerce presented the event. Saint Xavier University hosted the event at its Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St. AT&T sponsored the event.

Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3rd), State Sen. Edward Maloney (D-18th), State Rep. Al Riley (D-38), State Rep. Mary Flowers (D-31st) and State Rep. John O'Sullivan (D-35th) attended the event.

Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3rd) on opposing the health care reform bill:
"I opposed it because I don't think in the long run it is fiscally sustainable. I think we need to do more to reform the health care system. There's a perverse incentive in our system to keep ordering more and more tests because it's paid for by quantity rather than the quality of care people receive, and I think that's the big reason why we spend so much in this country on health care than other countries without being more healthy. I have not supported repeal. I want reform, I don't want to repeal and have nothing."

State Sen. Edward Maloney (D-18th) on Illinois Monetary Assistance Program grant funding for college students:
"MAP funding has been flat the past several years, we had to go through a major battle to get it funded last spring. I really think the victory in getting it funded was due to students who told their stories and contacted their local legislators, saying 'if this isn't funded I can't go to school.' The problem with MAP is it's currently going to be flat funded again and as the costs go up students have less money to deal with."

State Rep. Al Riley (D-38) on the state's pension funding shortfall:
"It comes from a lot of things – the economic situation that hurt all states equally, but also from neglect. Every time we do a budget, the unfunded pension budget hangs like a sword of Damocles above everyone's head. I think there were some systemic problems with the way we addressed these issues in the past, and you can't do a meaningful budget without looking at how you're going to deal with this $80 billion."

State Rep. Mary Flowers (D-31st) on the housing foreclosure crisis:
"There's a mortgage crisis going on here and a lot of us did not create this crisis. A lot of people have lost their homes because they trusted the people telling them to refinance their homes. We trusted them and we believed in them and we didn't know about all these shenanigans going on, so it's in the state's best interest to make sure that for those who can afford to stay in their homes that we should provide them with a way and a means."

State Rep. John O'Sullivan (D-35th) on the biggest issues in the upcoming veto session:
"I think one of the most important things we're going to face in the veto session are funding for education. Before we go with a tax increase, I think we should consider property tax relief for homeowners."

-SXU-

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Jay Foot, Executive Director of Media Relations
O: (773) 298-3937
C: (773) 617-3632
foot@sxu.edu