NEWS FROM
Jil Tracy
State Representative
93rd District

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jil Tracy 217-223-0833
February 21, 2007

Rep. Tracy Joins Republicans on Call to Governor to
Take Action on Electric Rate Crisis

Springfield…Rep Tracy joined Republican lawmakers today and called on Governor Rod Blagojevich to take immediate action to solve Illinois’ electric rate crisis. At a Capitol press conference, Representatives and Senators called for the Governor to convene a summit to provide relief for families, seniors and other Ameren customers whose electric bills skyrocketed in the month of January.

“I have been inundated with phone calls to my district office about the extreme increases in electric bills,” said Representative Tracy. “This is an issue that should have been dealt with last year, but the Governor failed to act and now the people of my district and the rest of Illinois are suffering.”

“Governors are elected to lead in times of crisis…this is definitely a crisis,” stressed State Representative Bill Black (R-Danville). “For months this critical issue has been at the center of a power struggle between the Speaker of the House and the Senate President, and families and seniors in our districts have been caught in the middle with skyrocketing electric bills. All the while, the Governor has sat on the sidelines. Four of the five members of the Illinois Commerce Commission were appointed by the Governor, and the Commission then unanimously approved the reverse auction despite the Governor’s wishes. It is time for the Governor to demonstrate some leadership and bring the ICC and other parties together to reach a solution.”

“I have heard from families and seniors in my district with all-electric homes who saw their bills double or even triple overnight. One former member of the military who just returned to his home in Jacksonville after completing his service even told me he was rethinking that decision,” said State Representative Jim Watson (R-Jacksonville). “We need some help from the Governor’s office to break the deadlock and get these families some relief now.”

“We’ve been waiting for months for the Governor to lead this issue. I’ve urged him to call a Special Session on the skyrocketing electric rates. Again today, I’m urging the Governor to come off the sidelines and become active in this process to provide much needed relief to the consumers of Southern Illinois,” said Senator John O. Jones (R-Mt. Vernon.

“In addition to families and seniors, schools and small businesses were shocked by the enormous increases on their January electric bills and are concerned about how they are going to pay them,” said State Representative Bill Mitchell (R-Forsyth). “Last fall I called for a special session of the General Assembly to provide relief, and the Governor promised he would step in if the Speaker and President Jones failed to agree on a solution. Today we’re calling on the Governor to keep that promise.”

“I have called on the Governor and Legislative Leaders to act on this issue and have received no acceptable response. Consumers demand action on this issue. The sooner that we address this, the sooner residents will see the relief that they deserve. It’s time for those that promised to address the electric rates to fulfill their commitments and break the stalemate between the House and Senate Leadership,” stressed Senator Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville).

“After rain and snow storms caused several power outages across central Illinois this year, it has become very apparent to the families who were left without power how reliant we are on electricity,” said State Representative Ron Stephens (R-Greenville). “After being left in the dark during these outages, our families are now being charged outrageous rates for electricity. They need relief, and it is clear that won’t happen in the near future unless the Governor demonstrates some leadership and steps in.”

Other legislators today calling for the Governor to convene an immediate electric rate relief summit include State Senator Larry Bomke and Representatives Chapin Rose, Rich Brauer, Mike Bost, Dan Brady, David Reis, Shane Cultra and Jil Tracy.