SPRINGFIELD — In an effort to curb the spread of invasive species and protect the environment, State Sen. Linda Holmes supported legislation signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner this week that adds more plants to the state's list of exotic weeds.

The Exotic Weeds Act prohibits the sale of invasive flora that threaten the ecosystem in Illinois.

“One of our most important duties as a government is the protection and preservation of our environment for future generations,” said Holmes, D-Aurora. “I'm pleased the governor has affirmed the expansion of this list.”

The updated Exotic Weeds Act adds a variety of new plant species to the list, including varieties of exotic bush honeysuckles, olives, salt cedar, poison hemlock, giant hogweed, Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), Japanese, giant and Bohemian knotweed, among numerous others.

The legislation was Senate Bill 681. It becomes effective Jan. 1.

For more information, visit Chicago Tonight.

The State Journal-Register - July 15, 2015 | Original article

By Dean Olsen

Advocates for low-income families needing state-subsidized child care blasted Gov. Bruce Rauner on Wednesday for putting in place more stringent eligibility guidelines that have reduced new enrollment in the program to a trickle.

"This is one of the most coldhearted measures a governor can take," Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, said at a Capitol news conference alongside more than a dozen of her fellow Democrats from the Illinois House and Senate.

She said Rauner's decision is counterproductive for someone who has said he wants to be business-friendly and compassionate. Subsidized child care is essential for low-wage workers, often single parents, to afford to work or further their educations, Holmes said.

"Is it business-friendly to tell parents: 'Oh, by the way, you can't work your job. ... You have to stay home to take care of your kids because there is no child care assistance for you?' " Holmes said.

Read the full story at the Springfield State Journal-Register.

Illinois Business Journal - July 2015 Issue | Original Article

By Dennis Grubaugh

In March, [Governor Bruce Rauner] appointed a 25-person bipartisan panel to explore ways to consolidate taxing bodies as well as reduce the number of unfunded mandates the state imposes on local communities.

He named Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti to chair the task force.

...

The committee is charged with coming up with a set of recommendations by year’s end. While some recommendations may go nowhere, others are likely to become legislation, quickly or over a period of years. The committee discusses and votes on individual recommendations at each meeting, said state Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, a committee member and a longtime advocate of consolidation.

Meetings have focused about evenly between consolidation and unfunded mandates.

“There’s definitely been progress. There have been several meetings and a lot of conversation and public comment,” said Holmes, who was first elected in 2006. Discussions about the size and scope of government have grown in frequency in recent years, she said.

At the most recent meeting, the potential for debate, as well as agreement, was reflected. On one issue, panel members agreed that all of Illinois’ 102 counties should have the same ability that DuPage County has, which is the ability to recommend consolidations within its own county.

 “A lot of the consolidation issues are being looked upon favorably,” Holmes said.

Another topic, though, showed the potential for disagreement.

“One of the items we voted on was reforming or eliminating prevailing wage. I voted no on it. I couldn’t see what prevailing wage had to do with either consolidation or mandates.”

Some unfunded mandates have their place, Holmes said. Physical education in schools, for instance.

“I’m not sure I want to leave that up to every individual school. Some would do an exemplary job, but I’m not sure all schools would do that. I want to make sure our children are getting the physical activity they need.”

She agreed that every recommendation regarding consolidation raises the potential for opposition because of jobs that could be lost.

“That’s a legitimate concern,” Holmes said. “And I think it needs to be weighed very carefully. But there may be a way of taking these issues and phasing them in over a number of years so you’re not causing an immediate effect.”

Read the full article at The Illinois Business Journal.