What Makes Me Proud to be an Illinoisian

Illinois finances are a mess. The fee on the toll roads that was to be temporary more than 25 years ago is going up. Lottery revenues that were to support schools have yet to fulfill that promise. Corruption has become so synonymous with politics in Illinois, I'm surprised it is not listed as such in the dictionary. I won't even start on the number of elected officials who can add felon to their Curriculum Vitae, including those elected to the highest office in the state.

There are a few things, however, that make me proud of my beleagured state.

Illinois is noted as one of the five best states in the union for its benefits to our military, past and present. We are now the very best state in the union for support of veteran-owned small businesses.

Gov. Pat Quinn has signed Senate Bill 1270 into law. This legislation sets a goal of 3 percent of all state contracts to be awarded to veteran-owned businesses that have annual revenues of less than $75 million. There is also an exemption for larger businesses that can prove that receipt of a state contract will benefit veteran-owned suppliers and/or subcontractors.

This percentage may seem small, but it is a start. There is also some grumbling the exemption is merely a loophole that will be abused, as women and minority-owned preferential treatment in contract bidding has been. But again, it is a start.

Quinn has once again proved he is a true friend to our servicemen and women with this stroke of his pen. Whatever else he has or has not done, whether you agree with any of his other policies or actions, due credit must be given on this score. Illinois is the first state to take even this much of a proactive step towards helping repay those who offered their all in service to our nation.

I would very much like to see Illinois' actions on this score surpassed by other states. I don't want to see us fall from first place in a positive accomplishment, but I'd be very happy to see other states compete in this race to help support our military. No matter what happens, we will always be the first, and that is something to be proud of. 

Thank you to all the senators and representatives that had a hand in SB1270. Quinn deserves our thanks as well. And we'll be looking for the names of those who voted against this bill come election day.