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As another week of the spring session passed, legislative committees met and talks with the governor’s office occurred regarding ways to balance the budget.  The governor is looking for direction as he develops his budget address for Feb. 22.

The General Assembly began its spring session with committee meetings, bill filings and the governor’s State of the State address. Usually the governor’s address sets out his legislative agenda, concerns and suggestions for legislators and the citizens of our state.

The governor’s State of the State address launched the official activity of legislative action for spring 2012. By nature, I am an optimist, but felt as many of my colleagues did that the governor’s view of our state avoided the difficult issues each of us knows we will be challenged with this year. His budget address, set for Feb. 22, promises to lay out his plan to resolve these issues.

In the past few months, several issues have arisen regarding county services. The start up of a drug court in LaSalle County has been discussed regularly in committee and will continue to be considered as information is gathered for decision. Champaign County and Grundy County both have drug courts in their court systems and comparisons are being made, along with costs, to decide what would be best for LaSalle County.