SPRINGFIELD, IL.--State Senator Chris Lauzen (R- Aurora) is taking action on behalf of consumers in the 25^th District by asking the Governor to address the state's excessive electric rates caused by his failure to provide utility bill relief.

"Many of us remember the Ruling Majority candidates' long faces before the election, assurances that ratepayers would be protected, and even the Governor's promise to call a special session to solve the problem after the election.  However, now that these politicians are all securely ensconced in office, this problem is not being resolved," Lauzen said. 

"The majorities in the legislature and the Governor collectively did nothing to effectively help Illinois consumers avoid a massive electric rate hike and now residents in my district and others around the state are literally paying the price," Lauzen said. "It is time for the Governor to keep his campaign promise and to show some desperately needed leadership on this issue."

With Commonwealth Edison bills beginning to arrive, Lauzen believes that the need to take action is even more urgent. Lauzen has co-authored a letter to the Governor, with his colleague Senator John O. Jones (R- Mt. Vernon), which asks the Governor to call for a special session so lawmakers can address the issue by itself and come to a consensus.

Lauzen said, "Ten years ago, Republican leadership rolled back utility rates by 20% and froze them for ten years.  Many of my constituents don't understand how the current Chicago Democrat Governor and Ruling Majorities can allow a 22% increase in Northern Illinois and a greater than 50% increase in Downstate Illinois to advance when the utility companies are reporting record profits, paying their parent company Chairman more than $2,000,000 per month (!), and can afford to bombard the state with expensive TV and radio commercials."

"The sense among many whom I serve is that the rate deal has been cut behind the scenes in political backrooms and the ratepayers are going to be taken advantage of in the process," Lauzen said.  "I like Chicago-style hotdogs but I don't like Chicago-style politics applied across the rest of the state."

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