South West Illinois News

A slow permit process and an unmanageable electric supply arrangement in the Midwest put the Illinois coal industry at a big disadvantage, Southern Illinois coal representatives told Sen. Paul Schimpf (R-Waterloo).

Schimpf, fellow state Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg), and U.S. Reps. Mike Bost (R-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL) met with coal producers and coal generation station operators at a coal forum in Murphysboro. The coal representatives focused on the state of the industry in Illinois, which is not in a good place, they said.

On a brighter note, Schimpf hailed a recent meeting between Gov. Bruce Rauner and Speaker of the House Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) as a positive step in overcoming the state’s budget crisis.

He also noted the advancement of three bills he sponsored: Senate Bill 1433, which provides flexibility for small businesses in their intersections with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and Senate Bills 1756 and 1757, which improve operations in the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Schimpf also registered his opposition to Senate Bill 1756, which also advanced out of the chamber. The bill would require most firearms dealers in the state to earn a state license, adding a level of state regulation to federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms licensing requirements.