Luechtefeld: ‘A step in the right direction'

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CoGFA) issued a favorable opinion on Oct. 27 for the Chester Mental Health Center and the Illinois Youth Center at Murphysboro, according to State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville).

"This is a step in the right direction, but we must be cautious because the CoGFA opinion is only advisory," Luechtefeld said. "The Murphysboro and Chester communities came together and made their case before the Commission, because the Chester decision was unanimous and other members also expressed a need to keep the IYC in another possible capacity."

Luechtefeld was appreciative of the opinion that was issued by the Commission, but urged caution because the Governor's Administration will ultimately have the final decision about closing two facilities.

CoGFA members were generally impressed with both facilities especially given the specific purposes: a maximum-security mental health center and a modern security detention facility like the IYC. One CoGFA member noted that the IYC could be converted to an Immigration and Naturalization Service detention center.

"We are now going to be looking for what leverage the Governor wants to keep our two southern Illinois facilities open," Luechtefeld said. "You always have to ask yourself what the Governor wants and what his real motivation is for shuttering these facilities. As we have seen, the Governor's people have very few - if any - long-term plans for the patients or prisoners in either facility. They certainly have given little consideration to the impact on both communities."

Senator Luechtefeld will continue to advocate for both of the facilities, families and communities and asks constituents to visit his legislative Web site for news updates.