Senator Koehler sits down with Central Illinois on the Recrod host Paul Cicchini to talk about the Real Men Wear Pink Campaign.

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SPRINGFIELD – Legislation putting the largest contract in the history of the state of Illinois under the state’s procurement code was vetoed today by the governor. Senate Bill 1446 would have put the state’s Medicaid Managed Care Contract under the same rules as all other contracts the state awards.

State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) sponsored the legislation and issued the following statement after the governor’s veto:

“The governor’s veto truly is a defeat for transparency and accountability in state government. We are talking about billions of dollars of taxpayer money that is being contracted out by the state without any hearings or a framework of procurement rules.

“It is my intention to override this veto in the upcoming veto session. The largest contract in state history deserves the same amount of scrutiny as every other contract.”

NORTH PEKIN – A state highway was renamed in honor of a fallen Tazewell County soldier today. Part of Route 98 was renamed the “Sgt. Dean Russell Shaffer Memorial Highway” after two Peoria area lawmakers passed a resolution at the General Assembly this Spring.

State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) introduced Senate Joint Resolution 20 with State Representative Mike Unes (R-East Peoria) to honor Sgt. Dean Shaffer, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2012.

Sgt. Shaffer was a graduate of Pekin Community High School and was serving with the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division when the Black Hawk helicopter he was on crashed during a medivac mission in Helmand Province, killing all on board. Sgt. Shaffer had previously been deployed to Iraq.

“Soldiers like Sergeant Shaffer gave what Lincoln called their ‘last full measure of devotion’ to their country,” said Koehler. “The least we can do is show their families that we truly appreciate the ultimate sacrifice they have made while serving our country.”

Sgt. Shaffer was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his service in Afghanistan. Sgt. Shaffer was 23 years old when he died.