ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman has recently announced that the Rockford Park District will receive a total of $275,000 to renovate Keye-Mallquist Park.

The funds were secured from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Land Acquisitions and Development program (OSLAD). So far this year, the program has provided more than $28 million to support 87 park projects across the state.

“Our local parks are a great way for all of us to stay active and play different types of recreational sports,” Stadelman said. “It’s great to see that the Rockford Park District is continuing its hard work and commitment to the community by securing these funds.”

The OSLAD program began in 1987 and has invested $419.4 million in 1,765 local park projects. The program receives dedicated funding from a percentage of the state’s Real Estate Transfer Tax.

For more information about Rockford Park District and Keye-Mallquist Park, please visit rockfordparkdistrict.org.

SPRINGFIELD – In response to news that the University of Illinois is increasing tuition while giving its president a 40% pay raise, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) reaffirmed her commitment to fighting administrative greed and providing an affordable education to all Illinois students.

“I’m outraged that the university is raising the president’s pay and burdening students with the cost,” said Murphy. “Very few of these students will ever see a 40% raise for doing the same job in their lifetimes. It’s shameful that the administration is making it even more difficult for kids to afford an education.”

SPRINGFIELD – The price of EpiPens has greatly increased over the years, causing people with certain allergies to forgo purchasing the life-saving medication. State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) strives to offset the burdensome cost by requiring insurers to cover medically necessary epinephrine injectors.

“With increases in food allergies and other serious allergic conditions, people are relying on EpiPens more than ever,” Morrison said. “Nobody with a serious allergy should go without an epinephrine injector simply because they cannot afford one.”

Senate Bill 2457 – sponsored by Morrison – requires insurers to cover medically necessary EpiPens for all people – regardless of their age.

In 2019, Morrison passed legislation to require insurers to cover medically necessary epinephrine injectors – also known as EpiPens – for minors. However, she wants to take the law one step further by removing the age limitation.

Epinephrine injectors deliver the drug epinephrine to individuals experiencing a severe allergic reaction. Epinephrine works by narrowing blood vessels and opening lung airways, reversing the symptoms of an allergic reaction that, if left untreated, can cause death.

“This is a life-saving medicine and it shouldn’t be too expensive for those who need it,” Morrison said. “We must do everything we can to make sure people can afford medically necessary medication.”

CHICAGO – Six school districts will receive more than $6,000 in grants through the Illinois Secretary of State’s School Library Grant program, Senator Rob Martwick announced today.

“Our school libraries have a phenomenal impact on our student’s academic achievements,” said Martwick. “This grant program will allow our libraries to help train our children to compete for jobs in a global economy.”

The grants, which are issued by the Illinois State Library, allow public schools to improve technology by purchasing new computers or improving Wi-Fi connectivity, acquire books, educational CDs and DVDs, and library subscriptions to electronic resources.

“Today’s students not only need to be good readers, but also be able to evaluate and use information to develop cognitive skills,” said Martwick. “Our schools have amazing librarians who are helping educate the minds of the next generation. This grant will help aid them in continuing their mission and training the future leaders of our great state.”

Information about the grant program can be found at: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/grants/schoolpercapgrant.html.

Schools receiving school library grants include:

• East Maine School District #63— $2,046
• Schiller Park School District #81— $970.50
• Board of Education District #80— $787.50
• Union Ridge School District #86— $750
• Ridgewood Community High School District #234— $750
• Pennoyer School District #79— $750

WAUKEGAN – State Senator Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) applauded Medline Industries’ decision to temporarily close its Waukegan sterilization plant while working to decrease ethylene oxide emissions.

“It’s clear just how dangerous exposure to ethylene oxide can be,” Link said. “I’m glad to see that Medline is taking the health consequences of people who live near the plant seriously.”

The company announced Tuesday that it will temporarily halt sterilization operations at the Waukegan facility to install nearly $10 million worth of upgrades to comply with new state laws regulating ethylene oxide.

SPRINGFIELD - Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) released the following statement regarding reports that fewer than 600 non-citizens were added to voter rolls due to administrative error:

“There is absolutely no room for administrative error when it comes to properly conducting our election system. Democrats and Republicans came together and unanimously approved automatic voter registration, and we expect it to be done correctly. We need a gaugeable plan of action from the Secretary of State’s office to make sure such errors never happen again. If it takes a Senate committee hearing to get those answers, that’s the course I’ll pursue.”

SPRINGFIELD – After representing the people of Oak Park and the state of Illinois for more than 17 years, Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) looks forward to serving as the 39th Senate president, and thanks his colleagues for recognizing his legislative accomplishments and for believing in his ability to lead the chamber.

“The Senate is a collection of diverse views and diverse experiences but consistent purpose—to best represent the citizens who send us to the Capitol, to collaborate, to compromise, and to create better opportunities, better outcomes, and greater faith in the honor and integrity of our state,” President Harmon said.

Senate President Harmon was first elected to the Senate in the fall of 2002, and has since promoted a progressive agenda based on his commitment to social justice and public service. In 2011, former-Senate President John Cullerton appointed him president pro tempore, offering Harmon a key role in shaping policy and moving legislation through the Senate.

Ethics commission considers full disclosure of lobbying

CHICAGO — Across Illinois on a daily basis, people are likely being paid to lobby governments without ever having to register as lobbyists or disclose any information.

It’s a reality that emerged Wednesday from the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform. Illinois state government, the city of Chicago and Cook County are the main entities that require lobbyist registration and disclosure. But there are hundreds of units of local government throughout Illinois. By and large, those entities have no such lobbying requirements.

“I think it’s naïve for anyone to think those are the only three places where lobbying is going on,” said Senator Elgie R. Sims, a joint commission co-chair. “If the public has the right to know in these jurisdictions, why shouldn’t it know everywhere else? We need a more holistic approach to lobbying throughout Illinois, because it seems to me there’s a lot probably going on in the dark right now.”

Read more.

New law allows earlier access to senior tax break

SPRINGFIELD — A new measure sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) that would accelerate access to a property tax break for seniors was signed into law Tuesday.

“This bill is an opportunity to test a more efficient process while still providing the same or better level of service,” Ellman said. “This particular example prioritizes the needs of seniors on fixed-incomes and ensures awareness of relief programs available to our older population. I will continue to seek more efficient processes that serve Illinoisans.”

Read more.

Castro wants to close legislative pay loophole

SPRINGFIELD — A loophole in legislative pay law allowing legislators to receive an entire month’s pay despite not serving the full month would be closed under a proposal by State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin).

“In any other job, a person would not be compensated for an entire month if they only worked one day,” Castro said. “This is a glaring loophole that has been exploited far too many times at the taxpayers’ expense, and I’m sick of it. It needs to be closed.”

Read more.

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