Lynn B. attended the Town Hall meeting of IL State Reps Robyn Gabel and Laura Fine in Glenview on June 16th. If you were not able to attend and you are interested in what was discussed, here (below) is a summary written up by Lynn:
Laura Fine (17th) and Robyn Gabel (18th)
attended by Lynn B.
Passed 490 bills in this session, most with bipartisan involvement.
• Automatic voter registration (2 million eligible voters who are not registered in Illinois)
• Regulate trampoline parks
• Medicaid will allow second pair of glasses within a two year period after corrective eye surgery
• Immigration – local agencies are not required to enforce federal immigration laws
• Funding program to replace lead poisoned windows
• $15 minimum wage by 2022
• HB 3539 Equal Pay for women – will the governor sign it?
Health Care (Insurance committee-Fine chair)
If the ACA is overturned, try to have policies in place to protect those who would lose insurance. Bills passed this session
• Illinois children are covered until age 26
• Insurance sold in Illinois is required to cover per-existing conditions
• Better coverage for eating disorders
• Law enforcement will be required to have 8 hours of mental health training every three years
• Prescription synchronization – pharmacies are allowed to arrange patients prescriptions to all be filled at same time
• HB 40 – if Roe is overturned, abortion will remain legal in Illinois and will be covered by Medicaid and employers health insurance. GOVERNOR IS NOW SAYING HE WON’T SIGN
Environment
• Great Lakes Restoration – resolution to keep 300 million in funding from federal government
• Now filing resolution to continue to follow the Paris Climate Accord
• Solar panels allowed on homes and businesses and open lots for communities
• Last year passed Clean Jobs Bill – Gabel (Chair of the Green Caucus) noted that under this bill, communities can buy 100% renewable energy for electricity aggregation. Evanston has done so. WHAT ABOUT OUR COMMUNITIES?)
Education
Current proposed bill is based on an evidence based formula with 27 aspects of students being considered to determine spending per student.
Governor says it gives too much to Chicago (Chicago has 20% of the students, 15% of the funding and has to fund their pension unlike the rest of the state)
Criminal Justice reform – now spend more in Illinois on prison than schools
Passed bail reform – if minor offense and low bail (which they are unable to pay), release to await trial
Term Limits
Gabel supports term limits on leaders but not members
In studies of other states with term limits, found that is there were term limits of members they were more often “professional politicians”, had fewer constituent meetings and mid-level bureaucrats had much more power (not elected)
Taxes
Illinois the 5th wealthiest state and about 50th in education funding
We have a flat income tax unlike most states. Need a constitutional amendment to change it, requires 2/3 vote and then 60% in general election to pass
Workman’s Compensation
Reform bill in 2011 expected a 18% drop in insurance costs to employers that never happened.
Recently passed a bill to give insurance board more authority to regulate costs.
Also passed a bill to form public-private partnership and a $10million insurance pool for Workman’s Compensation (like Missouri) still waiting for signature of Governor
Other bills
To allow for sale of Thompson Center
Procurement reform to allow agencies to purchase supplies more easily
Government consolidation – allow some of our 7000 forms of government to consolidate (townships, road districts, etc)