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State. Rep. Stuart receives award from Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes

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GRANITE CITY — Due to her advocacy to increase access to human breast milk for medically fragile infants, state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, received an appreciation award from Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes.

Stuart was the primary House sponsor of House Bill 3509 to ensure that families receive insurance coverage for babies that need donated human breast milk to receive the proper nutrition and recover from medically fragile conditions. The measure is now law.

“This law will positively impact many families across Illinois by removing the financial burden if an infant needs donated human breast milk,” continued Stuart. “I would like to thank the Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes for their work on this legislation and for the award.”

Text Box: Photo: Rep. Katie Stuart (right) receives the Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes Appreciation Award from Margaret Vaughn (left).Stuart’s law requires donated human breast milk to be covered under insurance for infants that are critically ill and the mother cannot produce maternal breast milk to meet the infant’s nutritional needs. This law will help infants that are born with congenital heart disease, those with a weight below 1,500 grams at birth, and many other serious medical conditions. This law will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

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October 1, 2019 at 01:26PM

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Rep. Moeller to Lead Local Human Rights Workshop

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This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author’s own.

Neighbor Posts

Rep. Anna Moeller will explain the new wage equity law and other important protections with the Human Rights Commission.

By Cassie Calloway, Neighbor
|
Rep. Moeller to Lead Local Human Rights Workshop

ELGIN — You have a constitutional right to be protected from discrimination. You’re protected under a new state law to receive an equal wage regardless of your gender.

These and other important issues will be addressed Thursday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m., at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin through a Human Rights Workshop hosted by state Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin.

Rep. Moeller will be joined by Commissioners Manuel Barbosa and Steve Andersson from the Illinois Human Rights Commission to explain new state law protections and how they affect your rights at home and in the workplace. The presentation will be offered in both English and Spanish. The event is free.

Moeller will discuss her extensive work on the state’s new Equal Pay Act, barring employers from discriminating against lower-paid workers by asking for their salary history in interviews for jobs.

"Fairness and freedom from discrimination are basic, unalienable human rights. Yet many times, we are put in situations in everyday life where we may have been wronged, but simply do not know what to do about it," Moeller said. "This Human Rights Workshop will help all area residents, landlords and business owners understand our new laws and ensure we are treating people equally and without discrimination."

Questions? Contact Rep. Moeller’s district office at 847-841-7130 or staterepmoeller@gmail.com.

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September 26, 2019 at 10:20AM

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State Rep. Monica Bristow announces bid for re-election – Alton Telegraph

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State Rep. Monica Bristow announces bid for re-election

Dylan Suttles, Dylan.Suttles@thetelegraph.com

Published

State Rep. Monica Bristow announces bid for re-election

ALTON — State Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, officially announced Wednesday that she will seek re-election to the Illinois House of Representatives 111th District that includes Madison and Jersey counties.

Bristow made the announcement surrounded by supporters at AltonWorks, including B. Dean Webb, president of the Federation of Labor of Madison County, and Madison County State’s Attorny Tom Gibbons.

“Things are going our way for labor with Monica in our corner,” Webb said. “We look forward to working with her.”

Gibbons said Bristow was the best person to continue representing the district.

”We need to see her there for the long term future to come,” he said.

Bristow initially was appointed to the General Assembly in December 2017 to succeed former state Rep. Dan Beiser, D-Alton, who retired. In 2018, she beat Republican Mike Babcock in the general election.

“I’ll keep working to improve the health, happiness and economic prosperity in Illinois and to be our voice — your voice — in Springfield,” Bristow said Wednesday. “I am truly blessed to be able to work with my local mayor, township and community leaders, many of whom are considered close friends.”

Bristow also discussed how she has worked with both Republicans and Democratic on nearly every issue.

“When we work together and meet in the middle, that is when our republic and our state is at its best and working for the best interest of everyone in the state of Illinois,” she said.

Bristow shared a story from earlier this year about a man dealing with health issues and suffering insurance problems, and how her office was able to help him seek benefits that he deserved. She also discussed Marlie’s Law which she sponsored after a Wood River woman whose granddaughter, Marlie, who died after a sleep apnea issue that could have been prevented with a cardiopulminary monitor that an insurance company had denied providing for the family.

“Cost should not be a side factor when it comes to a medical decision that will potentially save a child’s life,” Bristow said.

Bristow closed with a promise that she will continue to build “a stronger Metro-East and a stronger Illinois.”

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September 25, 2019 at 07:43PM

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Rep. Yednock has 2 more veterans advisory meetings planned – MyWebTimes.com

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State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, listens to concerns during his first Veterans Advisory Council meeting in Marseilles last week.
State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, listens to concerns during his first Veterans Advisory Council meeting in Marseilles last week.

State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, hosted his first meeting of his Veterans Advisory Council last week at the Marseilles American Legion to help local veterans understand their benefits and rights in Illinois.

“I want to make sure that local veterans are able to access the services that are owed to them by Illinois,” Yednock said in a press statement. “These selfless men and women sacrificed so much to keep our communities safe and protected from tyranny. Events like these are one way we can give back to our veterans.”�

Yednock partnered with the La Salle County Veterans Assistance Commission to update area veterans on the benefits available to them as well as assist them with critical property tax exemptions, among other items. Yednock wants to hear directly from local veterans in an effort to create new legislation to further benefit them.

“Rep. Yednock has vowed to be a fighter for our local veterans, and it is my hope that his colleagues in Springfield will work toward bipartisan solutions that help our local veterans,” said Steven Kreitzer, Superintendent of the La Salle County Veterans Assistance Commission, in a press statement. “There will be more meetings for veterans and advocates to attend throughout La Salle County. I encourage everyone who has an stake in veterans issues to participate and voice their concerns.”

Future Veteran Advisory Council meetings with Yednock are as follows and each will start at 6 p.m.:

• Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the Ottawa VFW, 1501 La Salle St.

• Wednesday, Jan. 22 at the La Salle VFW, 2325 Donahue St.

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September 24, 2019 at 11:27PM

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Lawmakers, environmental groups: An urgent need to pass Clean Energy Jobs Act

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ST. CHARLES – State Rep. Karina Villa believes that clean energy is not only good for the environment, it is also good for the economy.

Together with the League of Women Voters – Central Kane County, the Sierra Club Valley of the Fox Group and the Illinois Environmental Council, Villa, D-West Chicago, on Sept. 23 hosted a town hall meeting at the St. Charles Public Library on the proposed Clean Energy Jobs Act.

"Here in the state of Illinois, we have been a great champion for the environment," Villa said.

Villa, who recently received a 100 percent pro-environment rating by the Illinois Environmental Council, supports the proposed legislation, which has such goals as moving Illinois to 100% renewable energy by 2050 and cutting carbon from the power sector by 2030.

The act envisions building more than 40 million solar panels and 2,500 wind turbines across Illinois by 2030, generating more than $30 billion in new infrastructure in the state in the process. It also would create clean energy empowerment zones to support communities along with workers who are economically impacted by the decline of fossil-fuel generation.

"There’s [more than] 123,000 clean energy jobs in Illinois today," said J.C. Kibbey, an Illinois clean energy advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. "The number one and number two fastest growing jobs in the country right now are solar panel installer and wind turbine technician. And if we ramp up our renewable energy here in Illinois – 45 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050 – that means those jobs are going to be coming here. These are good paying jobs."

Mavis Bates, chairperson for the Sierra Club’s Valley of the Fox chapter, noted that Illinois "has already made a lot of progress towards our clean energy future." She said the Clean Energy Jobs Act would build upon the efforts of the Future Energy Jobs Act, which was passed in 2016.

"It has made Illinois a leader in the country for renewable energy and energy planning," Bates said.

Area resident Tracey McFadden said he attended the meeting because he is very concerned about climate change.

"I’m looking to what actions can I take to help out in the efforts to do something about it," he said. "We’ve got to do something about this."

He believes the state needs to adopt the Clean Energy Jobs Act.

"This bill is taking actual action," McFadden said. "It’s a blueprint for action. That’s where we need to go. There’s a lot of talk, but we need to have action."

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Politics,Region: W Suburbs

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September 24, 2019 at 11:43AM

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Bristow joins in diaper drive

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To help bring more attention to the issue during Diaper Need Awareness Week, state Rep. Monica Bristow (D-Alton) is joining fellow Metro East legislators in collecting diapers the week of Sept. 23 for donation to Soup-and-Share, a local organization serving families in need. 

“When we think about items to donate to help families in need, it can be easy to forget the need for clean diapers for infants and toddlers,” Bristow said. “In the United States, one in three families struggle to provide dry, clean diapers for their children.”

Over the summer, Bristow collected food and clothing in her office to help families. She is now joining six other area legislators in collecting diapers in observance of national Diaper Need Awareness week, Sept. 23-29. Residents are encouraged to drop off diapers for infants and young children at her constituent service office, 102 W. Ninth St., Suite 104, in Alton. The products collected will be donated to Soup-and-Share in Madison to help launch a diaper bank for families across Madison County and the Metro East.

“I am proud to work with our legislators to help Soup-and-Share launch their diaper bank and to help support an organization that does so much great work for many families across our county,” Bristow said. “One of the strongest values that we all share is ensuring care for our infants and young children, and Soup-and-Share’s diaper bank will be working to help young families provide a basic need for their infants.”

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September 23, 2019 at 10:12AM

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Will County residents learn about legalized recreational marijuana at local event

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State Rep. Natalie Manley hosted one of her colleagues from the Illinois House of Representatives on Tuesday to talk to Will County residents about the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state.

Manley, D-Joliet, introduced State Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, to talk about the law the state legislature passed earlier this year, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

Morgan is a former health care attorney and helped the state government implement the Affordable Care Act and its medical marijuana program under two governors.

About two dozen residents attended the informational session and questioned Morgan about the particulars of the law and what issues could come up.

Morgan conceded it wouldn’t be perfect at first, and the growing and availability of the product wouldn’t be overly expansive right from the start.

"It was definitely deliberately designed so that we’re starting slow and (having) more measured growth," Morgan said.

Romeoville resident Frank Gagliardo, 80, told Morgan about his struggles trying to get medical marijuana for his wife who died of multiple sclerosis several years ago.

He said needing to get fingerprinted and pay fees for the drug was cumbersome, and prevented him from even getting the drug for his wife.

Morgan said the state got rid of requiring fingerprinting for medical marijuana, although there were still some fees, which he conceded were expensive.

He also explained it would still be to a patient’s advantage to use medical marijuana over purchasing recreational marijuana for ailments.

That’s because of cheaper taxes.

Patients would also have priority access to the product, since there might be a shortage in the recreational supply in the first few years of its being legal in Illinois.

That was good news for Gagliardo because, he said, despite never having smoked marijuana, he’s been experiencing shoulder pain after years of being a truck driver and wants to find new remedies.

"I’m interested in weening myself off of Tylenol and having the oils and the edibles," Gagliardo said.

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City: Joliet,Region: Joliet,Region: South Suburbs,Opinion

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September 18, 2019 at 02:26PM

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State Rep. appointed to serve on Route 66 Centennial Commission

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State Rep. Lawrence "Larry" Walsh, Jr., D-Elwood, has been appointed to serve on the Route 66 Centennial Commission, which will help organize official events celebrating the historic highway’s 100th anniversary.

"Route 66 is famous around the world and people visit from all over to travel it and see the sights," Walsh said. "I’m thankful for the opportunity to be part of this commission and celebrate the history of the Mother Road."

The Route 66 Centennial Commission is a bipartisan group of elected officials and appointees from the governor’s office and the various state agencies. They will meet quarterly to discuss the planning of official events, programs, and activities for the upcoming Route 66 centennial celebration in 2026. The commission will be overseen by the Illinois Office of Tourism and Walsh will serve on the commission. Walsh’s position on the commission is on a volunteer basis, which means he will not receive pay or reimbursements.

"Right now our state is the only one planning any sort of celebration for the Mother Road," Walsh said. "Route 66 cuts right through our community which means when people come to enjoy this once in a lifetime they will be supporting our local economy."

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September 17, 2019 at 07:05AM

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Legislation cracking down on fraudulent attorneys now law

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State Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport, supported new law imposing greater penalties on criminals pretending to be notaries.

“Criminals are ripping off huge fees from confused working families by pretending to be able to do things as public notaries that they can’t do, and it’s time for them to face justice for their wrongdoing,” Connor said. “Building a stronger, safer Illinois is my priority as a legislator. This law fights back against con artists who try to exploit our communities for personal gain.”

Connor backed House Bill 2176, which requires notaries who are not licensed attorneys to clearly inform clients that they cannot accept fees for legal work, both verbally and on openly-displayed notices. Notaries who do not follow these procedures can be fined up to $1,500 and lose their licenses. The bill received strong bipartisan support and is now law.

“Confused families are giving money to these predators that could be used for theirchildren’s future. The type of criminals willing to do this to innocent people just to line their wallets will only respond to tough consequences,” Connor said.”

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News,Region: Joliet,Region: South Suburbs

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September 16, 2019 at 08:58PM

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