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Bristow Sponsors Resolution to Support Funding for Cancer Screenings

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SPRINGFIELD, ILL. – To help protect critical cancer screenings for women in Illinois, state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, passed a resolution in the Illinois House of Representatives supporting the funding and eligibility of the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program.

“It is extremely important that we take every step possible to reduce barriers in accessibility of screenings and detection of cancer, as breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women,” said Bristow. “This bipartisan resolution is sponsored by men and women of both parties in the House, because cancer knows no political affiliation, race, or economic status. While we have made improvements in what insurance companies will cover for women receiving these screenings, the funding for this program is critical and needs our support.”

House Resolution 74 states that eligibility and funding for the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program should be broadened to further reduce barriers to breast cancer screening, detection and treatment for underserved women. It was adopted in the Illinois House of Representatives with unanimous support.

“When Illinois operated without a budget several years ago, IBCCP agencies were forced to reduce hours, waitlist women needing care or completely close their doors,” said Shana Crews, Illinois government relations director for the American Cancer Society – Cancer Action Network. “It’s gut-wrenching to think about how many cancer cases went undetected during that time and how many lives were permanently impacted. We’re thankful to Rep. Bristow for highlighting the need for sustained, reliable IBCCP funding, and we urge our lawmakers to commit to upholding it.”

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April 15, 2019 at 04:06PM

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Yednock Advances Legislation to Support Illinois-Made Products

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Studstill Media Photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To help stimulate job growth in Illinois, state Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, passed a legislative proposal on Wednesday that would require the state to buy products made in Illinois, helping create and support local jobs and keeping taxpayer dollars in state.

“By prioritizing products that are manufactured here in Illinois, we are supporting local jobs that employ those who live and work in our state,” said Yednock. “When the state makes a purchase using taxpayer dollars, then those dollars should remain in our country and state. This is not only an investment in local companies, but also the local families that own them and work here.”

Yednock is sponsoring House Bill 357, which requires state agencies to purchase Illinois-manufactured products in the process of buying products or goods, if possible. If Illinois products are not available, agencies are then required to purchase American-made products. Yednock’s legislative agenda includes the strong promotion of local jobs and promoting the purchase of Illinois and American-made products by state agencies.

“As we continue to look at new ways to get our state’s economy back on track, one of the first steps is by supporting local businesses and industries, which in turn supports local jobs and employees,” said Yednock. “It’s more than reasonable to ask state agencies, when they are making purchases with taxpayer funds, to give preference to Illinois and American-made products. This will help us to be competitive while also supporting the hard-working men and women of our state.”

House Bill 357 passed the Illinois House of Representatives on Wednesday and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

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April 14, 2019 at 07:21AM

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Bill granting power to county board chairmen could die with session

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State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake
State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake

A bill that would have given more power to county board chairmen in the state could die in the Rules Committee after members missed the deadline to send the legislation back to the House.

House Bill 3596 is sponsored by state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, and would have allowed county board chairmen to take actions such as giving funds back to taxpayers and allowing them to get rid of advisory committees or commissions. The bill originally was filed by state Rep. David McSweeney as House Bill 3317.

Bills that don’t report in time to the House for third reading and passage, or consideration of action, are automatically re-referred to the Rules Committee. From there, the bill either advances to other relevant committees or remains untouched until it dies with the end of session.

Yingling could not be reached for comment Friday.

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April 13, 2019 at 12:23AM

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Rep. Moeller Town Hall Set for April 16

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

Rep. Moeller Town Hall Set for April 16

State Rep. Anna Moeller meets with constituents over the legislative spring break April 16 in Elgin.

Rep. Moeller Town Hall Set for April 16

ELGIN – With just a few weeks left in the spring legislative session, State Rep. Anna Moeller wants to make sure her constituents are informed on the important issues and new laws coming from Springfield.

Moeller, D-Elgin, has scheduled a Town Hall legislative discussion for constituents in the 43rd House District on Tuesday, April 16, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Gail Borden Public Library Community Rooms, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin.

Moeller and her colleagues in the 101st Illinois General Assembly have been busy working on issues important to working families since the beginning of the year, including raising the minimum wage and providing wage equity in the workplace. She will provide an update on these efforts and discuss ongoing conversations about a new state budget, a capital construction program and more important issues as the legislative session ends May 31.

The town hall is free and anyone is encouraged to attend to hear the updates and ask questions.

"A critical part of serving the 43rd House District is talking with constituents and understanding clearly how they feel about how we can improve our state," Moeller said. "The more people who show up and share their opinions at this Town Hall, the better I can ensure their voices are heard as we head into the important conclusion of the legislative session in Springfield."

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

The views expressed in this post are the author’s own. Want to post on Patch?

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April 6, 2019 at 04:12PM

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Yednock Legislation to Protect Labor Rights Passes Illinois House

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Illinois State Capitol Building- Springfield – Studstill Media Photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Legislation introduced by state Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, to protect the rights of labor members by maintaining the state’s power to regulate union agreements passed the Illinois House on Wednesday with bipartisan support.

“This legislation preserves the state’s role as a decision maker when it comes to union agreements, providing stability for union members and industries, and stopping the piecemeal prohibitions that many local governments have tried to place on organized labor,” said Yednock. “Men and women of labor have built our communities, and they deserve to have the security and protections that thousands have fought for across our state. This bill is about protecting working men and women as they continue to do their jobs every day, no matter what town they are in. Our police, our firefighters, those that continue to provide critical services and build the communities that we all live in deserve the stability that they have earned and fought for.”

Senate Bill 1474 clarifies that the rights to regulate union agreements and bargaining is held exclusively by the state, which brings Illinois in line with the intentions of the National Labor Relations Act. Local municipalities have recently tried to regulate union agreements by passing “Right to Work” zones, which have sought to negatively impact the rights and salaries of union employees, along with creating confusion in statewide labor agreements. Instead of asking whether an employee is subject to an agency agreement one day, when their job takes them to nearby Chicago, and not the next day, when the employee happens to be working on-site in a neighboring village or city that has the opposite law, this legislation clarifies and sets the law at the state level.

“We applaud Rep. Yednock and the Illinois House of Representatives for their leadership in protecting Illinois’ working class in passing, with resounding bipartisan results, Senate Bill 1474,” said James M. Sweeney, President-Business Manager of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150.

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April 5, 2019 at 01:52PM

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Bristow, Area Legislators Collect Donations for Local Social Services

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Pictured (left to right): State Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, and state Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, stand with items donated by local residents for Oasis Women’s Shelter and Coordinated Youth and Human Services. The legislators collected donation items for the two organizations during the month of March.ALTON, Ill. – To help support local social services that serve those in need, state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, joined state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, and state Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, to hold a supply drive for Oasis Women’s Shelter in Alton and Coordinated Youth and Human Services in Granite City.

“I am so thankful to all of the residents who took time out of their busy lives to stop by my office and donate items to those who are in need,” said Bristow. “Oasis Women’s Shelter and Coordinated Youth and Human Services are two organizations that dedicate so much time to caring for women and children in our area. Our local social services are so important to those at difficult times in their lives, and I’m happy that so many could help provide supplies to two deserving organizations.”

To help celebrate Women’s History Month, the legislators gathered supplies to donate to local organizations that serve women and children in need. As a member of the Human Services committee, Bristow serves as a strong voice for social services and their needs in the Metro East. Together with Stuart and Crowe, the legislators have sponsored bills that protect the tools and funding for local services.

“The Oasis Women’s Center in Alton provides comfort to the Metro East’s most vulnerable women and children, and it’s in desperate need of donations,” said Crowe. “It’s so important that we stand together against domestic abuse and neglect. If you were unable to donate, consider spending an hour or two volunteering. My family has spent decades giving back to this organization, so I was delighted to host this drive.”

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April 4, 2019 at 09:32AM

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Illinois House Passes Rep. Mayfield’s Education Efficiency Bill

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Illinois House Passes Rep. Mayfield’s Education Efficiency Bill

Posted by on April 4, 2019 in Education | Comments Off on Illinois House Passes Rep. Mayfield’s Education Efficiency Bill

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Education

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Education

A bipartisan bill that could provide Illinoisans needed property tax relief passed unanimously on the floor of the Illinois House of Representatives. Championed by State Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, House Bill 3053 would be a step toward ensuring more education dollars in Illinois are spent on students, teachers and classrooms rather than administration. In Illinois, “general administration” costs total $536 per student, higher than all neighboring states and nearly double the national average. This is due to the state’s overabundance of school districts, which serve far too few students per district when compared with other states. The bill looks to reduce Illinois’ 852 school districts, which account for nearly two-thirds of all property taxes collected statewide. A reduction in school districts would generate savings by decreasing administrative bloat and allowing more education dollars to reach the classroom. The bill would create the School District Efficiency Commission, comprised of 20 education experts from across the state, tasked with making recommendations to reduce the number school districts by at least 25 percent. Those recommendations would then go to local voters’ ballots in November 2020. One hundred and nine lawmakers voted in favor of the bill with none opposed. It now moves to the Senate with state Sen. Tom Cullerton, D-Villa Park, carrying it to a vote.

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April 4, 2019 at 06:08AM

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Illinois House advances bill to bar local ‘right-to-work’ laws

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SPRINGFIELD — A bill that would bar municipalities in Illinois from enacting local “right-to-work” laws like one the village of Lincolnshire enacted in 2015 is one step closer to going to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Those are laws that prohibit employers from requiring a worker to join a labor union as a condition of employment.

The Illinois House on Wednesday gave final passage to a bill that has already cleared the Senate that would clarify that state government has exclusive authority to enact laws governing what are known as union security agreements – agreements between employers and unions that spell out the extent to which workers can be compelled to belong to a union, as well as whether the employer will collect dues and fees on behalf of the union.

State Rep. Lance Yednock, an Ottawa Democrat and chief sponsor of the House version of the bill, said it would only reiterate what Congress intended when it passed the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act, which gave states authority to enact right-to-work laws.

“In doing so, Congress decided to avoid the confusion that having 7,000 units of local government in Illinois with thousands of different laws would create,” Yednock said in arguing for the bill.

In recent years, however, federal courts have interpreted the law in different ways.

In Illinois, the issue came to a head in 2015 when the village of Lincolnshire passed an ordinance that prohibited the use of union-security agreements.

It also prohibited the use of “hiring halls,” which are union-based organizations that supply new recruits to employers with collective bargaining agreements. And it prohibited the use of dues “checkoff” arrangements in which employers collect union dues through payroll deductions on behalf of unions.

The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399 challenged that law in federal court, arguing that the Taft-Hartley Act gives only states the authority to enact such laws. Lincolnshire, however, argued that as a political subdivision of the state, it had the right to exercise the state’s authority.

In January 2017, a federal district court struck down the ordinance, and in September 2018, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision. However, the appellate court also noted that other courts of appeals have ruled differently – specifically the 6th Circuit, which in 2016 upheld a similar law enacted by Hardin County, Kentucky.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the Kentucky case. But now that the 7th Circuit has reached a different conclusion in the Lincolnshire case, some lawmakers said they believe the nation’s high court will be forced to weigh in.

“My impression is that if (some) other district goes up to the Supreme Court and they somehow rule that something similar to Lincolnshire is allowed, this ban would be stricken, and I think it would no longer be constitutional and enforceable on the books of Illinois,” House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, of Western Springs, said during debate.

The bill, Senate Bill 1474, passed by a 101-8 vote. It previously passed the Senate, 42-12, on March 7. But the House deleted a provision in the original Senate bill that would have made it a misdemeanor for any local government official to violate the act. That means the bill now must return to the Senate to either agree or disagree with the House change.

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Region: Decatur,City: Decatur,Politics,Region: Central

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April 3, 2019 at 06:03PM

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Local legislators to host job fair

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Metro East residents will have the opportunity to meet with potential employers face to face this weekend, thanks to local legislators, according to a press release.

State Reps. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, Monica Bristow (D-Alton) and Jay Hoffman (D- Swansea), and state Sen. Rachelle Crowe (D-Edwardsville) will host a job fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 6, at the Granite City Township Hall, 2060 Delmar Ave., in Granite City.

“Searching for a new job can be a daunting task between the various mediums to post job listings,” Stuart said. “This is a great opportunity for those looking for employment to network directly with potential employers.”

The job fair will be made up of more than 20 different employers in the greater St. Louis area, representing various local industries. Attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their résumé to exchange with employers.

“This event is set up to help both employers and job seekers expedite the job search process,” Stuart said. “The jobs available at the fair will be a great steppingstone to beginning a career.”

This event is open to the public and free to attend, no RSVP is required. For more information, contact Stuart’s constituent office at 618-365-6650 or Bristow’s office at 618-465-5900.

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April 3, 2019 at 06:51AM

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