Senior citizens, particularly those who require regular support from health care workers at home or in public or private facilities, are often vulnerable to fraud and theft. Illinois lawmakers have strengthened the state's commitment to protect seniors from financial exploitation with a new law.

A measure sponsored by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and State Representative Esther Golar requires the Department of Human Services to create a health care worker registry of employees under final investigation of financial theft from the elderly.

This year, State Senator Terry Link (D-Waukegan) passed a measure that honored a local Medal of Honor recipient for his bravery and valor during the Vietnam War.

“Today, I was proud to be a part of the ceremony honoring Allen Lynch for his service to our country,” Link said. “The Grand Avenue overpass over Interstate 94 in Gurnee will now be known as the Allen J. Lynch Medal of Honor Overpass.”

Senate President John J. Cullerton issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court ruling in Kanerva v. Weems, 2014 IL 115811:

“Today, the Illinois Supreme Court made it very clear that the Pension Clause means what it says.  

The Court cannot rewrite the Pension Clause to include restrictions and limitations that the drafters did not express and the citizens of Illinois did not approve.  

Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton responded this week to the continuous negative drumbeat by naysayers about Illinois, in a follow-up to his April column, "I like Illinois."

Remember when I announced, in the Sun-Times last April, that I like Illinois? I still do. I like Congressman Randy Hultgren, too. The problem is that he was wrong on the facts in a recent op-ed. He falls in line with the rest of the political naysayers slamming the door in the face of business with negative rhetoric and faulty allegations about our business climate.

Hultgren blames Illinois’ tax structure for businesses moving from our state to Wisconsin. Compared to Wisconsin — Hultgren’s business friendly wonderland — Illinois already has a lower corporate income tax rate: 7 percent, compared to 7.9 percent in Wisconsin.