WOOD RIVER – Pleased by the governor’s executive order signed Monday to strengthen the state’s commitment to addressing the opioid epidemic and increasing the state investment by over $4 million in this fiscal year, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) issued the following statement:

“I commend the governor’s work to fight against opioid abuse. As members of the Senate’s Opioid Crisis Abatement Committee have studied this crisis, we’ve been able to identify areas lacking support and ways to improve access to opioid addiction prevention and treatment programs.

I’ve been meeting with experts from state and local agencies to draft initiatives addressing the discrepancies in resources and will soon introduce legislation to curb the opioid epidemic.

I thank Gov. Pritzker and his administration for prioritizing this burden affecting thousands across our state. I look forward to his partnership.”

SPRINGFIELD – More affordable property taxes, an ambitious plan to soften the effect of the increased minimum wage on local businesses and ethics reforms that target the culture of corruption in Springfield will be among State Senator Dave Koehler’s (D-Peoria) top legislative priorities for the upcoming year, he announced today.

“It’s vital that we continue to what we can to protect working families, first and foremost,” Koehler said. “Easing the property tax burden, assisting thoseby power plant closures and ensuring a smooth transition for small businesses ahead of future minimum wage increases are all feasible steps we can take to continue working on their behalf.”

Among Koehler’s top priorities for the spring legislative session:

• Property tax reform
• Seamless implementation of the $45 billion infrastructure plan
• Ethics reform
• Transition of communities harmed by power plant closures
• Minimum Wage Impact relief for small businesses and not-for-profits
• Addressing the rising debt of state pension plans

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) is taking action to remove an unconstitutional loyalty oath that candidates filing for public office may sign, stating that the candidate is not affiliated with communist activities.

“This dated Cold War scare tactic wastes taxpayer dollars and has an immeasurable cost to our natural resources,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Printing a separate page for the oath for every candidate who files in Illinois not only wastes paper, but the time and energy of the public servants who administer our elections.”

Senate Bill 2331 would remove the optional oath, which was found to be unconstitutional in 1972. The loyalty oath was enacted by State Rep. Clyde Choate (D-Anna) in 1951. In 1996, Choate admitted to the Chicago Tribune that his legislation was both “unnecessary and ineffective.”

The legislation awaits consideration in the Illinois Senate. Lawmakers are scheduled to return to Springfield Jan. 28.

SPRINGFIELD – Insurers would no longer be able to change eligibility or coverage during a policy contract period in managed care plans under a new measure introduced by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

“If you sign a contract for an insurance plan, you should be able to count on the terms of that plan to stay the same,” said Murphy. “Continuous care means peace of mind.”

The legislation would require insurers to maintain in-network providers, covered benefits and drug formularies for the duration of the contract period for anyone on a state-regulated insurance plan, including managed care plans.

Murphy says that her office regularly receives complaints from constituents about the disjointed way managed care organizations (MCOs) administer coverage. When a MCO changes a patient’s coverage mid-contract, the patient may have to search for a different doctor or find a prescription that their new plan covers, disrupting care and causing patients hardship and uncertainty.

NAPERVILLE – State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) announced today that five local area school districts are set to receive over $40,000 in grants given out by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s School Library Grant program.

The grants, which are issued by the Illinois State Library, are meant to help public schools offer more library books and materials to students.

“I’m grateful to hear that these five districts will receive these grants,” Ellman said. “Libraries play an important role and are a wonderful resource for children of all ages. This additional funding will be helpful for these libraries to continue updating their materials for every student.”

School libraries can use these funds to acquire fiction and/or nonfiction books, educational CDs and DVDs, and library subscriptions to electronic resources, as well as to improve technology by purchasing new computers or improving Wi-Fi connectivity.

Schools receiving school library grants include:

• Naperville CUSD #203 - $12,001.50
• Benjamin School District #25 – $750.00
• Wheaton-Warrenville CUSD #200 - $9,174.75
• Winfield School District 34 - $750.00
• Indian Prairie CUSD # 204 – $19,908.75

Grant applications for Fiscal Year 2021 are set to be available in August of this year.

SPRINGFIELD – The Des Plaines, Elk Grove and Roselle Park Districts will receive over $950,000 to renovate and expand local parks, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) announced today.

The money comes from a grant that is part of the state’s Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). The program is providing more than $29 million to support 85 park projects across the state.

“Improving and maintaining our parks is one of my top priorities,” said Murphy. “I fought for these projects by writing letters of support to IDNR, and I’m so excited to see ideas turn into reality.”

The OSLAD program began in 1987 and has invested $403.2 million in 1,729 local park projects. The program receives dedicated funding from a percentage of the state’s Real Estate Transfer Tax.

“The parks in in the 28th District are beautiful and accessible, and I hope these grants can help keep them that way,” said Murphy.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans with diabetes will pay less for their prescription insulin, thanks to a new law co-sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) that seeks to address soaring prescription drug costs.

“The cost of insulin has tripled in the past decade, and wages haven’t followed suit. Prescription drug companies shouldn’t be able to burden families with these sky-high costs,” said Fine, who was the measure’s chief co-sponsor in the Senate. “I’m thrilled to help provide some relief to Illinoisans with diabetes.”

For patients on state-regulated insurance plans, Public Act 101-625 caps the out-of-pocket cost of prescription insulin at $100 for a 30-day supply.

More than 30 million Americans have diabetes, and 7.4 million Americans require prescription insulin every day to survive, according to the American Diabetes Association. However, the price of insulin has risen sharply in recent years, driving many patients to sacrifice other daily needs to pay for insulin or to ration their supply.

SPRINGFIELD – Following the signing of legislation to combat skyrocketing costs of prescription insulin, State Senator Dave Koehler offered the following statement:

“For far too long, people who need this medication to survive have been forced to make the impossible choice between food and housing or prescription medication,” Koehler (D-Peoria) said. “This life saving medication should be available at a cost that will not break the bank, and with this new law we’re making this a reality for Illinoisans.”

The price of insulin has drastically increased in the United States in the past several years. According to a 2016 analysis, the price of the drug tripled between 2002 and 2013.

1.3 million Illinoisans are living with diabetes and rely on insulin to manage their blood sugar levels. Price increases have left many of them struggling to pay for the drug, and at-risk of deadly consequences.

“This truly is common sense legislation, and I’m incredibly proud to have advocated on its behalf,” Koehler said.