SPRINGFIELD
“Four years after the legislature voted to fund organizations on the front lines of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, the number of new infections has decreased nationwide, but this devastating disease is still ravaging vulnerable communities, particularly minority women,” Sen. Collins said. “The proceeds from the Quality of Life scratch-off game are helping non-profits save and prolong lives in the populations with the highest risk and we should allow these groups to continue their vital work.”
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Springfield, IL – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) recently passed legislation through the Senate Public Health Committee allowing medical providers to access the pharmaceutical records of their patients.
SPRINGFIELD , IL —State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) has proposed legalizing the use of new technology to find people who are prone to wander, like individuals with Alzheimer’s, developmental disabilities or dementia.
SPRINGFIELD, IL— Governor Quinn recently signed into law Senator Michael Noland’s (D-Elgin) proposal to create tax check-offs for four statewide charities. Tax check-offs allow Illinois residents to make a charitable contribution while filing Illinois income tax returns.
As the end of the fiscal year came to a close this past week, the governor signed the new state budget into law on Thursday. Although this year’s budget could have been a lot tougher than it actually was, it is a telltale sign of the difficult economic times our state and country are both currently facing. It is important to note that this did not happen overnight. Our current situation is a result of more than a decade’s-worth of short-term budgeting strategies and fixes. It is also important to understand that our state’s shortfall is not unique. In recent years, nearly every state in the country has been forced into a budget deficit situation. One report shows that at least 46 states face or have faced budget shortfalls for the upcoming 2011 fiscal year. Another report from the National Conference of State Legislators, a bi-partisan state policy organization, tells us that this economic recession has been the longest, most challenging recession since the economic downturn of 1929. Nearly half of all states experienced a drop below estimated revenues and have combined to total $174 billion in deficits nationwide, a number that continues to grow. All that being said, our governor was dealt a pretty sloppy hand. He was put in a no-win situation in terms of balancing this year’s budget and is trying to manage our fiscal mess as best he can.
Legislation sponsored by Financial Institutions Chair Jacqueline Collins and passed by the Illinois Senate today will keep people in their homes and provide a face lift to communities affected by record foreclosure numbers.
CHICAGO, IL – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) today passed legislation out of the Senate permitting the Department of Juvenile Justice to coordinate its services with other state agencies.
As the staggering numbers of foreclosures continue to emerge throughout the state the Illinois State Senate Democrats moved forward with a measure to aid Illinois homeowners seeking assistance. The Senate Democratic Caucus recently passed legislation to provide needed grants to Illinois Housing Development Authority approved counseling agencies. The grants are intended to help state homeowners navigate the dismal foreclosure market. This bill, if signed into law by Governor Patrick Quinn, would give Illinois homeowners access to the counsel they need to keep their homes.
SPRINGFIELD - In an effort to help Illinois’ many underfunded social service providers, the Illinois Senate voted to create a revolving loan fund to help these vitally important organizations pay their bills.