Senator Don Harmon News

Harmon’s online voter registration legislation passes Senate

Wednesday, 29 May 2013 16:57

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) won Senate approval of a measure to allow voters to register online, a move that has helped other states register more people to vote and cut costs. It also makes changes to state law to make it easier to vote early and with absentee ballots and to fix several problems with Illinois’ electoral system.

“Our democracy is strengthened when more people participate,” Harmon said. “We can buy plane tickets, research stock options and even open our garage doors and start our cars online. There’s no reason in this day and age that a person shouldn’t be able to register to vote online.

“We also keep trying to find ways to save our cash-strapped state money. This is an easy way. Processing a paper registration costs 83 cents. Processing an online application costs 3 cents.”

Harmon: Rapists don’t deserve parental rights

Thursday, 23 May 2013 13:32

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) won Senate approval of legislation that will ensure that victims of rape who choose to carry a child to term don’t have to share parental rights with the men who violated them.

“When a woman is raped, becomes pregnant and chooses to carry the child to term, she shouldn’t have to worry about her rapist or his family pushing for parental rights,” Harmon said.

The proposal, House Bill 3128, establishes that rapists and their families are not entitled to visitation, custody or inheritance rights. It also gives the mother the right to refuse child support.

Harmon helps shepherd ammo limit measure through Senate committee

Tuesday, 21 May 2013 11:11

SPRINGFIELD – As parents of the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy looked on, Illinois Senator Don Harmon used his position as chair of the Senate Executive Committee to help a measure that would limit the number of bullets in a gun magazine make it to the Senate floor.

“Our hearts go out to the victims of this tragedy," Harmon said. "And this legislation is one step we can take to avoid such tragedies in the future. Every time a gunman stops to reload, it gives his victims a chance to get away and gives law enforcement a chance to disarm him.”

The legislation, Senate Bill 1002, limits the sale of gun ammunition feeding devices to units that can hold 10 bullets or less. While it does not prohibit owning a large ammunition magazine, it does increase the criminal penalties for using a high capacity magazine while committing a violent crime. The Sandy Hook murderer used large capacity magazines to commit his crime.

Harmon cracks down on rogue pawnshops

Written by Senate Democratic Caucus Staff Monday, 20 May 2013 10:26

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) is co-sponsoring legislation that cracks down on pawnshops that break the law that regulates pawnshops.

“Given all the controversy we’ve seen over the new pawnshop on North Avenue in Austin, I want to make sure that neighborhood concerns are addressed by ensuring that pawnshops operate within the letter of law,” Harmon said. “We need to make sure that no pawnshops in Illinois take advantage of people or attract unwanted traffic.”

The legislation would increase the maximum civil penalty on pawnshop owners who break the law that regulates pawnshops from $1,000 per day to $10,000 per day. The measure is supported by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which oversees pawnshop licenses.

Harmon pushes to make voting easier

Written by Senate Democratic Caucus Staff Wednesday, 08 May 2013 13:26

0001harmon-75x75 SPRINGFIELD – If legislation sponsored by State Senator Don Harmon becomes law, it will be even easier for college students to vote. The Oak Park Democrat’s plan, which cleared a key Senate committee earlier today, requires public universities and community colleges to send all students an email telling them where and how to register to vote.

“We should try to get young people involved in democracy at an early age,” Harmon said. “The easier we make it for them to register to vote, the more likely they are to stay involved in the process.”

Harmon is also trying to convince his colleagues that Illinois should move to accept online voter registration. The states that have already adopted online registration have significantly cut costs, registered more voters and seen no increase in voter fraud. Because his legislation to allow online registration did not advance from committee earlier this year, Harmon is now encouraging supporters to sign an online petition available on his website, www.DonHarmon.org.

Senator Don Harmon legislation would remove State of Illinois roadblock to implementing results of April 9 Oak Park Village President election

Written by Senate Democratic Caucus Staff Monday, 22 April 2013 11:08

harmon-75x75 SPRINGFIELD – Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) is sponsoring legislation that would clear away a state hurdle preventing Oak Park Village President-elect Anan Abu-Taleb from also holding a liquor license. The measure, Senate Bill 724, passed the Illinois Senate 47-3 on April 18 and is expected to be taken up by the House when it returns to the Capitol in two weeks.

The 1934 Liquor Control Act established that suburban mayors or village presidents would also serve as local liquor control commissioner, but to avoid conflicts of interest, could not hold liquor licenses in the communities that elected them.

The General Assembly amended the law last year to exempt communities of 50,000 or less and provide for delegation of liquor commissioner duties to another official in such cases.