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A bill to ban all red-light cameras in the state could advance in Springfield.
Last week, state Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, got House Bill 322 passed in the House with bipartisan support. That measure would ban red-light cameras in non-home rule municipalities, or municipalities with fewer than 25,000 residents. […]
“My bill to ban all red-light cameras made it out of the [House] Rules Committee,” McSweeney said. “So I can’t call it today. I hope to call it in the next few weeks.”
House Bill 323 was assigned to the House Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee. A hearing date for the bill has yet to be scheduled.
When the partial ban passed the House last week, some opponents said they wanted to see a full ban. McSweeney said once the full ban bill comes up for a vote, the results would be telling.
“We’re going to see who’s for real,” McSweeney said. “We’re going to see who’s for real if I get that bill to the floor. We have people who on principle oppose that, and I respect that, and we’ll see the people, and I hope they do. I certainly believe that they’re people of their word. If I get this voted, it’ll take a supermajority. I’ll have to work hard. [House Minority Leader] Jim Durkin and [red light camera company] SafeSpeed are working against me.” […]
A spokesperson for Durkin said he would support a ban on all red-light cameras in Illinois. As to campaign contributions Durkin got from SafeSpeed, Durkin’s spokesperson said he donated the money to charity right after it was revealed the indictment against former Senator Martin Sandoval, D-Cicero, identified Company A as SafeSpeed.
* SJ-R…
For the second time in two years, a bill that set up a way to cap some prescription drug costs failed to advance in the House.
The House Prescription Drug Affordability and Accessibility Committee voted 8-5 against sending House Bill 3493 to the full House for a vote.
The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, said he would continue to try passing the legislation.
Under the bill, a five-member board appointed by the governor would have had the authority to review prescription drug costs and set upper limits of what could be paid for the drug. Not all drugs would be reviewed. A brand name product that costs over $30,000 or has a price increase of $3,000 a year or more would be reviewed as would a bio-similar drug that wasn’t at least 15% cheaper than the drug it replicates.
Guzzardi said Maryland uses this approach and 15 other states are considering something similar.
Lawmakers in the Illinois General Assembly recently introduced HB 4138, which would create the Phase Out Corporate Giveaways Interstate Compact. This compact would serve as an agreement between member states to refrain from participating in the practice of corporate subsidies. Corporate subsides manifest in the form of tax incentives or grants, in an attempt to attract businesses.
Typically, these subsidies are handed out for the purpose of creating jobs, hosting manufacturing facilities, building development offices, as well as the relocation of headquarter offices. The Phase Out Corporate Giveaways Interstate Compact holds that any state and the District of Columbia may become a member of this compact by passing the compact through their legislature. The overall goal of this compact is to reduce corporate welfare.
Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Highwood) introduced the bill, which is a good first step in ending the practice of corporate welfare. In general, corporate subsidies overwhelmingly benefit large corporations. The bill defines “corporate giveaways” as any company-specific grant or company-specific tax incentive. A “company-specific grant” means any disbursement of funds via property, cash, or differed tax liability by the state government to a particular company. “Company-specific tax incentive” means any change in the general tax rate or valuation offered or presented to a specific company that is not available to other companies.
* Capitol News Illinois…
A panel of state senators Tuesday approved legislation requiring public colleges and universities to add mental health contact information to the back of student identification cards.
As a parent of a first-year college student, Villa Park Democratic Sen. Tom Cullerton said it is a “trying and stressful time,” as with any other parent who misses their child. But he said such situations are also difficult for the student, who may be away from home for the first time.
His initiative would ensure phone numbers for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Crisis Text Line and the school’s mental health counseling center are published on each student’s identification card.
If an institution of higher education does not have such cards, the bill requires that information be published on its website instead.
* CBS 2…
A Kankakee girl took her fight to Springfield on Tuesday to help kids sell lemonade.
“Everyone is sick and tired of all of us getting shut down for our lemonade stands, and I think it’s time to make a change,” said Hayli Martenez.
Last summer, Kankakee County shut down Hayli’s old-fashioned lemonade stand because the family did not have water and sewer service.
Hayli’s mother, Iva Martenez, was unemployed and behind in the water and sewer bills. Iva said although the faucet was off, she and Hayli used bottled water.
More from the Daily Journal…
Hayli, 11, gave her views to a public health committee with Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, next to her. Joyce is sponsoring Senate Bill 3459, which is referred to as Hayli’s Law.
“I am ready to make a change for little people, like little girls and boys, who have lemonade stands,” Hayli said. […]
“My lemonade stand is a dream I shared with my grandma before she passed away. She always told me to make lemonade out of lemons, so I did,” Hayli said. “When my lemonade stand was shut down I became very upset. I asked myself, ‘Why me?’ I didn’t do anything wrong.”
The bill passed the Public Health Committee and now goes before the full Senate. If passed by both the Senate and House, it would go to Gov. JB Pritzker. If signed into law, it would go into effect immediately.
The kid is not only savvy and smart, but she has a million-dollar smile…
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:18 pm
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Curiously, Hayli’s Law would not apply to the city of Chicago. 410 ILCS 625/3.9(d)
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:27 pm
The small people voice is heard!
Good for Joyce. He may pull this off just yet.
Comment by About time Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 5:20 pm
Chicago doesn’t want your lemonade unless someone sent you.
Comment by Shall not be infringed Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 6:21 pm
More Hayli, please!
Comment by Bored Chairman Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 7:36 pm
Go Hayli
Go Kankakee
Go Illini
Comment by Red Ketcher Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 7:38 pm