Suntans and speed limits
Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This bill passed with just nine “No” votes…
Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno of Lemont shepherded to passage a bill that would ban people younger than 18 from using tanning beds in commercial tanning salons. A similar bill has passed the House, and Radogno predicted the legislation will make it to the governor. The bill would not affect tanning beds in private residences.
* And there was no debate…
Sponsoring Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, said she wasn’t necessarily surprised that senators didn’t debate the bill before voting on it.
“There really has been very little opposition,” she said. […]
“Skin cancer is a huge issue,” Radogno said. “The incidence of skin cancer when you first have used ultraviolet tanning before age 18 rises dramatically. This should be a no-brainer. It is a Class One carcinogen, and protecting kids from that makes perfect sense.”
Radogno also noted that more and more municipalities are enacting local ordinances to ban minors from tanning salons. Springfield passed a ban in September despite concerns raised by some that minors could simply go to tanning salons outside the city limits.
* More…
Current law requires teenagers to receive parental consent to use a tanning booth.
State Sen. Matt Murphy, a Palatine Republican, said he voted for the ban because parental consent was not being properly enforced.
“We have had de facto license for 14 to 17 year olds to go in there without parental consent the way it’s been applied,” Murphy said. “Let’s make a clean break. It’s not being monitored the way it is, and I think parents would like a little bit of help making sure their kids stay safe with this.”
Among the dissenters was state Sen. Tom Cullerton, a Villa Park Democrat, who said he supported the current system of allowing teenagers to tan provided they had parental consent.
* Meanwhile…
Illinois motorists would be able to legally drive 70 mph on interstate highways and tollways under legislation the Senate passed Tuesday.
The measure would allow Cook County, the suburban collar counties and two counties near St. Louis to opt out in areas where local officials did not think the higher speed would be appropriate. The current top speed on Illinois interstates is 65 mph.
Sponsoring Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, said the change would bring Illinois in line with the more than 30 states that allow drivers to go 70 or 75 mph. Oberweis said the higher speed would allow commerce to move faster, but the freshman lawmaker took some friendly razzing from colleagues who suggested he had self-interest in mind.
* Roundup…
* Illinois nets almost $6 billion more in taxes in 2012: But state Sen. Dan Kotowski, a Park Ridge Democrat, said the temporary income tax rate hike along with some policy shifts have made the state more fiscally responsible. He cited new spending rules, performance-based funding and other reforms as ways the state has worked to eliminate its deficit.
* Editorial: With reform essential, state lawmakers must stop wasting time
* In case you weren’t already going 70 mph: Illinois senate approves speed limit increase
* Senate sponsor seeks gun bill compromise
* Vite: Illinois doesn’t need barriers to biosimilar drugs
* Rosenthal: Perry tries to rustle Illinois business
* More money from clout-heavy Hispanic group UNO went to insider
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:40 am:
“Commander Galloway, Stopping ‘The Jersey Shore’ from filiming in Illinois, one bill, at a time…”
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:44 am:
Well thank goodness they’ve now tackled the big stuff on the leg calendar!
- Fed up - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:47 am:
So an abortion is fine without parental knowledge or consent but tanning that’s a no no.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:52 am:
I spent the last 5 minutes making sure that Sen. Oberweis’ sucessful passage of his First Bill is not in conflict with the Republican Platform…I think we will all rest easy knowing no “Blood Oaths” were broken, or “Litmus Tests” failed!
Whew!
“In my opinion, it’s not good to have laws on the books that are widely ignored,” Oberweis said.
Gonna have to remember that one…
- Darienite - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 11:53 am:
1. Looks like we need to invest in spray tan booths.
2. Is IDOT capable of fabricating the new signs statewide?
- Fire Chief - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:05 pm:
70 is the new 80
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 12:12 pm:
When does Oberweiss not have self-interest in mind?
- Ken_in_Aurora - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 1:01 pm:
That SJ-R story on CCW is driving my inner editor nuts.
“… I hope we can protect that principal.”
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 2:00 pm:
I don’t think that UNO/charter schools story is going away anytime soon.
- Coyote Chris - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 2:04 pm:
The bill raising the speed limit should pass the House easily as many members of the House were passing me as i was going 75 mph on 55 north of Springfield a couple of Fridays ago.
- reformer - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 2:50 pm:
“In my opinion, it’s not good to have laws on the books that are widely ignored,” Oberweis said.
Is there any reason to expect the ISP to be capable of enforcing 70 any better than 65? If not, then motorists will just travel 5 mph more above the limit than they already are, with predictably fatal consequences.
- Freezeup - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 3:19 pm:
I’m not the least bit concerned about cars going faster, the semi’s worry me though.
- Darienite - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 3:39 pm:
In Indiana it’s 70 for cars, 65 for trucks. At least east of Porter.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 4:38 pm:
Actually, they changed it. It’s now 70 right after the toll booths on the border.
- titan - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 4:56 pm:
Can’t suntan until 18, but they’re looking ot let them vote in primaries at 17. Sort of inconsistent
- Just The Way It Is One - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 6:51 pm:
75 MPH is TOO fast, and dangerous–’cuz EVerybody knows that means those Truckers and everyone else for that matter, would be going 84 and scare the BeJesus out of a LOT of other Drivers unnecessarily! Yet, on an entirely different note, the under-18 No Tanning Bill IS a healthy and good idea to protect our youth…
- North by Northwest - Wednesday, Apr 24, 13 @ 7:06 pm:
Illinois originally had 70 mph limit on downstate interstates, back before the national speed limit changed it to 55. Never understood why IL chose 65 when they could change it back. The old limit of 65 mph on the 2 lanes state highways was downright scary on some roads!