It’s just a bill
Thursday, Oct 26, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Check out the last paragraph…
Health care providers at facilities that require them to be vaccinated against specified flu viruses would no longer be able to opt out for philosophical reasons under legislation approved overwhelmingly Thursday by the Illinois House.
Rep. Marcus Evans’ bill, which affects only Chicago and other areas where the local health department has jurisdiction over more than 500,000 residents, would still allow health care workers to opt out of the vaccinations for religious reasons or if a doctor says the vaccine could affect a worker’s health.
“In any system, if you have a vaccination program … for whatever reason you don’t want to be vaccination, you can opt out with a doctor’s note or for religious reasons, but not for philosophical reasons,” Evans, D-Chicago, said.
The legislation passed 104-1.
Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, was the lone no vote. She said the bill forces people to get vaccines against their will.
“My personal preference is being overruled by your bill,” Mayfield said. “Your bill says you cannot refuse and you can be fired if you refuse. … I don’t think it’s your job to mandate what I do with my body.”
* AP…
A resolution headed to the Illinois House floor Wednesday would require an audit of a $94 million online insurance portal and the performance of the only company that responded to the contract request.
The State Government Administration Committee unanimously voted for a review by the auditor general of the 10-year contract with Atlanta-based Morneau Shepell following an Associated Press report in June.
The AP reported that the search for a contract lasted just three weeks, Morneau Shepell was the only company to seek the work, its bid came in at just one-third of the state’s estimated cost, and the company was allowed to forgo requirements in state law for ensuring minority participation.
The resolution was adopted unanimously today.
* SJ-R…
Credit reporting agencies could no longer charge consumers fees for placing a security freeze on their credit reports under legislation approved by the Illinois House Thursday.
The House voted 109-0 on House Bill 4095. Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, said the bill is in response to the massive data breach at credit reporting agency Equifax.
The bill also prohibits credit agencies from charging a fee to consumers to unfreeze their reports if they want to obtain a loan or conduct some other financial transaction that requires access to the reports.
* Related…
* House Overrides Rauner On Salary History: Rep. Margo McDermed, R-Mokena, says wage disparity was a big issue when she entered the workforce in 1978 — and still is today. “Ladies and gentlemen here in the chamber, if you have a mother, a sister, a grandmother, a wife, a daughter, an auntie, or a niece who’s in the wage-earning private sector, you need to be a ‘yes’ on this vote,” she said.
- Moe Berg - Thursday, Oct 26, 17 @ 2:37 pm:
Re: Rep. Mayfield. In the interest of public health, we mandate that restaurant employees wash their hands after using the bathroom. That’s telling them what to do with their bodies.
No one is forced to work at a restaurant or a hospital.
It’s disappointing to see a Democrat hold such a poorly reasoned, anti-science viewpoint.
- Perrid - Thursday, Oct 26, 17 @ 2:39 pm:
For the vaccination bill, if enough people decide not to vaccinate to hurt herd immunity then it’s everyone’s problem. Also, it’s health care workers, who are presumably interacting with people who are already sick or are susceptible to becoming sick, and they need to be protected from people who don’t think they need to be vaccinated.
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Oct 26, 17 @ 2:41 pm:
A health care worker who does not believe in vaccines should not be hired.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Oct 26, 17 @ 2:54 pm:
–“My personal preference is being overruled by your bill,”–
My personal preference is that such a person not be a health care provider.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Oct 26, 17 @ 3:46 pm:
For my two cents, it might be better to deal with anti-vaxxers and others who don’t want to get a shot as an employment matter rather than by legislation.
- Roman - Thursday, Oct 26, 17 @ 4:08 pm:
- Arthur -
Health center have been sued by employees who have been suspended or fired because they refused vaccinations. A state law would make it clear that they could make vaccinations a condition of employment.
- GetReal - Thursday, Oct 26, 17 @ 5:11 pm:
So a female is only allowed to make health decisions related to abortions? Isnt that hypocritical.
- JoanP - Thursday, Oct 26, 17 @ 5:25 pm:
@GetReal -
If I have an abortion, no one around me will “catch” it.
If I refuse to get vaccinated, and contract measles as a result, and then I go to work at a health care facility, I am exposing immuno-compromised people to infection.
Is it so hard for you to understand the difference?
- MyTwoCents - Thursday, Oct 26, 17 @ 5:50 pm:
I would think if a non-vaccinated employee at a health care facility infected a patient and worst case scenario a death occurred both the facility and employee could be held liable.
- GetReal - Thursday, Oct 26, 17 @ 5:51 pm:
@JoanP. I understand that people will march in the street and jump on every news program possible to fight for a woman’s right to make health decisions as long as it involves killing a child, but once she wants to make any other health decision then she is quickly rebuffed.
- GetReal - Thursday, Oct 26, 17 @ 5:55 pm:
@TwoCents, I don’t disagree with either of your posts but what happens to the employee that gets sick or experiences adverse health conditions associated with the shot. Will they be allowed to sue both the State and the Hospital since they are mandating?
- Telly - Thursday, Oct 26, 17 @ 8:34 pm:
- GetReal-
Read the bill. There is an exemption for people with health conditions — the don’t have to get a flu shot if it might aggravate their condition.
- GetReal - Thursday, Oct 26, 17 @ 8:46 pm:
@Telly what if person doesn’t know they are allergic or have a medical condition that may be aggravated? Can they sue the State and the hospital? Did the trial lawyers write this bill? I can see some lawsuits coming from this.
- GetReal - Thursday, Oct 26, 17 @ 8:47 pm:
@Telly what if person doesn’t know they are allergic or have a medical condition that may be aggravated? Did the trial lawyers write this bill? I can see some lawsuits coming from this.
- Cheryl44 - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 9:21 am:
It’s interesting we’re ‘females’ to this guy. Why not just call us ‘vessels?’ That seems to be what he thinks we are here for.
- Graduated College Student - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 9:24 am:
===@Telly what if person doesn’t know they are allergic or have a medical condition that may be aggravated? Can they sue the State and the hospital? Did the trial lawyers write this bill? I can see some lawsuits coming from this. ===
I’m pretty sure they ask about allergies on the form you fill out when you get the vaccine.
- Nick Name - Friday, Oct 27, 17 @ 10:13 am:
===A resolution headed to the Illinois House floor Wednesday would require an audit of a $94 million online insurance portal and the performance of the only company that responded to the contract request.
The State Government Administration Committee unanimously voted for a review by the auditor general of the 10-year contract with Atlanta-based Morneau Shepell following an Associated Press report in June.
The AP reported that the search for a contract lasted just three weeks, Morneau Shepell was the only company to seek the work, its bid came in at just one-third of the state’s estimated cost, and the company was allowed to forgo requirements in state law for ensuring minority participation.===
The State’s estimate for the work was $300 million, and Morneau Shepell’s bid came in at less than a third of that. But IT friends of mine tell me they can construct a new portal for about $3 million and no extra staff, or alter an existing portal for nothing, and still no extra staff. The Morneau Shepell contract is Rauner taking care of his buddies.