* There was a bit of goofy push-back in comments yesterday to legislation which would finally bring natural gas service to one of the poorest townships in the country…

The trouble with Nicor’s bill is that it creates a massive subsidy by existing customers to pay for line extensions to new customers.

According to Nicor, the project would cost existing customers 15-16 cents annually. Barely over a penny a month. So, spare me the silliness.

* SJ-R…

The House Judiciary Criminal committee passed a bill on Tuesday reducing penalties for possession of small amounts of controlled substances in an effort to better address addiction as a public health problem.

House Bill 3447, sponsored by state Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, passed the committee by a 12-7 vote after proponents of the bill argued addiction problems cannot be solved by sending someone to jail. Opponents raised concerns about how those seeking addiction treatment would access help, which the bill does not address.

The bill would make possession of all controlled substances below certain amounts for each type of substance a Class A misdemeanor instead of a felony. Multiple misdemeanor charges for possession will also not result in future stiffer penalties. […]

“We have to expand treatment options and make sure there are adequate treatment options available,” said state Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis. “My concern is by taking this from a felony to a misdemeanor is we’re going to remove the incentive individuals have to get the treatment they need.”

* Oops?…

Proposed legislation placing Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 under state supervision — introduced by state Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, in February — will not proceed through the legislative process.

“I’m not moving the bill,” Mayfield said during an interview Tuesday.

Mayfield made her decision after a March 15 telephone conversation with district officials, including Superintendent Theresa Plascencia and Gwendolyn Polk, the associate superintendent of business, because Mayfield was convinced the district is in sound financial condition.

“The finances are in really good condition,” Mayfield said. “Gwen Polk did an excellent job of showing the financial condition. The district does not have a financial problem.”

* IDCCA…

Following the introduction of legislation to eliminate pension protection language in the Illinois Constitution by Republican State Senator Darren Bailey, President Kristina Zahorik of the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association (IDCCA) released the following statement:

“Darren Bailey has just shown the cornerstone of his platform for Governor: gutting the middle class. Working and middle class families are the backbone of Illinois, and Darren Bailey has singled them out with his bill to gut guaranteed, protected pensions for those workers and retirees.”

“Public servants do not go into careers in government to get rich, they enter those fields to help people. And after they serve, the State of Illinois makes a promise to help them when they retire. Darren Bailey wants to break that promise. Illinois can and must help address its pension problems but cutting benefits for Illinoisans who put in the time to serve our state is the wrong way. Shame on Daren Bailey.”

As reported by WMAY Springfield, “…Bailey’s proposal would allow pension benefits to be reduced or changed, regardless of whether those benefits have already been earned or when they were established.”

The Illinois Education Association just released polling that showed 73% of Illinoisans believe retired teachers deserve their full pension when they retire.

I thought the new state party was supposed to be stepping up on things like this?

* Press release…

Today, the Ensuring Success in School Law (ESSL, HB 3223) was advanced from committee to the Illinois House Floor. The bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Anna Moeller (D-Elgin) and Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood), is designed to ensure K-12 students who have experienced gender-based violence or harassment and those who are pregnant or parenting are appropriately accommodated by schools so they can complete their education.

“HB 3223 is an important step towards protecting child victims of sexual assault and harassment and young parents so they can stay in school and lead productive lives. This bill is the culmination of listening sessions and discussions with young survivors, teenagers who are parenting, advocates for survivors and students, and schools,” says Rep. Moeller.

Survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and gender-based harassment often endure lasting mental, physical, and social consequences—and, as a result, experience a decline in academic performance. 1 in 4 girls experiences sexual violence before age 18 and survivors tend to have lower rates of graduation. It’s critical to eliminate barriers that stand between survivors and their education! Teens who become parents face challenges too, accounting for 26% of students who drop out of high school.

This bill gives schools clear parameters for what they must do to support survivors. It does not require additional resources but mandates that the correct measures be taken to help vulnerable students succeed by:

• Allowing excused absences related to a student surviving gender-based violence, being pregnant, or parenting.
• Ensuring one staff member is trained to help advocate for students and connect them to resources inside and outside of school.
• Creating confidentiality protocols to help students feel safe to disclose when they need help.
• Eliminating inappropriate questioning by clarifying what proofs of violence are necessary so child survivors of trauma are only interviewed by trained professionals.

“School children are offered less support through laws and policies than their parents would receive from their workplace or their older sibling would receive from their college if they experience gender-based violence,” says Madeleine Behr, Public Policy and Advocacy Manager with the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE). “We can’t leave K-12 students, some of our state’s most vulnerable people, to fend for themselves!”

Advocacy efforts for this bill are being led by CAASE and it has been endorsed by Raise Your Hand for Illinois Public Education, the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA), Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV), Women Employed, Equality Illinois, The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center (ChicagoCAC) and many other organizations.