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It’s Time To Finally Hold Utilities Accountable
Thursday, Apr 15, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Bribery, corruption, and formula rates have decimated public trust in utility regulation. Instead of passing another rate hike, let’s pass a comprehensive clean energy bill. Illinois’ legislature has an opportunity to finally hold utilities accountable, while addressing the climate crisis, creating thousands of equitable clean energy jobs, and lowering electric bills all at the same time. The Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) is the only energy bill that installs an independent monitor in the headquarters of ComEd and Ameren. CEJA also refunds customers for ComEd’s violations and creates a new Accountability Division at the Illinois Commerce Commission to protect residents against future offenses. You can read the full list of CEJA’s accountability measures here. As we get closer to May 31st, profit-hungry utilities are getting more aggressive. Missouri-based Ameren spent more than $35,000 on Facebook ads alone in just the last few weeks as they try to pass a bill that would drastically increase electric formula rates and expand them to gas customers. We have just six weeks left to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act. Let’s get it done.
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Show Your Work
Thursday, Apr 15, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] If lawmakers’ goal is to create a map that ensures representation for communities of color and driven by community input, then why not show the work? Lawmakers should showcase their redistricting work so all Illinoisans, especially people of color, can see whether the maps are in their best interest. Let’s start with more notice for public hearings, transparency for map proposals, prioritizing the Federal Voting Rights Act and Illinois Voting Rights Act, and ensuring the public can weigh in and hear back from lawmakers about the final maps before votes are cast. A compliance report is necessary to show how map-makers used public input and met voting rights acts requirements. These changes can ensure that constituents in communities across Illinois understand the process. Learn more at changeil.org.
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Springfield: Restricting PBM Tools Will Raise Costs for Consumers, Employers + the State
Thursday, Apr 15, 2021 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Employers in Illinois provide prescription drug coverage for nearly 6.7 million Illinoisans. In order to help keep care more affordable, employers work with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who deploy a variety of tools to reduce prescription drug costs and help improve health outcomes. In addition to helping employers, PBMs also work with the Illinois Medicaid program in the same way to help control costs. Over the last five years, PBMs have saved the state and taxpayers nearly $340 million. Today, Illinois faces a multibillion budget shortfall as more Illinoisans are relying on Medicaid to help meet their health care coverage needs. As legislators work to address these challenges, one way to help ensure continued cost savings is by strengthening the PBM tools that the State and employers use, which are poised to save employers, consumers and the State $39 billion over the next 10 years. These are meaningful savings that will help continue to contain costs, ensure consumer access to medicines and drive savings in public health programs. Amid a pandemic and economic challenges, now is the time to strengthen, not limit, the tools that employers, consumers and the State rely on to manage costs and ensure consumers can access the medicines they need.
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*** LIVE COVERAGE ***
Thursday, Apr 15, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller * Today’s post is sponsored by Climate Jobs Illinois. Follow along with ScribbleLive…
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