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* But it looks like a good one…
Ed Izenstark inherited Huntington’s disease from his biological father, but he only found out after the fatal nerve disorder began to show itself and after months of frustrating and costly efforts to learn more about his origins.
The 30-year-old father of three from the Chicago suburb of Batavia was hospitalized last May with severe stomach pains, nausea and involuntary twitching that his doctors couldn’t explain. Suspecting it could be genetic, Izenstark sought more information about his background but had a hard time getting it from state adoption agencies. In February, he finally learned that his birth father had the disease. On Friday, his fears were confirmed that he did, too.
“(The information) should be available to anyone, if it’s yours. But it’s not yours. It’s the state’s and the state decides,” Izenstark said.
The Illinois House is considering a measure that would allow agencies to let people know the reasons they were put up for adoption and other information that wouldn’t identify their birth parents, including details of their medical histories. Its sponsor, Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, a Democrat from Chicago who was adopted herself, said the changes would be a real benefit to adult adoptees.
* Meanwhile, from a press release…
Calling attention to the growing staffing crisis affecting people with developmental disabilities and urging immediate action to address the problem by raising wages for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), a wide-ranging coalition of disability advocacy groups will join key legislators at a press conference [today] in the Illinois State Capitol.
In Illinois, over 27,000 people with developmental disabilities live in apartments, group homes and other residential programs. DSPs in community agencies provide the foundation for community living. They ensure the health, safety and well-being of people with developmental disabilities by providing daily personal care, teaching life skills, and supporting people to be actively engaged and working in their community. But the state has not adjusted reimbursement rates for community agencies to raise DSP wages for eight years. […]
The coalition includes The Arc of Illinois, the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, AFSCME Council 31, Don Moss & Associates, The Center for Developmental Disabilities Advocacy & Community Support, The Institute on Public Policy for People with Developmental Disabilities and McManus Consulting.
They also have a video. Click here to watch it.
* Switching gears a bit…
State Sen. Sam McCann is seeking to protect from government intrusion the longtime practice of “seed sharing.”
McCann, a Plainview Republican, is sponsoring a bill aimed at clarifying ambiguity in current state law that could require the exchanging and sharing of seed to be subject to commercial regulations such as testing and record-keeping.
“This is not a bill saying that anything has been done unfairly,” McCann said. “We’re saying that we’re trying to keep something from being interpreted unduly in the future.”
* BND editorial…
Bathroom monitors with flashlights?
Illinois lawmakers are in no hurry to pass a state budget after 287 days, but they certainly are in a rush to be the second state in the nation to try to legislate bigotry regarding transgender teens. Those who fail to be effective leaders on the big picture items always seem to busy themselves micromanaging.
The bill is dead.
* Related…
* Care providers oppose Rauner program for elderly
* Tax Illinois drivers by the mile?: A new proposal to pay for fixing Illinois’ roads could use devices to track how far Illinois drivers have traveled and tax them by the mile. The plan from Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, is aimed at gasoline tax revenues that have fallen as drivers have bought more fuel-efficient cars.
* Editorial: School funding formula needs to change
* Pension buyout plan for state workers still being studied
* Chicago paying for youth job program that lost state funds
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 12:02 pm
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So, how exactly do we tax the rich who pay services to pick them up and drive them. That isn’t exactly a fair way to try and tax people. Or those who live in big cities and take taxis, so the only ones to be taxed will be individuals with automobiles. That is one of the biggest hairbrained schemes I’ve ever heard of.
Comment by Taxes by the Mile??? Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 12:16 pm
== Tax Illinois drivers by the mile?: A new proposal to pay for fixing Illinois’ roads could use devices to track how far Illinois drivers have traveled and tax them by the mile. The plan from Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, is aimed at gasoline tax revenues that have fallen as drivers have bought more fuel-efficient cars.==
How would that work for state workers who have to travel everyday to do their jobs?
Comment by Mama Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 12:19 pm
Instead of tax by the mile, increase the gas tax. We should be encouraging the purchase of fuel efficient vehicles. Taxing by the mile does not do this. Increasing the tax per gallon will drive revenue upwards
Comment by Monty Python Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 12:20 pm
==Pension buyout plan for state workers still being studied==
According to the recent IL Supreme Court decision, the government can not diminish our pensions.
RNUG, please explain how any pension reform could be legal?
Comment by Mama Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 12:24 pm
Mr. Cullerton, it’s not any of your business how many miles per year I drive in Illinois.
Comment by Collinsville Kevin Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 12:35 pm
=== Increasing the tax per gallon will drive revenue upwards. ===
It would also give drivers a greater incentive to buy more fuel efficient cars and electric cars, which would drive down revenues. Those who can’t afford to trade in their gas guzzlers would still pay the high tax. In short, it’s very regressive.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 12:40 pm
I personally would not mind every interstate being a toll road. Given our crossroads position, a lot of the revenue would come from out of state drivers. It encourages carpooling and the existing (or increased) gas tax helps with pollution. I do not mind this pay per total miles method either. I do not see either happening, though, as evidenced by all the negative reaction above.
Comment by thechampaignlife Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 12:48 pm
===Mr. Cullerton, it’s not any of your business how many miles per year I drive in Illinois.===
Mr. Cullerton, it’s not any of your business how much money per year I make in Illinois. ‘Merica!
FTFY
Comment by thechampaignlife Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 12:52 pm
The tax per mile was proposed in Oregon as a way to provide more money for fixing the roads. As I recall, the idea of an in vehicle monitor went down in flames because people didn’t want Big Brother government knowing where they were driving.
In essence, we already pay a per mile tax. It is just in the form of a per gallon tax.
I could see a tax on very high milage or electric vehicles. Assume a flat rate per year added to the license plate renewal.
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 12:54 pm
Mama - from the proposals I’ve seen, the buyouts would be optional. If you didn’t take them, then nothing would change for you. I think that’s the only way it could be done.
Comment by Katiedid Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 1:00 pm
A tax on miles driven, by itself, isn’t the answer. Heavier vehicles wear out roads more than light vehicles. The current per gallon tax takes this into consideration to an extent.
That said, it’s not fair that electric vehicles pay no Motor Fuel Tax. Some combination makes the most sense.
But as mentioned above, people don’t like the government knowing their mileage.
Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 1:33 pm
===That said, it’s not fair that electric vehicles pay no Motor Fuel Tax===
You gonna exempt me from the utility tax then?
Just askin…
Also, too, my car uses both gas and electric. Not so easy. Cullerton’s car uses only electricity.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 1:39 pm
Being allowed to keep the pension you currently have may be the only legal way.
However, from what I have heard about Cullerton/Rauner’s pension reform bill, allowing workers to keep the pension they currently have is not in the cards.
Comment by Mama Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 2:21 pm
There need not be a tracking device. Could be as simple as self-reporting the odometer reading when renewing plates. Service providers for oil changes and tires could also report. I believe the State already collects odometer reading for title transfers so that would be another check point.
Comment by thechampaignlife Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 3:04 pm
I’d rather see a raised gasoline tax, a yearly flat tax on electric vehicles and perhaps 50% of that electric vehicle tax on hybrids.
Comment by South Illinoisian Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 4:52 pm
You will have a lot easier time controlling the tax low income pay if it is paid on VMT and not at the pump. We could conceivably give low income people a rebate or lower rate… if there was the will to do it. Good luck.
Comment by NoGifts Tuesday, Apr 12, 16 @ 5:04 pm