Time For Action: 2015 Action Alerts
November 4, 2015
ACTION NEEDED
Please contact Senator Mark Kirk at (202) 224-2854 or (312) 886-3506.
On October 24 the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally released the final version of the Clean Power Plan to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants across the nation. Each state has goals to meet but is to decide for itself how to meet that challenge. Several states immediately filed lawsuits opposing “government overreach”. In addition, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is sponsoring a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval that would allow Congress to nullify the final administration rule making.
Senator Kirk has told media outlets that he supports Sen. McConnell’s resolution to overturn the CPP.
WHY IT MATTERS
The CPP is a set of federal rules to lower greenhouse gas emissions from existing as well as new, modified, or reconstructed fossil fuel-fired power plants. When fully implemented, the CPP is expected to cut carbon pollution from the power sector 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. For further details about the federal CPP, see the LWVUS Climate Change Toolkit, available here: http://participate.lwv.org/c/9217/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=10146
The federal EPA’s CPP regulations provide the framework for a national effort to reduce our nation’s carbon emissions. Here in Illinois, the Clean Jobs Bill (HB2607 and SB1485), introduced earlier this year, will put our state on track to meet the challenge of reducing emissions from power plants. LWVIL supports the Clean Jobs bill and will take further action as that legislation moves forward in the General Assembly. For more on the Illinois legislation visit the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition website: http://ilcleanjobs.org/bill/
October 28, 2015
A joint letter to the editor, exclusively published by the Chicago Tribune, and co-signed by a number of non-partisan civic organizations, including the LWVIL, has pushed the Governor and legislative leaders to plan a meeting for November 18. This letter was sent to all LWVIL members earlier this week. (Click HEREto read.)
As League members and active citizens, we have been advocating for this action, but more importantly for a budget that serves the needs of our citizens. At this time, we ask that all members take at least one of these actions and continue to put pressure on local and state leaders for a good resolution. They include:
ACTION NEEDED
Please use your considerable skills and local contacts to do what you can. Thank you and let us know how it goes by sending an email to issues@lwvil.org.
WHY IT MATTERS
The people who are most affected by the budget impasse and the lack of new revenue are the most vulnerable – those who do not have a strong voice in our state.
July 6, 2015
ACTION NEEDED
Please urge Governor Rauner to sign HB4025, with the suggested amendatory language, to require high school students in Illinois to take a civics course before graduating, beginning the 2016-17 school year.
Send an email to Governor Rauner using the online comment form on his web site:http://www.illinois.gov/gov/ContactUs/Pages/VoiceAnOpinion.aspx with the following message:
Dear Governor Rauner:
HB 4025, legislation to require a high school civics course, was sent to you on Thursday, June 26. Please sign this bill into law before August 25th with amendatory language to restore the July 1, 2016 implementation date to the legislation that was removed during the amendment process. Please send the bill back to the legislature to confirm the amendatory language. Thank you very much.
If time permits, you may want to follow up with a phone call to the Governor's office to ensure that your email was received: ( 217) 782-0244.
WHY IT MATTERS
HB 4025, legislation to require a high school civics course, was sent to Governor Rauner on Thursday, June 26. The Governor has 60 days from the day he receives the bill (until August 25) to sign it into law.
The original legislative language specified the start of the 2016-2017 school year, but it was mistakenly cut during the amendment process, requiring additional actions as described above before bill becomes a law.
Illinois is one of ten states that does not have this requirement. This would fit within the current mandated history course requirement, which was recently updated during a curriculum review process.
Quality civics courses have tremendous impact. For example, when Florida recently introduced a required civics course (in middle school), 61% of Florida students achieved proficiency in civics, compared to 22% of middle school students nationally in the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Civics Assessment.
Citizens with high levels of civic knowledge vote regularly and participate broadly in our democracy.
June 22, 2015
ACTION NEEDED
Ask Governor Rauner to sign these measures into law. Send an email to Governor Rauner using the online comment form on his website: http://www.illinois.gov/gov/ContactUs/Pages/VoiceAnOpinion.aspx.
If you are able, follow up with a phone call to the Governor's office to ensure that your email was received: (217) 782-0244.
WHY IT MATTERS
HB1360: Since they are funded with taxpayer dollars, charter schools must be held accountable for ensuring that they – like traditional public schools – meet basic standards of health and safety for their students.
HB494, HB3149, and HB3475 would assist returning citizens to overcome existing barriers to their successful reentry into society.
HB3718 accords with the League’s position opposing mandatory transfer of children to the criminal court and it grants juvenile judges more discretion.
June 15, 2015
ACTION NEEDED
Please urge Governor Rauner to sign HB4025 to require high school students in Illinois to take a civics course before graduating.
Send an email to Governor Rauner using the online comment form on his web site: http://www.illinois.gov/gov/ContactUs/Pages/VoiceAnOpinion.aspx
If time permits, you may want to follow up with a phone call to the Governor’s office to ensure that
your email was received: 217-782-0244.
WHY IT MATTERS
Illinois is one of ten states that does not have this requirement. This would fit within the current mandated history course requirement.
Quality civics courses have tremendous impact. For example, when Florida recently introduced a required civics course (in middle school), 61% of Florida students achieved proficiency in civics, compared to 22% of middle school students nationally in the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Civics Assessment.
Citizens with high levels of civic knowledge vote regularly and participate broadly in our democracy.
May 28, 2015
ACTION NEEDED
We need to remind lawmakers and the Governor that doubling the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) for working families is one of the best investments Illinois can make.
Please use this toll free number, 1-855-906-EITC, to call the Governor and your lawmakers and tell them the EITC works for working families.
WHY IT MATTERS
In 2012, the EITC, or Earned Income Tax Credit, put $208,389,933 back in the pockets of working families in Illinois, benefiting 1,181,877 children. Research shows children of EITC recipients have better birth outcomes, higher educational attainment, and more earnings as an adult. The EITC helps people who work but struggle to get by on low wages keep more of what they earn to help pay for necessities, such as childcare and transportation. By giving working families a step up, the EITC helps reduce poverty while giving local businesses an additional boost as families go out and spend those dollars in their communities.
New research shows that doubling the EITC can also help counteract growth in income inequality in our state. It makes the flat income tax less regressive by reducing the tax burden on low income families.
How can we pay for the EITC and other pressing needs of the state and its citizens?
May 20, 2015
Six (6) important pieces of legislation currently before the Illinois General Assembly need your attention. We encourage you to make your voice heard-- please call or email your local legislators on the following:
1) ACTION NEEDED for SB1547
Please urge your State Representative to Vote YES for SB1547 that prevents local governments from enacting or enforcing ordinances that punish people for calling the police in response to domestic or sexual violence or for punishing victims for their crimes committed against them.
WHY IT MATTERS
Thirty-five municipalities have enacted ordinances penalizing residents or landlords when police are called to their property.
Treating police calls as a “nuisance” sends a victim-blaming message to survivors of domestic violence and discourages them from seeking help. Nearly 20,000 clients served by Illinois domestic violence programs in 2014 came from rental housing, placing them at risk of eviction if they seek police protection in these communities.
These ordinances harm individuals with disabilities and their families, who may be disproportionately likely to rely on police or emergency services for assistance.
These ordinances undermine public safety in communities throughout Illinois. By linking calls with eviction and fines, these ordinances deter tenants, landlords, and neighbors from reporting incidents of domestic violence or seeking police intervention.
2) ACTION NEEDED for SB1564
Please urge your State Representative to: Vote YES for SB1564 that requires patients be given accurate medical information and access to care even though it conflicts with the provider's religious beliefs. The bill creates protection for both patient and provider.
WHY IT MATTERS
When a doctor, hospital or other provider refuses to give care or even information, the patient may be at a loss to make an informed decision for needed care.
SB1564 will amend the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act to require that patients be given information to make informed decisions about their care and how to access this care when the provider has religious objections. The bill has protection for the provider through clear procedures and policies to protect them and their patients
Under SB1564 health care providers can document religious objections to providing care if protocols are in place to ensure the patient is fully informed of the accepted
standard of care for their condition, treatment options and where to obtain care. Many providers with religious objections, though not all, have such protocols in place already.
The LWV believes every US resident should have access to a basic level of care that includes the prevention of disease, health promotion and education, primary care (including prenatal and reproductive health), acute care, long term care, and mental health care.
3) ACTION NEEDED for HB494
Please contact your State Senator to vote YES for HB494 that removes lifetime bars to employment in the schools for individuals with criminal convictions--except for certain offenses.
WHY IT MATTERS
This allows employers more freedom in hiring and enables those who have served their sentences to have access to more employment opportunities. The Illinois State Board of Education supports HB494.
4) ACTION NEEDED for HB1360
Please contact your State Senator to vote YES for HB1360 that requires charter schools to meet the same non-curricular health and safety standards as traditional public schools.
WHY IT MATTERS
Since they are funded with taxpayer dollars, charter schools must be held accountable for ensuring that they - like traditional public schools - meet basic standards of health and safety for their students.
5) ACTION NEEDED for HB3718
Call or email your Senator and ask him/her to vote for HB3718 which eliminates automatic transfers of juveniles to criminal court.
WHY IT MATTERS
The League opposes the automatic transfer of children to the criminal court and believes that a juvenile court judge should decide where a case is considered. HB3718 does not accomplish everything that we would like but it does eliminate automatic transfers.
6) ACTION NEEDED for HB4025
Call or email your State Senator and ask him/her to vote YES for HB4025,which would require a civics class in order to graduate from high school.
WHY IT MATTERS
Illinois is one of only ten states that does not have a civic education graduation requirement, and as a result many students leave high school without the knowledge and skills they need to be our next generation of citizens.
Educating the next generation of citizens was historically a central mission of our schools. We need to make sure it is again. The public knows this – a recent poll indicated that nearly 80 percent of people in Illinois support a high school civics course requirement. Educated, engaged young people are our future.
To help with implementation, the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, the Chicago Community Trust, and other funders have pledged at least $1 million annually for three years to address needs for additional professional development resources.
April 22, 2015
ACTION NEEDED
Please urge your State Representative to vote YES on HB4025 to require high school students in Illinois to take a civics course before graduating.
Please call your Illinois State Representative as soon as possible.
WHY IT MATTERS
Illinois is one of only ten states that does not have a civics requirement. This would fit within the current mandated history course requirement.
Quality civics courses have tremendous impact. For example, when Florida recently introduced a required civics course (in middle school), 61% of Florida students achieved proficiency in civics, compared to 22% of middle school students nationally in the most recent NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) Civics Assessment.
Citizens with high levels of civic knowledge vote regularly and participate broadly in our democracy.
April 20, 2015
1) HB0397 -- Role of the State Charter School Commission
2) SB1564 -- Health Care Right of Conscience Act
Two (2) important pieces of legislation currently before the Illinois General Assembly need your attention. We encourage you to make your voice heard -- please call or write your local legislators on the following:
ACTION NEEDED
1) Please urge your State Representative to:
WHY IT MATTERS
According to the Charter School position reached by consensus of Leagues throughout Illinois and approved by the LWVIL Board in March:
"The authority for approving and renewing charters should reside exclusively in the local school board."
Local school boards are responsible for protecting taxpayers' interests. Their decisions regarding charter schools should not be subjected to reversal.
ACTION NEEDED
2) Please urge your State Senator to:
Vote YES for SB1564 that requires patients be given accurate medical information and access to care even though it conflicts with the provider's religious beliefs. The bill creates protection for both patient and provider.
WHY IT MATTERS
The LWV believes every US resident should have access to a basic level of care that includes the prevention of disease, health promotion and education, primary care (including prenatal and reproductive health), acute care, long term care, and mental health care.
When a doctor, hospital or other provider refuses to give care or even information, the patient may be at a loss to make an informed decision for needed care.
SB1564 will amend the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act to require that patients be given information to make informed decisions about their care and how to access this care when the provider has religious objections. The bill has protection for the provider through clear procedures and policies to protect them and their patients
Under SB1564 health care providers can document religious objections to providing care if protocols are in place to ensure the patient is fully informed of the accepted standard of care for their condition, treatment options and where to obtain care. Many providers with religious objections, though not all, have such protocols in place already.
April 15, 2015
ACTION NEEDED
Please contact your state representative and ask her or him to Vote NO on HB3621, a bill that would prevent the public from knowing what some municipalities are doing with tax dollars and the facilities owned and operated with taxpayer money.
HB3621 would exempt municipalities from disclosing key financial information about contracts and events held at publicly-owned venues, including convention and entertainment facilities (like the Allstate Arena and the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont) from public view.
HB3621 would throw a veil of secrecy over deals worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, making it impossible for the public to know what their public officials are doing, or to hold them accountable.
Find your state representative’s name and address: http://www.elections.il.gov/districtlocator/districtofficialsearchbyaddress.aspx
The Better Government Association (BGA) has created an automatic communication system. Go here for that option: http://bit.ly/BGA_HB3621
WHY IT MATTERS:
The League has long supported the need for transparency in government at all levels. Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent. This bill threatens to undermine the value and importance of the Freedom of Information Act.
Disclosure of public facilities’ finances is essential for transparency. In the past, this has led to discoveries that managers have bestowed questionable benefits on friends, family, and supporters, while taxpayers foot the bill.
March 26, 2015
ACTION NEEDED
Please contact your State Senator TODAY!
Ask your senator to OPPOSE HB317 and HB318, budget bills which would make severe cuts to education and human services in the state.
WHY IT MATTERS
The League believes that schools and human services must be provided stable, reliable and adequate revenue taking into account increases in the cost of living. Since 2000, Education and human services have experienced spending cuts of 27% in figures adjusted for inflation and population. Budget cuts this year further compound the problem. Our state has a revenue problem, not a spending problem.
January 29, 2015
ACTION NEEDED
Please contact Senators Durbin and Kirk by February 2, 2015:
If you send an email or a letter, the following language must be included:
"The Enzi language states: Grants shall be made to support developing, implementing, evaluating, and disseminating for voluntary school use innovative, research based approaches to civic learning [and American History], which may include hands on civic engagement activities, for low income
elementary school and secondary school students, that demonstrate innovation, scalability,
accountability, and a focus on under-served populations."
WHY IT MATTERS
The League of Women Voters is dedicated to facilitating citizen participation in government decision making. Effective civic education is essential for this to happen.
ACTION NEEDED
Please contact Senator Mark Kirk at (202) 224-2854 or (312) 886-3506.
- Tell him you are disappointed that he supported the “Federal Water Quality Protection Act” which would have replaced key parts of the Clean Water Act. The League was instrumental in securing passage of the Clean Water Act in the early 1970s and has worked to protect, expand and strengthen it.
- Encourage him to oppose the U.S. Senate Congressional Review Act resolution (SJ Resolution 23) that would stop the national Clean Power Plan (CPP) and to support people - not pollution - by giving his full support to the CPP.
On October 24 the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally released the final version of the Clean Power Plan to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants across the nation. Each state has goals to meet but is to decide for itself how to meet that challenge. Several states immediately filed lawsuits opposing “government overreach”. In addition, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is sponsoring a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval that would allow Congress to nullify the final administration rule making.
Senator Kirk has told media outlets that he supports Sen. McConnell’s resolution to overturn the CPP.
WHY IT MATTERS
The CPP is a set of federal rules to lower greenhouse gas emissions from existing as well as new, modified, or reconstructed fossil fuel-fired power plants. When fully implemented, the CPP is expected to cut carbon pollution from the power sector 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. For further details about the federal CPP, see the LWVUS Climate Change Toolkit, available here: http://participate.lwv.org/c/9217/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=10146
The federal EPA’s CPP regulations provide the framework for a national effort to reduce our nation’s carbon emissions. Here in Illinois, the Clean Jobs Bill (HB2607 and SB1485), introduced earlier this year, will put our state on track to meet the challenge of reducing emissions from power plants. LWVIL supports the Clean Jobs bill and will take further action as that legislation moves forward in the General Assembly. For more on the Illinois legislation visit the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition website: http://ilcleanjobs.org/bill/
October 28, 2015
A joint letter to the editor, exclusively published by the Chicago Tribune, and co-signed by a number of non-partisan civic organizations, including the LWVIL, has pushed the Governor and legislative leaders to plan a meeting for November 18. This letter was sent to all LWVIL members earlier this week. (Click HEREto read.)
As League members and active citizens, we have been advocating for this action, but more importantly for a budget that serves the needs of our citizens. At this time, we ask that all members take at least one of these actions and continue to put pressure on local and state leaders for a good resolution. They include:
ACTION NEEDED
- Contact your local legislator to encourage them and their leadership caucus to support adequate revenue in the budget negotiations on November 18; OR
- Draft and submit a letter to the editor using the attached letters as templates to come from individual members; OR
- Submit the letter to the editor signed by our LWVIL President to your local paper adding your local league leaders names; OR
- Contact your local service providers and encourage them to contact the Governor online or by telephone to describe the impact of budget cuts to their service provision; OR
- Hold a public meeting to view the LWV video produced by the Issues Committee to discuss the budget issues (link available by November 2nd on the LWVIL webpage); OR
- Share the link of the video with the public on your local league FB page, with your legislators and with your friends.
Please use your considerable skills and local contacts to do what you can. Thank you and let us know how it goes by sending an email to issues@lwvil.org.
WHY IT MATTERS
The people who are most affected by the budget impasse and the lack of new revenue are the most vulnerable – those who do not have a strong voice in our state.
- Children in Early Intervention programs. Although the court ordered payments to Early Intervention caregivers, without a budget there are limited funds available.
- Because Illinois has no budget, approximately 15,000 women will not receive breast and cervical cancer screening.
- The state ended funding for services that help 75,000 survivors of domestic violence in Illinois. Unless funding is restored, many people will need to choose between staying in violent homes or becoming homeless
- 90% of service providers to the homeless in the State will need to consider denying services, laying off staff or closing programs since they are not being paid due to the lack of a budget.
- Nine out of ten families that were approved for childcare funding under the previous income guideline will now be denied under the proposed income guideline.
- Students and their families are alarmed about the possibility that financial aid and services will not be available for state colleges and universities
- In response to police officer shootings around the country, the Illinois Legislature is requiring additional training for state police, and yet funding for all state police training courses has been suspended.
- Even our democratic process will be affected by the budget crisis. The State Board of Elections cannot even pay for its rent. And they anticipate problems paying for computers and personnel needed to help with candidate filing and election judging.
- 911 emergency services are no longer receiving money raised from cell phone users.
July 6, 2015
ACTION NEEDED
Please urge Governor Rauner to sign HB4025, with the suggested amendatory language, to require high school students in Illinois to take a civics course before graduating, beginning the 2016-17 school year.
Send an email to Governor Rauner using the online comment form on his web site:http://www.illinois.gov/gov/ContactUs/Pages/VoiceAnOpinion.aspx with the following message:
Dear Governor Rauner:
HB 4025, legislation to require a high school civics course, was sent to you on Thursday, June 26. Please sign this bill into law before August 25th with amendatory language to restore the July 1, 2016 implementation date to the legislation that was removed during the amendment process. Please send the bill back to the legislature to confirm the amendatory language. Thank you very much.
If time permits, you may want to follow up with a phone call to the Governor's office to ensure that your email was received: ( 217) 782-0244.
WHY IT MATTERS
HB 4025, legislation to require a high school civics course, was sent to Governor Rauner on Thursday, June 26. The Governor has 60 days from the day he receives the bill (until August 25) to sign it into law.
The original legislative language specified the start of the 2016-2017 school year, but it was mistakenly cut during the amendment process, requiring additional actions as described above before bill becomes a law.
Illinois is one of ten states that does not have this requirement. This would fit within the current mandated history course requirement, which was recently updated during a curriculum review process.
Quality civics courses have tremendous impact. For example, when Florida recently introduced a required civics course (in middle school), 61% of Florida students achieved proficiency in civics, compared to 22% of middle school students nationally in the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Civics Assessment.
Citizens with high levels of civic knowledge vote regularly and participate broadly in our democracy.
June 22, 2015
- HB1360 requires charter schools to meet the same non-curricular health and safety standards as traditional public schools;
- HB 494 removes or modifies lifetime bars to employment in the schools for individuals with certain felony convictions;
- HB 3149 allows people who earn a vocational certification, GED, high school diploma, or some other degree to petition to have their eligible convictions sealed prior to the statutorily required 4 year waiting period;
- HB 3475 expands the eligibility for Certificates of Good Conduct to more people with felony convictions;
- HB 3718 expands Juvenile Court Discretion; it eliminates the mandatory transfer of juveniles to adult court and expands juvenile court discretion over the critical decision of where a child is to be tried.
ACTION NEEDED
Ask Governor Rauner to sign these measures into law. Send an email to Governor Rauner using the online comment form on his website: http://www.illinois.gov/gov/ContactUs/Pages/VoiceAnOpinion.aspx.
If you are able, follow up with a phone call to the Governor's office to ensure that your email was received: (217) 782-0244.
WHY IT MATTERS
HB1360: Since they are funded with taxpayer dollars, charter schools must be held accountable for ensuring that they – like traditional public schools – meet basic standards of health and safety for their students.
HB494, HB3149, and HB3475 would assist returning citizens to overcome existing barriers to their successful reentry into society.
HB3718 accords with the League’s position opposing mandatory transfer of children to the criminal court and it grants juvenile judges more discretion.
June 15, 2015
ACTION NEEDED
Please urge Governor Rauner to sign HB4025 to require high school students in Illinois to take a civics course before graduating.
Send an email to Governor Rauner using the online comment form on his web site: http://www.illinois.gov/gov/ContactUs/Pages/VoiceAnOpinion.aspx
If time permits, you may want to follow up with a phone call to the Governor’s office to ensure that
your email was received: 217-782-0244.
WHY IT MATTERS
Illinois is one of ten states that does not have this requirement. This would fit within the current mandated history course requirement.
Quality civics courses have tremendous impact. For example, when Florida recently introduced a required civics course (in middle school), 61% of Florida students achieved proficiency in civics, compared to 22% of middle school students nationally in the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Civics Assessment.
Citizens with high levels of civic knowledge vote regularly and participate broadly in our democracy.
May 28, 2015
ACTION NEEDED
We need to remind lawmakers and the Governor that doubling the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) for working families is one of the best investments Illinois can make.
Please use this toll free number, 1-855-906-EITC, to call the Governor and your lawmakers and tell them the EITC works for working families.
WHY IT MATTERS
In 2012, the EITC, or Earned Income Tax Credit, put $208,389,933 back in the pockets of working families in Illinois, benefiting 1,181,877 children. Research shows children of EITC recipients have better birth outcomes, higher educational attainment, and more earnings as an adult. The EITC helps people who work but struggle to get by on low wages keep more of what they earn to help pay for necessities, such as childcare and transportation. By giving working families a step up, the EITC helps reduce poverty while giving local businesses an additional boost as families go out and spend those dollars in their communities.
New research shows that doubling the EITC can also help counteract growth in income inequality in our state. It makes the flat income tax less regressive by reducing the tax burden on low income families.
How can we pay for the EITC and other pressing needs of the state and its citizens?
- Raise income tax rates
- Expand the sales tax base to include services
- Refinance the state's debt
- Tax retirement income
May 20, 2015
- SB 1547 People Should Not be Punished for Calling the Police
- SB1564 Health Care Right of Conscience Act
- HB494 Lifetime Bar to Employment
- HB1360 Charter School Health Requirements
- HB3718 Eliminating automatic transfers of juveniles to criminal court
- HB4025 Civic Education
Six (6) important pieces of legislation currently before the Illinois General Assembly need your attention. We encourage you to make your voice heard-- please call or email your local legislators on the following:
1) ACTION NEEDED for SB1547
Please urge your State Representative to Vote YES for SB1547 that prevents local governments from enacting or enforcing ordinances that punish people for calling the police in response to domestic or sexual violence or for punishing victims for their crimes committed against them.
WHY IT MATTERS
Thirty-five municipalities have enacted ordinances penalizing residents or landlords when police are called to their property.
Treating police calls as a “nuisance” sends a victim-blaming message to survivors of domestic violence and discourages them from seeking help. Nearly 20,000 clients served by Illinois domestic violence programs in 2014 came from rental housing, placing them at risk of eviction if they seek police protection in these communities.
These ordinances harm individuals with disabilities and their families, who may be disproportionately likely to rely on police or emergency services for assistance.
These ordinances undermine public safety in communities throughout Illinois. By linking calls with eviction and fines, these ordinances deter tenants, landlords, and neighbors from reporting incidents of domestic violence or seeking police intervention.
2) ACTION NEEDED for SB1564
Please urge your State Representative to: Vote YES for SB1564 that requires patients be given accurate medical information and access to care even though it conflicts with the provider's religious beliefs. The bill creates protection for both patient and provider.
WHY IT MATTERS
When a doctor, hospital or other provider refuses to give care or even information, the patient may be at a loss to make an informed decision for needed care.
SB1564 will amend the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act to require that patients be given information to make informed decisions about their care and how to access this care when the provider has religious objections. The bill has protection for the provider through clear procedures and policies to protect them and their patients
Under SB1564 health care providers can document religious objections to providing care if protocols are in place to ensure the patient is fully informed of the accepted
standard of care for their condition, treatment options and where to obtain care. Many providers with religious objections, though not all, have such protocols in place already.
The LWV believes every US resident should have access to a basic level of care that includes the prevention of disease, health promotion and education, primary care (including prenatal and reproductive health), acute care, long term care, and mental health care.
3) ACTION NEEDED for HB494
Please contact your State Senator to vote YES for HB494 that removes lifetime bars to employment in the schools for individuals with criminal convictions--except for certain offenses.
WHY IT MATTERS
This allows employers more freedom in hiring and enables those who have served their sentences to have access to more employment opportunities. The Illinois State Board of Education supports HB494.
4) ACTION NEEDED for HB1360
Please contact your State Senator to vote YES for HB1360 that requires charter schools to meet the same non-curricular health and safety standards as traditional public schools.
WHY IT MATTERS
Since they are funded with taxpayer dollars, charter schools must be held accountable for ensuring that they - like traditional public schools - meet basic standards of health and safety for their students.
5) ACTION NEEDED for HB3718
Call or email your Senator and ask him/her to vote for HB3718 which eliminates automatic transfers of juveniles to criminal court.
WHY IT MATTERS
The League opposes the automatic transfer of children to the criminal court and believes that a juvenile court judge should decide where a case is considered. HB3718 does not accomplish everything that we would like but it does eliminate automatic transfers.
6) ACTION NEEDED for HB4025
Call or email your State Senator and ask him/her to vote YES for HB4025,which would require a civics class in order to graduate from high school.
WHY IT MATTERS
Illinois is one of only ten states that does not have a civic education graduation requirement, and as a result many students leave high school without the knowledge and skills they need to be our next generation of citizens.
Educating the next generation of citizens was historically a central mission of our schools. We need to make sure it is again. The public knows this – a recent poll indicated that nearly 80 percent of people in Illinois support a high school civics course requirement. Educated, engaged young people are our future.
To help with implementation, the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, the Chicago Community Trust, and other funders have pledged at least $1 million annually for three years to address needs for additional professional development resources.
April 22, 2015
ACTION NEEDED
Please urge your State Representative to vote YES on HB4025 to require high school students in Illinois to take a civics course before graduating.
Please call your Illinois State Representative as soon as possible.
WHY IT MATTERS
Illinois is one of only ten states that does not have a civics requirement. This would fit within the current mandated history course requirement.
Quality civics courses have tremendous impact. For example, when Florida recently introduced a required civics course (in middle school), 61% of Florida students achieved proficiency in civics, compared to 22% of middle school students nationally in the most recent NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) Civics Assessment.
Citizens with high levels of civic knowledge vote regularly and participate broadly in our democracy.
April 20, 2015
1) HB0397 -- Role of the State Charter School Commission
2) SB1564 -- Health Care Right of Conscience Act
Two (2) important pieces of legislation currently before the Illinois General Assembly need your attention. We encourage you to make your voice heard -- please call or write your local legislators on the following:
ACTION NEEDED
1) Please urge your State Representative to:
- Vote YES on HB0397, a bill that would stop the practice whereby the State Charter School Commission can hear appeals and override decisions by local school districts which deny charter applications.
- This bill is on 3rd Reading. Please contact your State Representative TODAY!
WHY IT MATTERS
According to the Charter School position reached by consensus of Leagues throughout Illinois and approved by the LWVIL Board in March:
"The authority for approving and renewing charters should reside exclusively in the local school board."
Local school boards are responsible for protecting taxpayers' interests. Their decisions regarding charter schools should not be subjected to reversal.
ACTION NEEDED
2) Please urge your State Senator to:
Vote YES for SB1564 that requires patients be given accurate medical information and access to care even though it conflicts with the provider's religious beliefs. The bill creates protection for both patient and provider.
WHY IT MATTERS
The LWV believes every US resident should have access to a basic level of care that includes the prevention of disease, health promotion and education, primary care (including prenatal and reproductive health), acute care, long term care, and mental health care.
When a doctor, hospital or other provider refuses to give care or even information, the patient may be at a loss to make an informed decision for needed care.
SB1564 will amend the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act to require that patients be given information to make informed decisions about their care and how to access this care when the provider has religious objections. The bill has protection for the provider through clear procedures and policies to protect them and their patients
Under SB1564 health care providers can document religious objections to providing care if protocols are in place to ensure the patient is fully informed of the accepted standard of care for their condition, treatment options and where to obtain care. Many providers with religious objections, though not all, have such protocols in place already.
April 15, 2015
ACTION NEEDED
Please contact your state representative and ask her or him to Vote NO on HB3621, a bill that would prevent the public from knowing what some municipalities are doing with tax dollars and the facilities owned and operated with taxpayer money.
HB3621 would exempt municipalities from disclosing key financial information about contracts and events held at publicly-owned venues, including convention and entertainment facilities (like the Allstate Arena and the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont) from public view.
HB3621 would throw a veil of secrecy over deals worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, making it impossible for the public to know what their public officials are doing, or to hold them accountable.
Find your state representative’s name and address: http://www.elections.il.gov/districtlocator/districtofficialsearchbyaddress.aspx
The Better Government Association (BGA) has created an automatic communication system. Go here for that option: http://bit.ly/BGA_HB3621
WHY IT MATTERS:
The League has long supported the need for transparency in government at all levels. Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent. This bill threatens to undermine the value and importance of the Freedom of Information Act.
Disclosure of public facilities’ finances is essential for transparency. In the past, this has led to discoveries that managers have bestowed questionable benefits on friends, family, and supporters, while taxpayers foot the bill.
March 26, 2015
ACTION NEEDED
Please contact your State Senator TODAY!
Ask your senator to OPPOSE HB317 and HB318, budget bills which would make severe cuts to education and human services in the state.
WHY IT MATTERS
The League believes that schools and human services must be provided stable, reliable and adequate revenue taking into account increases in the cost of living. Since 2000, Education and human services have experienced spending cuts of 27% in figures adjusted for inflation and population. Budget cuts this year further compound the problem. Our state has a revenue problem, not a spending problem.
January 29, 2015
ACTION NEEDED
Please contact Senators Durbin and Kirk by February 2, 2015:
- Ask them to contact Senator Lamar Alexander, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), which is considering the reauthorizationof the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
- Ask them to urge the restoration of the "2011 Enzi language in Programs of National Significance regarding Civics". Mention of competitive grants supporting innovative, engaging teaching of Civics has been omitted from the most recent version of the ESEA.
If you send an email or a letter, the following language must be included:
"The Enzi language states: Grants shall be made to support developing, implementing, evaluating, and disseminating for voluntary school use innovative, research based approaches to civic learning [and American History], which may include hands on civic engagement activities, for low income
elementary school and secondary school students, that demonstrate innovation, scalability,
accountability, and a focus on under-served populations."
WHY IT MATTERS
The League of Women Voters is dedicated to facilitating citizen participation in government decision making. Effective civic education is essential for this to happen.
