Illinois Summary - 11/16/11

Durbin And Kirk Support EpiPens

(Chicago, IL)  --  U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk are putting aside their political differences to ensure kids' safety.  The two are working together to push a bill that allows schools to keep EpiPens on hand in case of emergency.  An EpiPen contains a chemical that minimizes the effects of allergic reactions such as wheezing, severe skin itching, and hives.  Faculty and staff at schools will be able to administer an injection if a child has an allergic reaction.  A Good Samaritan clause in the law protects the school workers from liability.

Anti-Bullying Law Not Enough

(Ridge Farm, IL)  --  A Chicago lawyer says the state's anti-bullying law is much too loose to mean anything.  Matthew Keenan says there are no real parameters in place that define penalties.  Therefore, each school decides what is and is not considered bullying.  They also choose how different forms of bullying will be

punished.  His comments come after a ten-year- old Ridge Farm girl took her own life after complaining of being teased at school.  He says the school district could face a serious lawsuit.  Keenan isn't blaming the Georgetown Ridge Farm School District for the incident but he says a child should never feel threatened to go to school.

State Rep Hand Delivers Applications

(Springfield, IL)  --  State Representative Sara Feigenholtz is looking forward to getting a copy of her original birth certificate.  She and hundreds of other adopted adults across the state applied for the documents yesterday after a new law went into effect.  Feigenholtz was behind the measure which gives adoptees access to the names of their birth parents and other personal information.  She hopes this will help adoptees answer questions, get closure, and discover a part of their history.

Lawmakers Consider Union Pay Freeze

(Springfield, IL)  --  Lawmakers are considering two proposals that will cap wage increases for union workers.  The idea is that everyone has to sacrifice until the state gets out of debt and stays out of debt for at least two years.  But union officials are not happy with the plan.  They say House Joint Resolution 45 and House Resolution 608 are a direct attack on state employees because no other vendor is being asked to sacrifice in the same way.  The resolutions would also allow Governor Quinn to back out of his no-layoff agreements.  AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Henry Bayer says the proposals would place strong constraints on collective bargaining rights.

Congressman Take On Conceal Carry

(Springfield, IL)  --  The concealed carry fight in Illinois is still alive.  Five of Illinois' Republican congressmen have joined the effort.  U.S. Representatives Tim Johnson, Bobby Schilling, Aaron Schock, Adam Kinzinger, and Randy Hultgren have filed a bill that will allow Illinois residents to carry guns legally after obtaining a permit from another state.  The permit transfer would fall under the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011.  Illinois is the only state in the nation that doesn't allow some form of concealed carry.

Air Tran Leaving Bloomington Airport

(Bloomington, IL)  --  AirTran is leaving the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington because of tough economic times.  Officials say high fuel prices make it difficult to support three non-stop flights to Georgia so they're pulling out.  Bloomington Mayor Steve Stockton says that means airline passengers can expect prices to shoot up.  AirTran carries 40 percent of CIRA's traffic with daily nonstops to Atlanta and Orlando.  They're leaving in June.

Australian To Be Featured At Horse Fair

(Springfield, IL)  --  Australian horseman Guy McLean is going to perform at next year's Illinois Horse Fair.  He and his equine team have performed at every major equine event and agricultural show in Australia since 1999.  McLean was named the official "Ambassador of the Outback" in 2002 and 2006.  He will hold a training session and several demo shows during the fair, which is scheduled for March 2nd through 4th at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.