Illinois Summary - 8/2/11

Illinois Congressional Representation On Debt Deal

(Springfield, IL)  --  A deal on the nation's debt is headed to the U.S. Senate.  The House passed the bill late last night.  Congressman Adam Kinzinger supported the plan.  He says the legislation reverses a, quote, "failed trajectory" of the U.S. and forces Congress to scale back on spending.  The plan cuts spending by 917-billion dollars over ten years and raises the debt ceiling by 900-billion until approximately February.

Impact Of Repealing Affordable Care Act Too Costly

(Springfield, IL)  --  Congress, state legislatures and the courts are considering proposals to roll back some of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act.  But one Illinois Public Interest Group says they should think twice before making changes.  A report issued by the Illinois Public Interest Research Group concludes that repealing the law would allow insurers to once again deny coverage for Illinois residents who have pre-existing health conditions.  It also concludes that women will pay higher premiums than men.  The report indicates that more than 159-thousand Illinois small businesses will lose eligibility for tax credits which can cover as much as 35-percent of its employee health care plan.  In the end, the group says policy makers should work to implement the law properly in the states and take steps to lower health care costs that the federal law fails to take.

Quinn Signs Bill To Changes Language For Disabled People

(Springfield, IL)  --  It's a move designed to change society's negative stereotype of disabled people.  A new law on Illinois' books changes some terminology used to refer to people who have a physical or mental disability.  From now on, the phrase "mentally retarded" will no longer appear in state statutes.  It's being replaced by the phrase "intellectually disabled."  The word "crippled" is also being eliminated from the law books.  It's being replaced with "physically disabled."

Students Praise DREAM Act

(Bloomington, IL)  --  Legal and illegal immigrant students in Illinois are praising Governor Pat Quinn for signing the DREAM Act yesterday.  The new law will give the students access to a private pool of money that can be used to help them pay for college.  One Chicago area youth leader says the new law will help make dreams come true for many capable students.  To qualify, students must have attended an Illinois school for at least three years and they must also have at least one immigrant parent.  The measure has nothing to do with a federal measure that has a similar name.

Fulton County Suspect Escapes From Custody

(Table Grove, IL)  --  Authorities in west central Illinois are looking for a suspect that escaped from custody Monday afternoon.  Fulton County Sheriff's deputies say they were in the process of transferring Kyle Williams from a Fulton County Squad car to a McDonough County Squad car when he broke free.  Williams is described as a white male who stands five-feet-ten and 180 pounds.  He has curly brown hair with brown eyes.  Williams also has a tattoo with the name "Cassie" on the right forearm.  Even though Williams is not believed to be armed, residents are being advised to lock their doors and do not leave keys in their vehicles.  Citizens are urged to not make contact with Williams and should call 9-1-1 if they believe they see him.

Little Progress In Missing Man Case

(Alton, IL)  --  A Jerseyville man is still missing after nearly a month.  Jersey County Sheriff Mark Kallal says it appears Jared Hanna vanished into thin air.  He was seen on video surveillance at a Jerseyville convenience store and at a few bars in Alton on July 2nd.  His truck turned up in Clinton County near Carlyle a few days later.  Hanna is a white male, about five-feet-seven and 195 pounds.  If you have information on where he might be, please call 9-1-1 or contact your local police department.