CHICAGO - August 18, 2012. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today issued the following statement regarding Governor Pat Quinn's signing of House Bill 1645, which will help fund rape crisis centers through fees based on strip club profits or admissions.

Simon said: "I thank Governor Quinn for standing up for rape victims and crisis centers across the state. This new revenue stream will help offset cuts that threatened critical services. When a sexual assault victim goes to a police station or a survivor calls a hotline, we need trained staff ready to respond. This bill helps to keep lights on and doors open, jobs filled and responders trained."

Under the law, strip club owners can choose to pay the state on an annual basis a $3 per patron fee or opt to pay a flat fee based on the taxable receipts they report to the Illinois Department of Revenue each year. Clubs that report taxable receipts of $2 million or more would pay $25,000 a year; clubs that report taxable receipts of $500,000 to $2 million would pay $15,000; and clubs that report taxable receipts of less than $500,000 would pay $5,000, according to the new law.

The law goes into effect January 2013 and applies only to strip clubs that serve or permit alcohol consumption. It is projected to raise up to $1 million per year, or roughly one-sixth of what the state spends on sexual assault prevention and response annually. In fiscal year 2011, rape crisis centers in Illinois served more than 18,000 clients and reached nearly 475,000 people with prevention education.

The $3 per patron surcharge and fee structure was a compromise reached by rape crisis advocates, club owners and sponsors Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) and Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). The bill originally called for a $5 per patron entry fee.

"I would like to thank the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault as well as Lt. Governor Sheila Simon for their constant and unwavering support for this new law," Hutchinson said. "Victims of sexual assault must be able to access emergency services to fully recover from their traumatic experiences. I am hopeful the extra funding for sexual assault centers across Illinois will ensure no victim is turned away for care when they need it the most."

The new revenue will go into the new Sexual Assault Services and Prevention Fund and be distributed by the Department of Human Services for community-based assistance to victims of sexual assault and sexual assault prevention.  There are at least 32 rape crisis centers serving Illinois residents - 10 in the Chicago-metro region and 22 in the non-metro area. State funding for the centers has decreased about 28 percent in the past five years, forcing many centers to cut counselors and/or create waiting lists for counseling services while demand for services increased. One center closed its doors.

Last year, the Texas Supreme Court upheld legislation that funded crisis centers through a $5 entrance fee at strip clubs that permit alcohol based on the correlation among alcohol, live nude dancing and negative secondary effects, such as sexual assault. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge of that decision, effectively opening the door for other cities and states to pursue similar measures.

 ###

Takes aim at sexual assault, stalking, domestic violence

CHICAGO - August 18, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today signed three new laws designed to provide greater protections to Illinois women from sexual assault and domestic violence. Earlier this week, the governor signed a new law to protect women from stalking. Today's action is the latest by Governor Quinn to support crime victims and boost protections of women.

"Violence against women has occurred in small towns, urban neighborhoods and college campuses," Governor Quinn said. "These new laws will help us hold the predators accountable as well as prevent behavior which can lead to sexual assaults."

Governor Quinn signed House Bill 1645, sponsored by Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) and Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), to create the Sexual Assault Services and Prevention Fund. An initiative of Lt. Governor Sheila Simon and the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA), the law is designed to support sexual assault prevention efforts and aid the recovery of victims. According to Illinois State Police Uniform Crime Reports, about 15 rapes occur each day but experts agree that only one-third of all rapes are reported. In 2010, 18,349 survivors of sexual assault or sexual abuse were served by the hotlines of ICASA.

Under the new law, grants would be made to provide community-based assistance to victims of sexual assault and for activities to prevent sexual assault from happening. Administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services, the fund will be supported through the new Live Adult Entertainment Facility Surcharge. Club operators will be required to pay a flat surcharge on their gross receipts or impose a $3 surcharge on each patron upon admission. The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2013.

"I thank Governor Quinn for standing up for rape victims and crisis centers across the state," Lt. Governor Simon said. "This new revenue stream will help offset cuts that threatened critical services. When a sexual assault victim goes to a police station or a survivor calls a hotline, we need trained staff ready to respond. This bill helps to keep lights on and doors open, jobs filled and responders trained."

"This law is a victory for rape victims and the dedicated rape crisis centers who work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in communities across the state to provide services to survivors of sexual assault." said Polly Poskin, ICASA Executive Director. "They will benefit from this innovative and important funding stream. We applaud Governor Quinn for signing this groundbreaking bill." Poskin noted that Chicago will be hosting the National Sexual Assault Conference from August 22-24.

"Gas taxes go for road-building; gambling fees fund addiction services. This is based on the same principle," said Sen. Hutchinson. "Let's work towards a society that understands that violence against women is totally unacceptable. Finding a way to fund these services is critical."

Governor Quinn also signed House Bill 5689 to create the Eradicate Domestic Violence Task Force, sponsored by Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) and Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park). An initiative of Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown, the law paves the way for development of a statewide voluntary prevention course for high school students based on the Step Back program.

Step Back was developed by Sarah's Inn, a not-for-profit that set up a pilot program at Oak Park and River Forest High School. It consists of a daily, 9 week, 45 minute session course designed to increase awareness of domestic violence, sexual assault, date rape, bullying and suicide.

Under the new law, the Task Force will be comprised of 27 experts and advocates who will and report to the General Assembly by April 1, 2013. The law is effective immediately.

"I am thrilled the governor signed this bill," Clerk Brown said. "Eradicating domestic violence is dear to my heart: I was a victim of domestic violence as a teen. If we can show our youth alternatives to violence and teach them self-esteem, we can help them understand that no one should be a victim." The statewide program will be administered and staffed by Clerk of the Court employees.

"The innovative Step Back initiative is already changing behavior - one student at a time - at my alma mater, Oak Park and River Forest High School," Rep. Lilly said. "These teens are getting lessons to last a lifetime."

"We applaud these actions to make violence prevention a priority," said Regina Botterill, Executive Director of Sarah's Inn, a 30-year old agency that helps battered women in Chicago's Austin neighborhood and 22 suburban towns. "Sarah's Inn and all involved with the Step Back program at Oak Park and River Forest High School are honored to be part of the process."

In addition, Governor Quinn signed House Bill 5264 to allow prosecutors to use prior domestic violence offenses as evidence in first- and second-degree murder cases involving domestic violence. Sponsored by Rep. Art Turner (D-Chicago) and Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-Crystal Lake), the bill passed unanimously in both chambers and was supported by Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez. It is effective immediately.

Earlier this week, Governor Quinn signed House Bill 5922, sponsored by Rep William Cunningham (D-Chicago) and Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge), to expedite the process of serving "no-contact" notices to stalkers. Law enforcement authorities and process servers will now be able to use a shorter form to stop stalkers in their tracks. It also allows law enforcement officials to detain a respondent for a reasonable time to prepare and serve a short form "no-contact" order. Proposed by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, the bill - which passed unanimously in both chambers - amends the Illinois Stalking No Contact Order Act and Civil No Contact Order Act.

HB 5922 takes effect Jan. 1, 2013.

AMES, Iowa - Iowa State University awarded 831 students degrees at the end of the summer term. The university awarded 519 undergraduate degrees, 195 master's degrees, and 117 doctor of philosophy degrees.

Of the students receiving bachelor's degrees, 50 graduated "With Distinction" (cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude) and 5 students graduated "With Distinction" and as members of the Honors Program.

Those graduates from our area include :

from Bettendorf:

Emily Kristine Bisbee, BS, Kinesiology and Health
Brett Thomas Bueker, BS, Kinesiology and Health;
Drew Allen Iannone, BS, Biology
Abigail Marie Kline, BS, Child, Adult, and Family Services
Andrew Kyle Marsh, BS, Management
Justin William Rice, PHD, Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology (LAS)
Carleigh Ann Rose, BS, Apparel Merchandising, Design, and Production
Joseph Anthony Tisinger, BS, Accounting
Joseph Anthony Tisinger, BS, Finance
Sarah Brianne Tisinger, BS, Journalism and Mass Communication

from Davenport, IA:

Jennifer R. Curta Leptien, PHD, Human Development and Family Studies
Matthew Jeffrey Schlue, BS, Management Information Systems
Aaron James Sedam, BS, Finance

and from Moline, IL:

Courtney Elizabeth Carson, BS, Apparel Merchandising, Design, and Production
Mark Andrew Krismanits, Finance
Mark Andrew Krismanits, BS, Management;

Greetings Fellow Republicans,

Earlier this month people across the country, including thousands upon thousands in Iowa, came out in support of Chick-fil-A restaurant. Together they gave Chick-fil-A it's largest day of business ever in a show of support for the free speech rights of it's CEO Dan Cathy.

The Republican Party of Iowa strongly values freedom of speech and the ability for everyone, regardless of political or religious belief to express themselves. Today I am proud to unveil our newest program, an initiative appropropriately deemed, "The Patriot Club"

Join the Patriot Club with a $10 monthly donation and you'll automatically receive a $10 gift card to Chick-fil-A as a special gift from the Republican Party of Iowa! We'll even mail the gift card right to your home.


We believe Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy has the right to express his political beliefs, even if they are not seen as politically correct by liberals. If you agree, then please join the Patriot Club today and help us defend this important personal liberty. This new program will allow us to focus even more time, energy and resources on getting Republicans elected statewide. It will also allow the party to save money, better plan for the future and put additional resources into our solid candidates throughout Iowa.

Click here to learn more about the Patriot Club and get your $10 Chick-fil-A gift card!

I am also very excited to announce the Republican Party of Iowa has a brand new website! My staff and I have been working very hard to redesign our website and ensure Republican voters, activists and candidates have the tools they need to be successful. Over time this new website will grow and have even more tremendous features. The address is the same as before: www.IowaGOP.org but you will find it has been given a complete makeover.

On the new website you will find upcoming events in your area, information about Republican candidates running for office at the federal, state and local level, as well as the latest news and press releases from the Party. You will be able to sign up to volunteer and get updates on events in your area. Visit our new website by clicking here.

Everyone here at the Republican Party of Iowa is thrilled to roll out the new website. We believe it will give us a competitive advantage this election cycle and we hope you like it as much as we do!

 

To Victory,


A.J. Spiker
Chairman, Republican Party of Iowa

P.S. I am tremendously excited to unveil both our brand new website and our "Patriot Club" program. Help us defend freedom of speech and support Republican candidates this November and receive your $10 Chick-fil-A gift card as a special thank you from the Republican Party of Iowa. Click here to join the Patriot Club with an initial $10 donation.

SPRINGFIELD - August 17, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

 

Bill No.: HB 587

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Provides that a park district may increase the property tax levy, but does not allow park districts to increase taxes.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 3806

An Act Concerning: Minors

Changes the definition of "chronic truant" in the Juvenile Court Act to mirror the definition in the School Code.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 3859

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Requires counties and municipalities that agree to share or rebate a retailers' occupation tax to file reports with Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR), and requires IDOR to post these reports on its website.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 4078

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Allows the Illinois Toll Highway Authority to construct railroad tracks along the tollway system after receiving the governor's written approval.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 4190

An Act Concerning: State Government

Amends the Illinois False Claims Act to provide that, unless opposed by the state, the court should dismiss false claim actions if the allegations or transaction were publicly disclosed and specified conditions are met.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 4479

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Recognizing new, nationally-recognized certification language regarding pre-engineered installers to the Fire Equipment Distributor and Employee Regulation Act of 2011, and increases licensing fees; allows Office of the State Fire Marshall to impose fines for violations of the act; extends the repeal of the act to Jan. 1, 2023; and eliminates the Fire Equipment Distributor and Employee Advisory Board.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 4563

An Act Concerning: State Government

Permits facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) to reduce the number of beds without approval of the Health Facilities and Services Review Board.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 4606

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Requires daycare facilities to test for radon.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 4673

An Act Concerning: Firearms

Allows a local law enforcement officer to retain his/her FOID card, if he/she has been a patient in a mental health institution within the past five years, provided the officer has not been involuntarily admitted or an inpatient for longer than 30 days.

Action: Amendatorily Vetoed

 

Bill No.: HB 4749

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Allows courts to appoint special prosecutors from the Office of the Attorney General, the States' Attorney Appellate Defender or other local states' attorney's offices before appointing a private attorney to act as a special prosecutor in the case of the state's attorney's absence.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 4862

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Clarifies that only low speed vehicles manufactured after Jan. 1, 2010 are required to obtain title certificates.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 4863

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Subjects a vehicle to seizure and forfeiture if the offender's license was revoked following certain violations of a local ordinance, the Criminal Code, or laws of another state.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 4937

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

States that a local, municipal or county law enforcement agency entitled to receive a portion of forfeiture proceeds may share proceeds through an intergovernmental agreement with a municipality that has a population in excess of 20,000 if specified conditions are met.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 4962

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Requires that if a county board opts to have their members elected by districts, then each district must be substantially equal in population. The law also makes a technical change regarding fees.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5050

An Act Concerning: Public Health

Allows post-surgical recovery care centers to discharge patients less than 24 hours after treatment, if appropriate, and permits blood products to be administered in such centers.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5062

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Eliminates requirement that minors who are under the age of 14 and who are or will be represented by a guardian ad litem be personally served with process in adoption cases.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5109

An Act Concerning: Insurance

Changes the makeup of a board of trustees for a dental service plan corporation.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5121

An Act Concerning: Corrections

Prohibits inmates of the Department of Corrections who are serving time for attempting to commit terrorism from receiving more than 4.5 days of good conduct credit for each month of his or her sentence.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5145

An Act Concerning: State Government

Permits up to 2 percent of the Abandoned Mined Lands funding to be spent on non-coal reclamation projects and deletes times limits on the obligation of such expenditures.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5180

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Requires the Illinois Department of Transportation to develop a policy to inform the public of construction projects that result in lane reductions or street closures for a period longer than five consecutive business days.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5189

An Act Concerning: State Government

Allows the state comptroller to disburse employee payroll payments or expense reimbursements to a secure check account.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: 30 days after becoming law

 

Bill No.: HB 5207

An Act Concerning: Elections

Removes reference to constitutional amendments in a section regarding petitions being

added to election ballots if 95 percent of the signatures have been found valid.

Action: Amendatorily Vetoed

 

Bill No.: HB 5221

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Strengthens compliance requirements for employers pertaining to income withholding orders for child support payments.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5235

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Amends the current child pornography statute to add violations and respective penalties.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5236

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Reduces the size of the Jackson-Union Counties Regional Port District Board from 23 members to seven, and eliminates all members currently appointed by local mayors.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5250

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Restructures penalties for the manufacturing, delivery of, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, any substance containing hydrocodone, dihydrocodeinone, dihydrocodeine, oxycodone, or any of the salts, isomers and salts of isomers, or analog of those substances.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5265

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Revises child abduction statute to add as a violation luring or attempting to lure a child under the age of seventeen while the child is traveling to or from a primary or secondary school.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5314

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Allows a lessor to use electronic mail to notify a lessee of damage to property before withholding any part of the security deposit.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5319

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Allows sanitary districts to sell or distribute treated wastewater to any public or private entity.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5353

An Act Concerning: Wildlife

Extends the rabbit hunting season by one month.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5359

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Makes several technical changes to the Real Estate License Act.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5441

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Amends the powers and duties of the State Appellate Defender.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5478

An Act Concerning: Insurance

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code to add records exempted under Section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act to the list of records that the Department of Insurance is not required to disclose for public inspection.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5480

An Act Concerning: Government

Allows organizations desiring to be designated as a qualified organization for the purposes of receiving voluntary payroll deductions to submit electronic designations on forms approved by the State Comptroller; lowers the number of employees that must submit designations.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5548

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Amends the Hospital Licensing Act to enable a staff member to retain a personal attorney in the event that the hospital renders an adverse decision regarding the staff member's employment status or clinical privileges.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5586

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Entitles a resident of a mental health facility operated via a contract with the Department of Human Services (DHS), who has been transferred to another facility due to closures, to the same rights provided to residents of a DHS-operated mental health facility.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5606

An Act Concerning: Corrections

Makes it illegal to possess any product containing a methamphetamine precursor without a prescription if the individual has been convicted of a crime under the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5635

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Includes coroners in the training provided by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB), and makes coroners eligible to receive waivers from the training requirements.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5682

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Requires professionals who carry weapons to have proper safety training and provides exemptions if professionals have certain levels of training.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5685

An Act Concerning: State Government

Allows the Department of Natural Resources to remove from and deny further entry to any nature preserve any person or persons engaging in illegal or disorderly conduct, and imposes fees for reinstatement of suspended licenses.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5749

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Allows the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor to assist State's Attorneys in post-conviction proceedings; allows the director of the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor to contract out for investigators.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5752

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Makes technical changes to the Illinois Dental Practice Act.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5880

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Makes several changes to the Emergency Medical Services Systems Act, which will benefit Illinois' rural communities.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5893

An Act Concerning: State Government

Enables the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to encourage convention centers to provide free space to farmers' markets in the event of bad weather.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: HB 5899

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Allows counties to enter into intergovernmental agreements with forest preserve districts within the county that would exempt the forest preserve district from county zoning ordinances.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5922

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Provides that a law enforcement official may serve a respondent with a short form notification of a civil no contact order or a stalking no contact order, and makes changes to the process for serving no contact orders.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 555

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Amends the Emergency Telephone System Act to allow Emergency Telephone Systems Boards to utilize computer-aided dispatch and hosted supplemental 9-1-1 technologies.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 1351

An Act Concerning: State Government

Updates the Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Act.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 2559

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Creates a pilot study to determine the effect of amending the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 on forensic bed capacity at state-operated mental health centers.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 2945

An Act Concerning: Health

Allows employers of for-profit, cancer-based medical or hospital treatment centers to not hire, or to discharge, discipline and alter the pay, benefits and working conditions of any employee who uses tobacco products.

Action: Vetoed


Bill No.: SB 3202

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Amends  provisions regarding regulation of community association managers and caps the amount of fees that can be charged. Provides that all information collected by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation with respect to community association managers is confidential.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3252

An Act Concerning: Education

Clarifies the maximum tax rates when creating unit districts under the School Code.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3336

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Allows in-line skaters to skate on roadways and bike lanes.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3337

An Act Concerning: Children

Removes obsolete statutory language regarding a series of status reports that were successfully issued to the General Assembly in 1994, 1995 and 1996 by the Department of Children and Family Services.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3367

An Act Concerning: Education

Requires the State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Secretary of State to adopt course content standards for driver's education in district-run courses and commercial driving schools; makes changes to the school waiver requirements for public hearings, and makes more stringent vehicle inspection requirements.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3433

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Provides that sealed criminal records may be disseminated by the Illinois State Police only to arresting authorities, State's Attorneys and courts, and only in the case of a later arrest for the same or similar offense, or for sentencing for any subsequent felony.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3533

An Act Concerning: Wildlife

Broadens the definition of a gun case in the Wildlife Code to include any case, firearm carrying box, shipping box or other specified container.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3538

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Allows optometrists to keep records at an off-site storage facility; allows the state to take non-disciplinary action for violations; and provides that fines are to be deposited into the Optometric Licensing and Disciplinary Board Fund.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3549

An Act Concerning: Child Support

Permits the court to require a person who is self-employed and is found guilty of failure to comply with a child support order to provide the court with monthly financial statements, to seek employment and to periodically advise the court of those efforts, or to report to the Department of Employment Security for job search services.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3552

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Includes payments to trusts to the list of debtor's property exempt from judgment, attachment or distress for rent.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3635

An Act Concerning: Education

Allows a community college to accept a gift or grant that requires the use of a particular contractor if specified conditions are met.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3677

An Act Concerning: Human Rights

Establishes procedures relating to a petition for enforcement, or a petition to modify or set aside a subpoena issued by the Attorney General, and establishes the circuit courts' jurisdiction over these petitions.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1


Bill No.: SB 3724

An Act Concerning: State Government

Provides Capital Development Board (CDB) with additional time to review and adopt the latest edition of the International Energy Conservation Code.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3764

An Act Concerning: Business

Amends Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: July 1

###


Springfield, IL... On Friday the Governor called a Special Session for lawmakers to consider pension reform to save the State's growing pension crisis, however, no true reform was enacted.

State Representative Rich Morthland (R-Cordova) was disappointed with the legislation presented and voted against Senate Bill 3168 Amendment #3 because it lacked the needed reform.

"Today's Special Session was nothing more than a political theatre," said Morthland. "It was disappointing that no meaningful pension reform was presented to us. Illinois needs a comprehensive package and not to merely put a one-quarter of one-percent dent in an $83 billion problem. You can't fix big problems with bad bills. I strongly oppose the Governor's plan to shift the cost of our pension problem to downstate and suburban taxpayers. Nothing was accomplished today because the Governor has spent more time talking to the media than he has working with the leaders and lawmakers to come up with a fair and comprehensive solution."

In addition to pension reform, the Illinois House of Representatives voted in favor 100-6 to expel indicted State Representative Derrick Smith (D-Chicago) from the Illinois House. Rep. Smith was arrested March 13, following an undercover investigation by the FBI; Smith now faces federal bribery charges for allegedly accepting a $7,000 cash bribe.

Rep. Rich Morthland voted in favor of expelling indicted State Representatives Derrick Smith.

"After the culmination of a several-months long internal House investigation by two bi-partisan committees, it is clear former-Representative Smith severely violated his oath of office and abused his position and the public trust." said Morthland. "Smith's actions have given our state yet another black-eye. It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in this place. I take no pride or joy in expelling another member of the House."

 #####

Ballet Quad Cities' 2nd Annual

Bowling to Banish Bullying

Team Registration Now Open


Sign your Team up today!

 

You don't want to miss this fun evening

 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2012

5:45 - 10:30 pm

(teams will be scheduled in 3 shifts)

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BLACKHAWK BOWL & MARTINI LOUNGE

HOTEL BLACKHAWK

200 E. 3rd Street

DAVENPORT, IA

 

http://blackhawkbowl.com/

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BALLET QUAD CITIES is hosting the 2nd annual

"Bowling to Banish Bullying" to raise funds for our

ongoing bullying prevention outreach programs in area elementary schools and we are looking for TEAMS!

 

Bowl for ONE hour to pay for ONE child to have an interactive school visit and see a live performance of

The Ugly Duckling. All of our professional dancers are trained in the nationally recognized

Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.

 

Last year we reached 8,500 Quad City kids with our outstanding message!

 

 

Teams of six bowling to banish bullying!

$40 per person / $240 per team

$10 for spectators at the door

 

Heavy appetizers, one drink ticket per person, one hour of bowling and shoes are included in your registration fee ~ Cash bar


 

Questions?

 

Call (309) 786-3779

 

E-mail dkosterballetqc@sbcglobal.net

Dress for Success Quad Cities Helps Put More Local Women to Work with Implementation of Successful

Job Preparation Program

The Going Places Network by Walmart was created in response to the demands of today's challenging economic climate and serves as a safety net for local women who have been unable to acquire a job. The program launched in 60 affiliates across the U.S. in 2011 and enjoyed great success during its first year. Highlights include :

  • Nearly 3,000 women participated in the Going Places Network by Walmart in 2011.
  • At least 41% of women who completed the program secured employment by the conclusion of their cohort.
  • All of the women who participated in the program gained valuable skills, knowledge and experiences to assist them with searching for employment, attaining their individualized personal and professional goals, and ultimately achieving self-sufficiency.

Walmart donated $2 million to help Dress for Success Worldwide support The Going Places Network and its 60 participating affiliate locations across the U.S. This program gives disadvantaged women across the country the added confidence they need to better compete in this challenging job market by providing women with very specific tools and resources that they need to successfully land a job.

Dress for Success Quad Cities is one of three new affiliates that is considered a "top performing" affiliate and was invited to join in the second year of the national program. Dress for Success Quad Cities is currently reaching out to recruit local unemployed women to join the first cohort group. The Going Places Network by Walmart will meet twice a week for six weeks starting in September 2012 and two cohort groups are planned.

The program is not available to the general public. Women must either be one of their previously "suited" clients who remains unemployed or be referred by one of Dress for Success QC's approved Referral Partnering agencies. Referral Partners are nonprofit organizations or institutions that are helping low-income or displaced women with training, rehabilitation, transitional housing, or could be a local workforce development program such as Promise Jobs or Iow@ Work.

Dress for Success has more than 120 affiliates globally and served an estimated 65,000 women last year through its nationwide efforts. The Going Places Network by Walmart helps disadvantaged women gain professional skills, accelerate their job search and build confidence.

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are committed to funding opportunities that provide workforce training and development. Read more about the Walmart Foundation's efforts to help people get back to work.

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About Dress for Success Quad Cities

 

Dress for Success Quad Cities initiative was started in July 2010 by Regina Haddock of Davenport, Iowa. Regina has an M.S. Ed degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and has worked in student support and career services, as well as program development and management. She was working part time as an advisor for the lia sophia jewelry company, a major corporate sponsor of Dress for Success, and was inspired to start an affiliate in the Quad Cities!

On November 1, 2011, doors opened to low resource women who were entering or re-entering the workforce. Referrals from agencies started to trickle in. We received a $2,500 equipment grant from the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend and were later awarded a $30,000 grant from the Scott County Regional Authority for supplies and equipment. In December 2011, our founder was awarded Royal Neighbors of America's Nation of Neighbors award for $7,500, to allow her to continue to develop this new affiliate.

Community support continues to grow! Early grants were followed in 2012 by a generous $30,000 match grant from the Hubbell-Waterman Foundation of Davenport, Iowa, and smaller grants by the following: Alcoa Community Chest, Modern Woodmen of America, Moline Foundation, King's Daughters Jane Addams Circle, and others.

 

Volunteers are always welcome and new board member positions are available. Visit our website for more information: www.dressforsuccess.org/quadcities

 

 

About Philanthropy at Walmart

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support initiatives that are helping people live better around the globe. In May 2010, Walmart and its Foundation made a historic pledge of $2 billion through 2015 to fight hunger in the U.S. The Walmart Foundation also supports education, workforce development, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness initiatives. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

Men Have Been in Decline for a Century, Author Says

These days, the glimpse of a naked body after being misdirected to a porn site is no shock to the average internet user. What may prove more surprising is the pornography industry's statistics, compiled worldwide, wherein a second is worth 1,000 images -- or more:

• $3,075.64 is spent on pornography ... every second
• 28,258 internet users view pornography ... every second
• 372 internet users type porn terms into search engines ... every second

"There have been several surveys about who's viewing internet pornography and what consequences they're experiencing, and the findings are disquieting," says Jim Wysong, author of The Neutering of the American Male (www.TheNeuteringoftheAmericanMale.com).

"In a 20,000-person study recently conducted by TED.com, porn is the most prevalently cited obstacle for romantic relationships between men and women in their teens and 20s. Women say guys are emotionally unavailable, and men say porn makes them less interested in pursuing a relationship.

"In reality, men have been compromising their masculine nature for several decades."

A lack of involvement by fathers in raising their sons; the overuse of prescription and illegal drugs; and uncertainty about their gender role have set American boys and men back, Wysong says.

"We all have a need to feel significant, to be accepted and loved, but those issues  prevent some males from developing fulfilling relationships," Wysong says.

"Sexual intimacy is typically a byproduct of emotional intimacy. Unfortunately, when people don't have a fulfilling relationship, their sexual desires don't disappear."

Men are often more visual and physical, so they're able to use pornography to meet some of that need in the short term. But in the long run, they also need the emotional support, nurturing and deeper connection with a partner, he says.

"It becomes a vicious cycle: Males turn to pornography seeking to satisfy unmet needs, and pornography addiction makes it extremely difficult to achieve the balanced, loving relationship that would meet their emotional needs," he says.

A Canadian study found that one in three teenage boys are "heavy porn users,'' and an Italian study reveals that a large percentage of men there suffer from "sexual anorexia," a temporary impotence, in their 20s because they were heavily into pornography in their teens, Wysong notes.

Parents, especially fathers, need to sit down with their sons and discuss sex. The lack of dialogue leaves young males to seek the answers to their curiosity on their own. Unfortunately, many turn to porn, which does not portray sex in a healthy and balanced way.

One of the most destructive things about it is that it portrays women as something to be used rather than valued and respected, Wysong says.

"Fortunately, this is something that can be remedied, both on a physical and a mental level," he says.

If you're concerned that you or a loved one is addicted to porn, Wysong suggests taking this self test from www.recoveryconnection.org:

1. Do you feel guilty or ashamed after looking at pornography?
2. Do you look forward to being alone so you can look at pornography?
3. Has pornography negatively affected your personal relationships, your job, or your finances?
4. Do you find that you have been looking at an increasing amount of pornography over time?
5. Do you look at pornography when you are bored, anxious, or lonely?

A yes to one or more of these questions may indicate a need for a quality treatment program.

About Jim Wysong

Jim Wysong is a businessman, contractor and real estate investor who spent more than 30 years observing and studying psychology and human behavior through workshops, seminars and textbooks. His efforts to better understand his own emotional discomfort led to theories that have universal applications in modern society.

First, kudos to Mitt Romney for choosing Paul Ryan as his running mate. Now, the danger: Romney, Ryan, their surrogates, their supporters and the American people will continue to treat election 2012 as just another contest to determine whose hand is at the helm of state for the next four years.

No, this election is for keeps. If Barack Obama doesn't lose his bid for a second term, he and his vast, left-wing support network of Marx-inspired think tanks, strategists and elected officials will fulfill Obama's 2008 campaign promise to "fundamentally" transform this nation, thus bringing the American experiment in liberty to what could be the final curtain.

This is not idle hyperbole. I have just finished Aaron Klein and Brenda J. Elliott's chilling new book, "Fool Me Twice: Obama's Shocking Plans for the Next Four Years Exposed" (WND Books). I recommend it as must-reading for all Americans, but particularly for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. In their run for the White House, the GOP standard-bearers don't seem to realize what they are up against - and, by extension, what lies in store for us all if they are not victorious in November.

"Fool Me Twice" is Klein and Elliott's third in-depth political study of Obama. "The Manchurian President" (2010) examines Obama's lifelong ties to anti-American radicals; "Red Army" (2011) explores Obama White House links to the Marx-inspired policy world where, in research papers and "progressive" legislation, the foundations of Obamacare, for example, went unnoticed for years before being passed in 2010.

Having learned to track the left's policymaking subculture, the authors now turn to what an Obama second term likely holds. To this end, they examined thousands of documents, including initiatives from the Center for American Progress, or CAP (the Obama administration's "idea factory," as Time magazine calls it); sundry pieces of legislation introduced by "progressives" in Congress; and both well-known promises and little-known executive orders issued by Obama himself. The book-length result is what Klein describes as "the secret template for Obama's next four years - the one actually created by Obama's own top advisers and strategists."

In meticulous detail, the authors lay out the plans of Obama and his allies to, among other things: reconceive of U.S. defense as a fight against "climate change," national sovereignty and other leftist bogeymen; "green"-ify the U.S. energy industry; open U.S. borders and register illegal aliens who are soon to be given amnesty by Obama (and who overwhelmingly vote Democrat); and, of course, move to a single-payer government health-care system. From the morass of technical jargon and policy wonkdom the authors sift through emerges a terrifyingly sharp image of centralized federal control of practically everything - even political dissent on the airwaves via the so-called Fairness Doctrine.

This not-so-nascent form of totalitarian power is what the 2012 election is all about. Whether they realize it - and they don't - Americans are about to decide whether to empower the increasingly dictatorial executive branch of Barack Hussein Obama, whose future plans to distort "checks and balances" promises to transform the U.S. government out of all recognition, or to break the momentum of government centralization by electing Romney-Ryan.

Most Americans, ill-served by mum media and silent politicians, will be shocked at the executive branch usurpation of powers Klein and Elliott describe as being in the hopper, and always at the expense of the people through the steady attrition of congressional powers. For example, there are plans "to wrest budgetary control from Congress" of Pentagon purse strings and vest them in an "independent panel," and ideas to strip Congress of its powers over immigration by empowering a White House panel to allocate all visas. Other centralizing and, in fact, truly fascist ideas afoot include plans for a federal "green bank," which would use taxpayer dollars to finance "clean" energy companies (such as the notorious and now-bankrupt company Solyndra), as well as a national infrastructure "bank," which, as the authors put it, "would concentrate even more power in Washington while creating a giant cesspool for government cronyism and corruption."

All of which is to say, this election is not merely about jobs or deficit spending or fixing Medicare, as the Romney-Ryan ticket would have us believe. Such blinkers only lull the electorate into complacency and, worse, preserve the Obama machine's politics-as-usual cover.

Election 2012 is anything but politics as usual. It is an existential crisis. For many reasons, I would vote for my dog over Obama-Biden, not least of which is that she always warns me of danger. Romney-Ryan must find the courage and love of country to do the same.

www.wnd.com/2012/08/why-republics-fate-really-does-hang-on-election/


ABOUT YOUR GUEST: Aaron Klein is a New York Times bestselling author, journalist and radio host. He is senior reporter for WND and hosts "Aaron Klein Investigative Radio" on New York's WABC Radio, the nation's largest talk station. Klein's program is one of only two weekend shows in the U.S. to make the Talkers Heavy Hundred official list of top American radio shows. His previous books include Red Army, The Manchurian President, The Late Great State of Israel and Schmoozing with Terrorists.

ABOUT YOUR GUEST: Brenda J. Elliott is an award-winning historian, researcher and New York Times bestselling author. She is the blogger who created RezkoWatch (RW), TheRealBarackObama (RBO) and RBO2. She has appeared on hundreds of radio shows, contributed to numerous investigative articles and publications and is the co-author of Red Army and The Manchurian President.

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