VERNON HILLS – Legislation sponsored by Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) would require that the Lake County Board Chairman be elected countywide instead of just by board members.

“I wholeheartedly believe that the voters should directly determine who runs their county,” Link said. “This benefits the county by providing a more direct democracy in determining how the county is run.”

Legislation regarding how the Lake County Board chairman would be elected was recently discussed by a Lake County Board committee.

Link applauds Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor for joining his initiative to make the county more responsive to the voter. Link plans to file legislation putting the issue of an elected county chairman to a vote in 2018. If successful, the first election for county board chairman would be in 2020.

“I am happy Chairman Lawlor believes giving the voters a true voice in who runs the day-to-day operations of the county is a good idea,” Link said. “Bottom line here is the people of Lake County will be the winners.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) had the following response to the governor’s budget address:

“We saw today that we have a governor who continues to hold social service providers and higher education hostage for his political gain. The Senate has been working in a bipartisan fashion to provide the governor with an opportunity to put Illinois back on a path towards a balanced budget,” Link said. “But instead of joining us in that fight, he shied away from the opportunity to lead.”

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois residents with multiple sclerosis could receive easier access to medically necessary physical therapy without the fear of burdensome limits or calendar year maximums.

“People struggling with multiple sclerosis need access to physical therapy to delay or prevent future problems,” State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) said.

Legislation Link is proposing this year, Senate Bill 193, would require all insurance companies to cover all physical therapy treatments for people with multiple sclerosis without treatment limitation or calendar year maximums.  It means that patients with MS would no longer be subject to waiting periods, cost sharing limits and other limits.

“It is unfathomable that those who struggle with multiple sclerosis are not being allowed to take action that could help them,” Link said. “Insurance companies’ restrictions allow potentially irreversible damage to be done to the patient.”

Currently, insurance companies can limit the number of physical therapy session covered even if more sessions are medically necessary.

SPRINGFIELD–Recently, State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) pushed that gaming expansion should be a part of any potential budget agreement. The comments came during a Senate Gaming hearing on potential gaming expansion legislation.

Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Link, would authorize the building of six new casinos throughout the State of Illinois, including locations in Chicago and Lake County. The proposal will increase revenues for the state and local communities.

“I have always believed that one way to increase revenues in our state is to expand on gaming opportunities,” Link said. “This allows us to put more money into our schools and helps solve the state’s financial problems.”

The legislation also would allow current riverboats or casinos to expand from 1,200 machines per location to 1,600 machines.

“A lot of potential Illinois gaming revenue is leaving the state for Indiana and Wisconsin because there just isn’t the opportunity here at home. That is lost revenue that could help shore up our finances,” Link said.