SPRINGFIELD – Lake County voters are one step closer to being able to elect their county board chairman directly thanks to a measure that passed the Senate Local Government Committee on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 669, sponsored by State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills), would require a referendum be held in 2018 to let the voters decide if they want to directly elect the county board chairman. If the measure passes, the first election for chairman would be in 2020.

“This is about giving the voters the opportunity to hold their county government accountable,” Link said. “The voters should have the right to decide who runs the day-to-day operations of the county services they pay for.”

Currently, the elected board members elect the county board chairman among themselves with very little input from the public.

“Every county surrounding Lake County does this because it is good government,” Link said. “We are way overdue in letting the voters decide who runs their government.”

The measure now moves to the full Senate for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – On Wednesday, Illinois celebrated the 10th anniversary of the passage of the “Smoke Free Illinois” legislation.

Since the passage of Smoke Free Illinois, there has been a nearly 20.5 percent decrease in hospitalization of various diseases related to smoking.

“Smoke-Free Illinois was a major milestone in our efforts to make Illinois a better place to live,” State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) said. “But even with this progress, we cannot rest on our laurels. The next step to help Illinoisans live longer, healthier lives is to keep kids from ever becoming addicted to tobacco by raising the minimum age of sale to 21 years old.”

Link passed a resolution on Wednesday declaring March 29, 2017, as “Smoke Free Illinois Day.” The day recognizes the improved health benefits by Illinois going smoke-free 10 years ago.

“Though Illinois has been smoke free for more than 10 years, the state still faces many issues related to smoking,” Link said. “I hope today shows that we can achieve great things to better the health of all Illinoisans and that we need to continue the push towards a healthier Illinois.”

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois residents with primary or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis would have an opportunity to apply for an exception from treatment limitations. That is if legislation proposed by State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) would become law.

“Restrictions on treatment for the more than 20,000 in Illinois struggling with multiple sclerosis are disappointing,” Link said. “Some of these restrictions mean that someone is not getting the physical therapy they need to delay the symptoms.”

Senate Bill 193 would require that insurance companies offer an exceptions process for patients with multiple sclerosis to request an exception to a treatment limitation. It would also require that the insurance company would have 72 hours to accept or deny the exception request. Limitations include being subject to waiting periods, cost sharing limits and other limits.

“This is a small but important step in ensuring that people struggling with multiple sclerosis receive the care they need,” Link said. “I hope to continue to push for an Illinois that is compassionate and helps those people manage their symptoms appropriately.”

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

The legislation passed the Senate Insurance committee on Wednesday and moves to the full Senate for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – On Tuesday, State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) passed legislation that would expand gaming revenues in the state to help put Illinois’ fiscal house back in order.

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 and would also create thousands of part-time and full-time jobs at casinos and racinos across the state.

“It's no secret that our number one issue is our difficult financial situation,” Link said. “We need to find multiple ways to shore up our fiscal house and by expanding gaming we can do just that.”

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

“We lose gaming revenues daily to Indiana and Wisconsin because of the lack of opportunity,” Link said. “We should take every step we can to keep that money in Illinois so it can be spent on services provided to Illinois residents.”