Subject: The Advocate, Update, March 28, 2003 From: Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 12:11:37 EST
Hello Advocates,
2003 has been a very busy and productive year so far for MS Advocates. Here is an update of where we stand to date.
Income Tax Checkoff As of 3/21/03, we have $42,000 checked off by taxpayers for multiple sclerosis. We are almost half way to the needed amount of $100,000. That $100,000 amount will ensure we remain a deduction on next year's Illinois income tax return. Please tell everyone you know (if they have not filed yet) to check off Line 28G on the Illinois 2002 Income Tax Return, and ask them to be as generous as possible. Also, Carl Alston of our Chapter's PR Department, has promotional material such as door hangers to help us get the word out. You can contact Carl at 312-423-1160.
"Circuit Breaker" Legislation, HB1436 And SB293 This is legislation that provides assistance and a safety net for people with MS in Illinois who need help paying for MS prescription drugs. Because of the hard work and tenacity of you and all those phone calls to our Illinois legislators, this legislation (against all odds) stands a good chance of passage. At present the above two Circuit Breaker, companion bills have each passed one chamber of the Illinois Legislature. So we are half way there. At the appropriate time, I will be emailing you an Action Alert to call your State of Illinois legislators to support passage of this important legislation. Know who your legislators are and their phone numbers. Here is a link if you need to find out:
http://www.elections.state.il.us/DLS/Pages/DLSAddressCrit.asp
Emergency Evacuation For Persons With Disabilities From High Rise Buildings, HB3095 We are amending the legislation we passed in 2002 to strengthen the language so that when it becomes law, starting January, 2004, there will be no gray areas or ambiguities. Right now, HB3095 is moving nicely through the legislative committees and Illinois legislature. Last week, HB3095 passed the Illinois House of Representatives with a vote of 115-Yes, 2-No, 1-Excused Absence, 0-Present. I am told the two "No" votes were a procedural error. Rep. Jim Meyer of Bolingbrook was our lead sponsor, and we thank him for his leadership. Sen. Maggie Crotty, a longtime friend of people with MS, will be our lead sponsor in the Illinois Senate. If this legislation needs any help, we will let you know.
The Advocacy/Government Relations Committee is presently supporting legislation it feels will benefit people with multiple sclerosis:
HB0484, Assistive Telephone Equipment For People With Disabilities
SB1430, Health Care Justice Act
HB2517, RTA Funding
HB3445, Discount Pharmaceuticals For Seniors And People With Disabilities
We were also supporting HB0125, Property Tax Relief For Persons With Disabilities. Unfortunately, HB0125 has been killed since it did not pass out of committee. HB0125, needless to say, was a victim of our State's financial problems.
Also, myself; advocate George McCague; advocate George Treiguts; Angela Justice, Vice President of Programming; and Pam Swenk, President, Greater Illinois Chapter, will be representing people with MS in the State of Illinois at the upcoming National MS Society, Issues & Empowerment Conference, in Washington, DC, May 3-6. We will address Federal MS advocacy issues, especially Medicare reform and Medicaid budget cuts, and federal dollars for MS research.
Well, there is where we stand so far in 2003. I certainly believe we can all be proud of where we currently are, but we still have more work ahead of us in the upcoming months. Please email me back with your comments. I love hearing from you.
Yolanda Treiguts, Chair
Advocacy/Government Relations Committee
Greater Illinois Chapter
National MS Society