The State Journal-Register The text of the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act opens with these words: “This Act shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes, which are to provide adequate procedures for the certification and registration of a civil union and provide persons entering into a […]
Archives for 2011
Civil union couples spread throughout central Illinois
December 27, 2011 By
By DOUG FINKE (doug.finke@sj-r.com) The State Journal-Register All but one county in the Springfield area has issued civil union licenses since the law creating civil unions in Illinois went into effect June 1. The sole exception is Cass County west of Springfield. More than 150 civil union licenses have been issued in […]
Ghost of Christmas Future
December 16, 2011 By
Rep. Greg Harris • 13th District Springfield Update • December 16, 2011 The Ghost Of Christmas Future A few facts for the week some Illinois corporations got new tax breaks: CME Group had record third quarter earnings: net income rising 29% and a one quarter profit of 1/3 of a billion dollars. Illinois had […]
State will let couples in civil unions file joint tax returns
December 2, 2011 By
By Jamey Dunn Illinois couples in civil unions will now be required to file their state tax returns in the same way as married couples. The new plan is a reversal from a previous policy, under which couples in civil unions could not file state taxes together. The Illinois Department of Revenue had decided […]
Budget Restorations, Breast Cancer, Corporate Tax Breaks
November 30, 2011 By
Rep. Greg Harris • 13th District Springfield Update • November 30, 2011 Budget Restorations, Breast Cancer, Corporate Tax Breaks Budget Restorations: In yesterday’s session of the General Assembly, we restored funding to many critically needed human service and education programs, funded the MAP Grant program to keep students enrolled in college, and funded […]
AIDS: Delivering life-Open Hand Chicago starts rolling out meals
November 28, 2011 By
On the blustery cold Christmas Eve night of 1988, Greg Harris found himself driving in circles. With just one hot meal left to deliver in Rogers Park and the temperature plummeting, Harris considered going home. He couldn’t find the building, and he and another volunteer had been driving for hours. A few months earlier, in […]
Mortgage Assistance Seminar
November 18, 2011 By
Rep. Greg Harris • 13th District Mortgage Assistance Seminar Please join State Reps. Kelly Cassidy & Greg Harris, State Sen. Heather Steans & Alderman James Cappleman for a Mortgage Assistance Seminar being held at 1145 W. Wilson Ave. in Truman College’s McKeon Building on Tuesday November 29, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 […]
Catholic Social Services Splits From Illinois Diocese, Will Offer Same-Sex Adoptions
November 14, 2011 By
Catholic Social Services splits from Illinois diocese, will offer same-sex adoptions November 11, 2011 Pledging to adhere to state legislation requiring equal treatment for same-sex couples in adoption and foster-care services, Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois is separating from the Diocese of Belleville. The agency will now be called Christian Social Services of Illinois. […]
Veto Session 2011, Week 2
November 14, 2011 By
Rep. Greg Harris • 13th District Springfield Update • November 14, 2011 Veto Session 2011, Week 2 There were a number of important issues acted on in Week 2 of the 2011 Veto Session, including: Stabilization of Unemployment Insurance Program Creation of new health insurance option for Illinois children Loophole closure delaying court-ordered […]
Rep. Harris Votes ‘NO’ on ComEd Rate Hikes.
October 29, 2011 By
October 26, 2011 (SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) (WLS) — Illinois lawmakers voted Wednesday to override Governor Pat Quinn’s veto of the smart grid legislation. The bill which is now law will raise rates and help ComEd fund a massive upgrade to its system. The new law will allow for rate hikes of at least $3 a month for […]