Senate votes to bar investments in Russia

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Senate approved legislation Wednesday prohibiting the investment of state funds in Russia.

“The Illinois Senate joins the international community in denouncing Russian’s ongoing, unconscionable acts of aggression against the Ukrainian people,” said Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat who sponsored the legislation in the Senate.

The proposed law would require the state to divest or withdraw any existing investments in Russian banks and companies and prohibit such investments going forward.

The Senate’s 50-0 approval on Wednesday sends the proposal (HB 1293) back to the Illinois House for final action.

What else it does:

• Requires state colleges and universities to disclose endowments and donations provided by Russian companies or sources subject to Russia-related sanctions.
• Requires the State Police to investigate property-related crimes involving individuals or companies sanctioned in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
• Gives the Department of Human Services added authority to address Ukrainian refugee resettlement.
• Creates a task force to investigate vulnerabilities in the real estate sector that could facilitate Russian money laundering.
• Creates a task force to recommend state protections against possible Russian or other foreign interference in Illinois elections.

Harmon vows to protect women’s right to choose

CHICAGO - Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) released the following statement on reports indicating that the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade:

“The Supreme Court seems ready to deprive millions of women the right to choose. This is upsetting, but not shocking. It’s why we took so many steps in Illinois to protect this fundamental right.

“The Republican Party continues to disregard the will of the people. This is the most extreme example yet.

“As long as there is a Democratic majority in the Illinois State Senate, women will have their rights protected. We will stand as a bulwark against any efforts to turn back the clock to darker days.”

Senate President Don Harmon on 'Sound of the State' podcast

Senate President Don Harmon reveals his musical side, sharing some favorite songs and fun anecdotes in this episode of our Sound of the State podcast series.

Harmon statement on Legislative Inspector General nomination

SPRINGFIELD – Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement after the State Senate advanced a resolution nominating Judge Michael McCuskey to be the new Legislative Inspector General:

“The position of Legislative Inspector General is too important to stay vacant for as long as it has. An impasse is not an option, so we are taking decisive action to move forward with an excellent candidate.

Judge McCuskey has an impeccable record and is widely known as an extremely ethical person. He has a history of working in a bipartisan manner and a distinguished record as a judge. He was nominated for a federal judgeship by Bill Clinton and confirmed by a Republican-controlled U.S Senate and later served 15 years on the Illinois Supreme Court’s Commission on Professionalism.

I am confident he will serve the State of Illinois well.”