Communities in rural Illinois would face one less obstacle in acquiring broadband internet access under a measure that Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) advanced Wednesday in the General Assembly.

Senate Bill 2237, which passed in the Senate and now goes to the House for consideration, would allow broadband internet providers to use existing highway right-of-ways for laying fiber optic cable.

These are the same right-of-ways that water and sewer utilities use for laying pipe. The property is not productive farmland, suitable for building or used for any purpose other than roadways, nor is it subjected to property taxes.

Currently, individuals who own the land under these highways can choose to delay fiber optic projects indefinitely by refusing to grant access to the broadband providers.

CHICAGO — Illinois State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) and former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords on Thursday called for greater accountability from Illinois gun dealers in an effort to curb violent crime with illegally purchased guns in Chicago and elsewhere in the state.

Harmon is the Senate sponsor of legislation that would give state authorities and police agencies the tools they need to encourage better business practices by federally licensed gun dealers, while holding corrupt gun dealers accountable.

During a news conference in Chicago announcing the formation of a new statewide effort known as the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Coalition, Harmon noted that licensed gun dealers are an important link between gun manufacturers and the public. While most Illinois gun dealers strive to be responsible and do the right thing, he said, other dealers are negligent and engage in practices that fuel illegal gun trafficking.

“Yes, many guns are being trafficked into our communities from outside of the state. But consider this: 40 percent of guns used in crimes in Chicago between 2009 and 2014 came from Illinois,” Harmon said. “And the state of Illinois doesn’t have the tools and authority it needs to combat illegal or negligent business practices that threaten Illinois families.”

The legislation, which is expected to be filed in the Legislature next week, would make the following changes to Illinois law:

— Require criminal background checks for gun dealer employees, who have access to large inventories of guns.

— Require training and education for gun dealer employees so the background check system can work better. Employees need to know how to conduct background checks, identify and stop straw purchases of firearms, and properly store guns to prevent thefts.

— Demand additional accountability from gun dealers by enabling state and law enforcement officials to inspect inventories of licensed gun dealers for missing firearms.

“This type of effort is long overdue in Illinois. We’ve been working on these issues for a long time, and we’ve learned a lot,” Harmon said.

“But the obvious fact to me is that often between a gun manufacturer and a crime scene is someone reporting to be a law-abiding gun owner who is not. This legislation is a commonsense response to a gun violence epidemic that is destroying families and communities.”

Giffords, who survived a 2011 assassination attempt during a meet-and-greet event with constituents in Tucson, and her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, co-founded Americans for Responsible Solutions, which advocates for commonsense solutions to gun violence in America. Giffords and Kelly are gun owners.

During an appearance in Chicago Thursday with Harmon and gun violence prevention advocates, Giffords encouraged Illinois to fight for sensible change.

“Now is the time to come together, be responsible – Democrats, Republicans, everyone,” she said. “We must never stop fighting. Fight, fight, fight. Be bold. Be courageous. The nation’s counting on you.”

Illinois Representative Kathleen Willis (D-Northlake) is sponsoring the legislation in the House.

Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) explains the Fair Tax initiative that's pending in the Illinois Legislature and why he has long supported shifting to a fair tax in a new video.

The proposal would allow Illinois to shelve its archaic flat income tax structure, which is enshrined in the state constitution, and replace it with a fair tax in which lower rates would apply to lower incomes and higher rates would apply to higher incomes.

"I've supported the fair tax for years because I'm convinced it's the only way we get out of this hole we're in in Illinois," Harmon said. "We have no nimbleness in our tax policy. We are very reluctant to raise income taxes because we know how much it hurts working families.

"If we don't have the flexilbity to apply lower rates to lower income levels and higher rates to higher income levels, we'll never dig out of this without raising income tax rates on everybody in the state."

Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), president pro tempore of the Illinois Senate, released the following statement regarding his vote today to approve emergency funding for Illinois universities and human service providers:

“Today the General Assembly voted for intermediate funding to offer some temporary relief for state universities and human service providers that face closure as we continue trying to find areas of compromise with Gov. Rauner.

“The most unfortunate part of today’s vote is that the governor has legislation on his desk that would fully fund universities and human service agencies, rather than give them just enough to keep their doors open for the short term.

“I am frustrated that the state of Illinois’ budgeting process has devolved into a system of bandages and short-term bail outs. ‘A fraction of funding is better than zero funding’ is no way to approach budgeting for state government.”

Roughly 99 percent of Illinois taxpayers and an overwhelming number of small businesses would see an income tax cut under a proposal advanced Tuesday by Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park).

Legislation making its way through the Illinois Senate would amend the Illinois Constitution and permit the General Assembly to enact a fair state income tax, with lower rates applying to lower incomes and higher rates applying to higher incomes.

The amendment – SJRCA 1 – passed in the Senate Executive Committee on Tuesday, clearing the way for it to move to the Senate floor for consideration. Identical legislation is making its way through the Illinois House.

“I firmly believe it is time for Illinois to join the modern era and implement a fair income tax that helps the hardworking people of this state hold on to more of their paychecks,” Harmon said.

“Illinois taxes all residents at a flat rate across the board, regardless of income. This archaic system of penalizing the poor and rewarding the rich is ripe for exactly the kind of meaningful structural reform Gov. Rauner has been demanding.”

The constitutional amendment only would enable the state to enact a fair income tax. Separate Senate legislation – an amendment filed Tuesday to Senate Bill 518, which is sponsored by Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) – would implement the fair tax rates.

Illinois is one of only two Midwestern states with a flat tax, which is enshrined in the state constitution. Indiana has a flat tax, but it allows an additional local income tax to be collected, with rates that vary by county. SJRCA 1 would bar local governments in Illinois from imposing income taxes.

Among all states, 34 have a progressive – or fair – income tax. Nine have a flat income tax, and seven have no income tax at all. Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota have a progressive income tax structure.

“There are better ways to structure tax rates, as other states already have learned. Illinois has been slow to come to the table on this,” Harmon said.

“The time is right for serious consideration of a fair state income tax, which would result in a healthier bottom line for working families, as well as for the state government they help to support.”