Update: This legislation (SB 2674) passed the Senate 43-13-1. It now goes to the Illinois House.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) unveiled a compromise plan to provide funding for the endangered Illinois Poison Center that also addresses some of the concerns of local 9-1-1 systems in the Senate State Government Committee today.

Earlier this year, Harmon introduced the “2 Cent Solution” – a plan to reallocate 2 cents from existing cell phone fees to the cash-strapped center that answers questions about potential poisoning from the general public and medical professionals. This money comes from an underused fund intended to help cell phone providers improve 9-1-1 service. However, some 9-1-1 systems objected and Harmon has been negotiating ever since.

“The Illinois Poison Center is vitally important,” Harmon said. “A call to the poison center can provide panicking parents with piece of mind and prevent costly, unnecessary trips to the emergency room. Even other medical experts call the Poison Center for advice. We can’t let the Poison Center close.”

SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement on the Fair Tax amendment:

“The Fair Tax has gained significant momentum in the last year, and I’m committed to continuing to work to get this passed in the fall veto session later this year.

“Our caucus remains committed to this issue as we believe that the Fair Tax is the best way to provide tax relief to the middle class while protecting our priorities.

“This is something I’m committed to, something that we knew would be hard this year. We have exceeded expectations and will continue to work on this issue until the Fair Tax is passed.”

OAK PARK – State Senators Kimberly A. Lightford and Don Harmon are pleased to announce $400,000 in state funding for the Park District of Oak Park’s continued renovation of Maple Park. 

“Parks are an invaluable community resource,” Lightford said. “They encourage our children to play outside and lead active lives, and they give adults the opportunity to get healthy exercise.”

“Our parks provide wonderful gathering places for outdoor recreation to improve public health and welfare and enhance the well-being of the entire community,” Harmon said. “It is a pleasure to support these projects.”