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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) voted in support of the union-backed pension reform measure that passed the Illinois Senate today.
“We need real pension reform, pension reform that can survive a court challenge and actually become law,” Harmon said. “If we don’t find a solution to this problem now, we’re going to keep seeing cuts to education, human services and public safety.”
Though he has voted for other potential solutions to the problem, Harmon and other supporters of the legislation believe this plan is the most likely to survive a court challenge. The state’s major public employee unions have promised not to put their financial resources behind any lawsuit targeting the plan, which greatly increase its chances of being declared constitutional.
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SPRINGFIELD – If legislation sponsored by State Senator Don Harmon becomes law, it will be even easier for college students to vote. The Oak Park Democrat’s plan, which cleared a key Senate committee earlier today, requires public universities and community colleges to send all students an email telling them where and how to register to vote.
“We should try to get young people involved in democracy at an early age,” Harmon said. “The easier we make it for them to register to vote, the more likely they are to stay involved in the process.”
Harmon is also trying to convince his colleagues that Illinois should move to accept online voter registration. The states that have already adopted online registration have significantly cut costs, registered more voters and seen no increase in voter fraud. Because his legislation to allow online registration did not advance from committee earlier this year, Harmon is now encouraging supporters to sign an online petition available on his website, www.DonHarmon.org.
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OAK PARK, IL – Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) announced today he has appointed federal and state policy professional Eileen Hattan Lynch to serve as his new district director. Lynch, an Oak Park resident, comes to the position with 15 years of policy experience working as a U.S. Senate staffer, senior policy adviser for the state of Illinois and issues and advocacy coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Illinois.
Lynch, 44, has lived in Oak Park for 12 years. She and her husband, Dan, are the parents of four children. One attends Brooks Middle School, two attend Lincoln Elementary School and the fourth is pre-school age.
“I’m really pleased that I’ve been able to fill this position with somebody who not only has deep experience in legislative policy and constituent service, but who also is so invested in our community,” said Sen. Harmon. “I know that Eileen will be a valuable resource not only to the district office but also to constituents in the 39th District.”
Read more: Harmon reinvigorates constituent service office with new staff and new roles
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) is working with Representative Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) to improve the openness and transparency of Illinois state government by ensuring that Illinois residents know more about the services their state government offers.
They are sponsoring legislation that will create “Department Ambassadors” within the Department of Human Services. These ambassadors will work directly with the public to help ensure that everyone knows about the services the department offers and to connect people with the appropriate offices to apply for relevant programs.
“Too often, people don’t even know what their government does for them,” Harmon said. “Creating Department Ambassadors is a way to push government services to the people and communities who need them.”