SPRINGFIELD – As parents of the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy looked on, Illinois Senator Don Harmon used his position as chair of the Senate Executive Committee to help a measure that would limit the number of bullets in a gun magazine make it to the Senate floor.

“Our hearts go out to the victims of this tragedy," Harmon said. "And this legislation is one step we can take to avoid such tragedies in the future. Every time a gunman stops to reload, it gives his victims a chance to get away and gives law enforcement a chance to disarm him.”

The legislation, Senate Bill 1002, limits the sale of gun ammunition feeding devices to units that can hold 10 bullets or less. While it does not prohibit owning a large ammunition magazine, it does increase the criminal penalties for using a high capacity magazine while committing a violent crime. The Sandy Hook murderer used large capacity magazines to commit his crime.

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.

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.

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.”