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The three members who have been asked
to step down are Richard Wright of Peoria, Eric Myers of Wheaton and
Robert Clarke of Springfield.
State Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield,
said he knew that Clarke would
have voted "present" on the LDC closing, which is the same as a "no"
vote. Clarke has connections with Memorial Medical Center and also
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln, Bomke said.
The board must have nine affirmative
votes in order to issue the permit the Department of Human Services
needs to close LDC. If seven members vote "no" or "present" or fail
to show up, the board cannot issue the permit, Bomke said.
DHS and Gov. George Ryan say they plan
to close the 125-year-old facility completely by the end of this
month.
[Photo by Bob Frank]
[Governor Ryan]
Officials of American Federation of
State, County and Municipal Employees, who with Bomke and parents of
an LDC resident filed the legal challenge that requires DHS to
obtain the permit, said they were concerned that the new board
members will not have the background to make an informed decision on
the LDC closing.
The board members have a large number
of documents to study before making the decision, including the
transcript of an all-day public hearing held last month in Lincoln,
a recommendation by the Illinois Department of Public Health, a
report from DHS, and letters and other documents sent by those who
oppose the closing and those who favor it.
Bomke said he thinks it is odd that
Gov. Ryan would replace three people just before this decision is
due.
"I think it is suspect he would do this
at such a late date," he said.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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Don Todd, president of AFSCME Local
425, which represents most of the LDC employees, said he would ask
the union’s attorney to look into the legality of the new
appointments.
Wanda Taylor, spokesman for Gov. Ryan’s
office, said the governor is simply filling vacancies. Terms of all
three of the members being replaced ended "a couple of months ago,"
she said.
"We get a lot of people who are anxious
to serve. It takes time to review the names, do the background
checks and find appropriate replacements."
Replacements who have been named are
Philip Bradley of Springfield, a former Department of Public Aid
director; Julie Root of Champaign, a Carle Surgicenter
administrator; and Clarence Nagelvoort of Chicago, a community
health administrator.
AFSCME, parents and guardians of LDC
residents, local politicians and many Logan County residents have
been fighting to keep LDC open. The center for the developmentally
disabled has been the county’s biggest employer.
AFSCME members, an LDC parent, Bomke
and others held a press conference this morning in Springfield to
support LDC. Todd said they would point out that the governor has
not met the criteria needed to close LDC, because irreplaceable
services to parents and families in this planning area are being taken
away.
Representatives of Zeller Mental Health Center of Peoria, another
facility scheduled for closure by the governor, also spoke at the
press conference.
[Joan
Crabb]
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The bill repeals outdated legislation
that banned the use of cellular phones in school. The current law
prohibiting the use of cell phones was originally enacted, more than
a decade ago, to discourage the presence of drug dealers who used
cell phones to conduct their criminal trade. Since that time, cell
phones have become more prevalent. They help parents keep track of
their children, and cell phone users have assisted police officers
and firefighters in emergencies.
"Parents use the phones to stay in
contact with their children," Gov. Ryan said. "Incidents involving
school violence have also pointed out the importance of having
access to cellular communication. It is important that we allow an
avenue of communication for these parents and children."
"Times have changed and so the law must
change," said state Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, who supported the
original ban and also sponsored House Bill 3938 to update the law.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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"Cell phones now play a vital role in
helping rescuers in the case of emergency, as we saw with the
shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado and in the Sept. 11
attacks," she said. "They are very important to parents and children
who can better stay in touch with each other."
House Bill
3938 was also sponsored in the House by Donald Moffitt, R-Gilson;
Rick Winkel, R-Champaign; Monique Davis, D-Chicago; and Harold
Murphy, D-Markham. Sponsors in the Senate were Sens. Bill Shaw,
D-Chicago; Margaret Smith, D-Chicago; Walter Dudycz, R-Chicago;
Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood; and Lisa Madigan, D-Chicago.
[Illinois
Government News Network
press release]
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