Action Alert: Stop Assisted Suicide in Illinois; Governor issues budget proposal

 

Action Alert: Stop Assisted Suicide in Illinois; Governor issues budget proposal

Access Living friends and allies,

Today, we’d like to share a short update about the new Illinois state budget proposal, and an urgent action alert for TODAY on assisted suicide.

Illinois State Budget Proposal: Yesterday, Governor JB Pritzker made his State of the State speech and released his budget proposal for next year. You can watch his speech here or read the speech here. Illinois legislators can now begin to consider whether they will pass the proposal or make changes. The State of Illinois is in a better financial picture than previously predicted, but it is still going to be a very lean year for human services. Access Living is monitoring the budget process closely. Illinois’ government funding future is complicated by the ongoing crisis in federal funding, as well.

ACTION ALERT! Stop assisted suicide, also known as medical aid in dying (MAID). SB 9, which would introduce assisted suicide to Illinois, will be heard in an Illinois State Senate committee hearing tomorrow at 10 am Central. We need your help.

How can you help stop the Illinois assisted suicide bill? The following Illinois State Senators are on the Senate Executive Committee. If you live in Illinois, please CALL the Senator that lives closest to your home and ask them to vote NO on SB 9, the assisted suicide bill. Explain that you are worried the bill would have a negative impact on people with disabilities.

  • Senator Cristina Castro (Elgin) 847) 214-8864
  • Senator Bill Cunningham (Beverly area of Chicago) (773) 445-8128
  • Senator Omar Aquino (Northwest Side, Chicago) (773) 292-0202
  • Senator Don Harmon (Oak Park) (708) 848-2002
  • Senator Napoleon Harris III (Homewood) (708) 893-0552
  • Senator Linda Holmes (Aurora) (630) 820-8650
  • Senator Mattie Hunter (Chicago) (312) 949-1908
  • Senator Kimberly Lightford (Hillside) (708) 632-4500
  • Senator Laura Murphy (Des Plaines) (847) 718-1110
  • Senator Neil Anderson (Aledo) (309) 230-7584
  • Senator John Curran (Lemont) (630) 914-5733
  • Senator Sue Rezin (Morris) (815) 220-8720
  • Senator Jil Tracy (Quincy) (217) 223-0833

Filing slips in opposition: Also, until end of day tomorrow, February 21, no matter where you live, you can submit an electronic witness slip to OPPOSE SB 9. To do one, go to the electronic witness slip link here. Here is what you do:

  1. In Section I, fill out your name, address, contact info, and organization name if you are with an organization. If you are filing as an individual, just say self.
  2. In Section II, say who you are representing. You can always say “Self” if you are sharing your personal position.
  3. In Section III, elected SB 9 from the dropdown list, and check OPPONENT.
  4. In Section IV, select “Record of Appearance Only.”
  5. At the bottom, click the agreement box and then hit Submit.

Please share these updates with fellow advocates in Illinois. Thank you for your help!