August 22, 2008

Springfield, IL…Legislation sponsored by State Senator Dan Cronin (R-Elmhurst) was signed into law on August 22, and will provide protection from civil liability for physicians who provide free medical services through Access DuPage.

Cronin said that Access DuPage is a first-rate program offered in DuPage County, which provides critical free medical services to low-income and uninsured resident at no cost to taxpayers.

Previously, the law did not allow exemptions to civil liability for a free medical clinic unless the clinic has posted an explanation of the exemption somewhere on the premises. Cronin explained that this was a problem because Access DuPage offers free medical services but does not have a clinic building where that information can be posted.

August 19, 2008

Springfield, Ill. - Recent reports indicate that teen driving deaths have dropped significantly since Illinois adopted a stricter stance on teen driving laws. Illinois boasts some of the toughest new driver laws in the nation, which Senator Cronin said has directly contributed to a 52 percent decline in teen driving deaths in the first six months of 2008.

Cronin was a sponsor of Senate Bill 172, which was introduced in 2007 based on recommendations from the Secretary of State's Teen Drivers Task Force. The Task Force identified ways to improve the state's driver's licensure program, which required new drivers to spend more practice time behind the wheel with an experienced driver before taking to the roads alone.

August 12, 2008

Springfield, Ill – Lawmakers voted to reject a recommended pay increase for constitutional officers, judges and legislators on Tuesday, August 12.

State Senator Dan Cronin (R-Elmhurst) was a sponsor of House Joint Resolution 132, the measure which formally rejected the raises recommended by the Compensation Review Board.

“The Democrat leaders that run Springfield have failed—their behavior these last several years has been disgraceful,” Cronin said. “Although many of us are working hard to do the right thing in spite of Governor Blagojevich, no one deserves a pay raise in these tough times.”

Cronin explained that although the House of Representatives overwhelmingly rejected the raises in May, the pay raises would still have gone into effect if the Senate had not formally voted to reject the recommendation.

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August 11, 2008

Springfield, Ill – In what State Senator Dan Cronin said was the first step in the road to erect a memorial to honor veterans who have been recognized for their service the United States in the War on Terrorism, Senate Bill 2302 was signed into law on August 11, 2008.

Public Act PA 95-0797 creates the War on Terrorism Veterans Act, which would allow the state to erect a monument to honor veterans who have earned the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal for service in Operation Enduring Freedom, the Iraqi Campaign Medal for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom, or the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for service in either Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.