BASTARD NATION ACTION ALERT: ILLINOIS HB 5428

IMPORTANT CORRECTIONRE: CONTACT INFO IL HB 5428 Evidently, Illinois does not have any legislative email system. Our colleagues report that every single one of the emails published in our first Action Alert came back as undeliverable. Therefore, the ways to reach an elected official is by phone, FAX, or snail mail. (The latter might work because we are told that the Senate is not reconvening until April 13th.) We are very sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you. In an effort to try and spread the word about this bill, you might want to send your letter to some newspapers at the same time. Still one letter – but the string of email addresses is for newspapers around the state. The newspaper info appears under the Senators’ revised contact information. Senate Sponsors: Senator A. J. Wilhelmi (D)43rd DistrictSpringfield Office:Senator 43rd District311A Capitol BuildingSpringfield, IL 62706(217) 782-8800 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (217) 782-8800 end_of_the_skype_highlightingDistrict Office:2200 Weber RoadCrest Hill, IL 60403(815) 207-4445 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (815) 207-4445 end_of_the_skype_highlighting(815) 207-4446 FAX Senator Ira I. Silverstein (D) 8th DistrictMajority Caucus WhipSpringfield Office:Senator 8th District121B Capitol BuildingSpringfield, IL 62706(217) 782-5500 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (217) 782-5500 end_of_the_skype_highlighting(217) 782-5340 FAXDistrict Office:2951 West DevonChicago, IL 60659(773) 743-5015 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (773) 743-5015 end_of_the_skype_highlighting(773) 743-4750 FAX Continue Reading →

WELL, THAT’S INTERESTING–NO EMAILS FOR ILLILNOIS LEGGIES

Did you know that the Illinois Legislative page does not list email addys? Addys are not posted on the “contact” page and my personal sampling of leggies personal pages shows only one pol (Sara Feigenholtz, no less) who has an email contact listed. The few addys we do have don’t work. What could this possibly mean? I’ve held up posting the BN action alert due to this…er…problem. We’ve got phone numbers, faxes and mail addresses.

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN: SNEAKY SARA FEIGENHOLTZ, PART 1: THE HB 5428 STATE SECRET

Due to the length this entry was becoming, the time involved in researching and writing it, and the need to get information out immediately on the abomination known as Illinois HB 5428, I am publishing this blog in parts. Depending on the finished product it will be in either two or three parts. Here, in Part 1, is an overview of the bill and its murky passage through the Illinois House. I also comment on machinations that appear to have gotten it passed under everybody’s radar when similiar bills for more than a decade have been met with loud howls from us. Illinois Open and Bastard Nation will release an Action Alert shortly. This entry and the part(s) to follow should be read in conjunction with the action alert. NOTE: In 2008 I wrote extensively on HB 5428’s predecessor look-alike, HB 4623. Two of my blogs llinois Warning! Trainwreck ahead for records rights and Illinois: That train keeps a rollin’ – more piece-a-crap legislation context the current mess. I will also reference others as we move along. ****** And I feel like I’ve been here before/Feel like I’ve been here before/And you know it does make me wonder/What’s going on Continue Reading →

ILLINOIS OPEN/BASTARD NATION PRESS RELEASE: ADOPTEE RIGHTS SQUASHED AGAIN IN NEW ILLINOIS BILL – HB 5428““““““““““““““““““““““`

ILLINOIS OPENhttp://www.ilopen.org BASTARD NATION: THE ADOPTEE RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONwww.bastard.org distribute freely! ___________________________________________________________________ PRESS RELEASEMarch 22, 2010For Immediate Release CONTACT INFORMATIONAnita Walker Field, 1-847-677-0594 Marley Greiner, 1-614-571-2999Mary Lynn Fuller, 1-217-722-4814 ADOPTEE RIGHTS SQUASHED AGAIN IN NEW ILLINOIS BILL – HB 5428 On March 19, 2010, The Illinois House of Representatives passed a bill that purports to give all adopted adults access to their original birth certificates. On March 23, 2010, HB 5428 GOES TO THE SENATE, awaiting committee assignment. 1. Under HB 5428, birth mothers will be allowed to file affidavits of denial – meaning that a birth mother can veto an adoptee’s right to access his or her original birth certificate. THIS IS A DANGEROUS STEP TO TAKE. IT CREATES AND CODIFIES A NEW RIGHT THAT HAS NEVER BEFORE BEEN IN OUR ADOPTION ACT. 2. Allows the state to delete a variety of identifying information from official documents, depending upon a birth mother’s response. We believe: HB 5428 needs to be amended in the Senate so that it would restore to ALL adoptees access to their original birth certificates, without any restrictions, such as prior parental approval. If that cannot happen, then HB 5428 must be pulled or left to die Continue Reading →