With entirely Democratic support, the state Senate on September 9 passed a bill to fund human service providers, to let road money flow through to local governments and to allow Illinois Lottery winners to be paid.
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The Illinois Senate came back into session Wednesday in Springfield.
The big topic for debate over ruling Gov. Rauner’s veto of the Heroin Crisis Act. “Too many young people have died in our state”.
Sen. Heather Steans (STAYNZ’) – a Chicago Democrat – says other key programs are being ignored.
Medicaid will now pay for the popular heroin treatment drug methadone and the overdose antidote Narcan. Rauner pointed out that Medicaid already covers several types of heroin medication.
Democrats’ answer? Authorize the spending. But Kotowski responded, “it will save money in the long run” in medical treatment and lost productivity.
The brand new regulation requires emergency authorities and faculty nurses to hold and administer medicine to reverse overdoses, improve schooling on drug abuse for schoolchildren and anybody taking prescription opioids, present extra remedy choices and fewer jail time for customers, and extra.
Both Republicans and Democrats favor the far-reaching heroin measure because of the epidemic use of the illegal drug in Illinois. The legislation would also provide municipalities with fuel tax funds they are due.
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Democrats threw the criticism again at Republicans, saying Rauner hasn’t even tried to barter with their leaders.
