SPRINGFIELD – Veterans and active service members would be able to use social media to connect with their colleges’ support networks under legislation sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

“In 2020, most college students use social media to get important information, and that includes veterans and active military personnel,” said Murphy. “It’s one tool in our communications toolkit, and we need to start using it to our advantage.”

Currently, public colleges and universities must designate one employee to coordinate services for veteran and active military students. The employee’s contact information and a brief summary of their services must be available on the campus’ homepage and promotional mailings for student applications.

Murphy’s measure would require the information to be available on the institution’s social media accounts as well.

“Our veterans and service members face unique challenges as they pursue education during and after their service, so we know they need unique support,” said Murphy. “We should make it as quick and easy as possible to access that support.”

Senate Bill 3069 has passed the Senate Higher Education Committee and now goes before the full Senate.

SPRINGFIELD – Football season may be over, but the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) and State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) are gearing up for a different kind of championship. The IMA has launched “Makers Madness,” a bracket-style tournament to determine which Illinois product receives the title of “Coolest Thing Made in Illinois,” and Murphy encourages Illinoisans to participate by nominating their favorite products before the nomination period closes on Feb. 24.

“Nearly 600,000 Illinoisans work in manufacturing, but lots of people aren’t aware of all the great products that are made right here in the state,” said Murphy. “Makers Madness is a fun way to get people interested in what Illinois has to offer.”

The tournament is designed to highlight the many different products manufactured in Illinois, ranging from pinball machines to macaroni and cheese.

The IMA also hopes the competition will call attention to the range and quality of manufacturing jobs available in the state. The Illinois manufacturing industry generates more than $304 billion in economic output and accounts for 12% of the state’s Gross Domestic Product.

The product nomination period will close on Feb. 24, and voting to narrow the field will begin on Feb. 26. Weekly matchups of the top 16 products will follow. Makers Madness culminates in an awards ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion on April 1, when the winning product will be named the Coolest Thing Made in Illinois. All voting will take place on the contest website.

“It’s going to be tough for me to decide which Illinois product I think is the ‘coolest,’” said Murphy. “I’m excited to learn about all the products that are made in Illinois.”

By State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines)

Thousands of Illinoisans depend on insulin to keep them alive. However, the market is dominated by a small group of big pharmaceutical companies that have been accused of charging too much for their insulin products.

That is why I co-sponsored Senate Bill 667, a bill from Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) that requires pharmaceutical companies to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs for qualifying diabetics at $100 for a one-month supply.

I am proud to say that the legislature passed the bill and Governor Pritzker signed it into law. Good news for diabetic patients, to be sure.

But not long after we passed the bill, one of the industry players ran a full-page ad in the Tribune, addressing the problem of insulin costs and offering a solution: limiting the monthly cost of prescription insulin to less than $100. The ad failed to mention that the cap is in fact a requirement under the law I co-sponsored.

In reality, pharmaceutical giants caused the insulin access problem in the first place by charging greatly inflated prices. They had a choice to relieve the financial burden on people with diabetes and their families, and instead, they chose to keep charging through-the-roof prices. For years, they chose to put their gargantuan profits over the desperate needs of so many patients.

Corporations pat themselves on the back, touting their charity and compassion without acknowledging the real motivation behind their forbearance: hard-fought legislation. I feel I must remind these companies that they could have capped insulin costs voluntarily at any time. Instead, they chose to continue gouging patients until the passage of SB 667 forced them to stop.

Although I am grateful to see more Illinoisans able to afford their life-saving medications, I can’t help but think that the people of Illinois deserve the truth—not corporate propaganda.

And the truth is that SB 667 is just the start of an effort to curb Big Pharma greed. During session this spring, I plan to introduce other initiatives designed to cut the cost of prescription medicine for Illinois consumers, including a bill to prohibit “Pay-To-Delay,” when pharmaceutical companies pay off generic drug manufacturers to delay the sale of much cheaper generic drugs, enabling the big companies to continue charging patients exorbitant amounts for many life-saving medicines. Schemes like these—which put consumers’ health at risk for financial gain—must come to an end, and I don’t trust corporations to make that change voluntarily.

The $100 monthly insulin cap is very good news for Illinoisans with diabetes. Now we must expand this effort to rein in Big Pharma and ensure that affordable prescription drugs are available to all. No Illinois family should have to choose between accessing their medications and paying for food or rent.

Laura M. Murphy

State Senator, (D) 28th District