Stadelman working to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs

State Senator Stadelman is pushing for approval of a measure to reduce the skyrocketing cost of insulin.

More than 30 million Americans have diabetes and 7.4 million of require insulin every day to survive, according to the American Diabetes Association. Rapidly rising costs for the medication have have led many patients to ration their supply or seek care outside of the country.

Stadelman, whose son Nikolas is diabetic, was especially eager to co-sponsor Senate Bill 667 to cap out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $100 for a 30-day supply. Now he's advocating for Illinois to become the second state in the nation after Colorado to limit the profits of insulin manufacturers.

"No one in Illinois should be forced to chose between filling an insulin prescription and buying groceries or making the rent payment," Stadelman said. "When people's lives are at stake, big drug companies should not be allowed to turn outrageous profits."

In 2017, Stadelman passed legislation to allow diabetics, asthmatics and others with chronic illnesses to obtain emergency refills of vital drugs if their prescription runs out when their doctor isn't available. Stadelman faced such a situation when Nikolas exhausted his insulin supply during a family vacation out of state. At the time, Nikolas, now a senior at Guilford High School, had only recently been diagosed.

SB 667, which could be called for a vote during fall veto session next month, has been endorsed by the American Diabetes Association, Illinois State Medical Society, Illinois Pharmacists Association and AARP.

Second summit to provide second chances for people with criminal records

People who are eligible to have criminal records sealed or expunged can obtain a free attorney to prepare their case to go before a judge at State Senator Steve Stadelman's Second Chances Summit II from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Nordlof Center in downtown Rockford.

To register for the free legal consultation, visit www.senatorstadelman.com or call 815-987-7557.

Stadelman said that since the 2018 summit, when 130 individuals met one-on-one with volunteer lawyers, he has received numerous requests to again offer the one-day opportunity.

Included as part of the summit this year is a presentation by Winnebago County State's Attorney Marilyn Hite Ross, "Cannabis Clemency: Illinois' New Law Legalizing Marijuana." Many lower-level marijuana convictions can be removed from people's records after retail sales become legal in January 2020. Hite Ross' talk from noon to 12:45 p.m. is open to the general public; advance registration is not required.

“Many well-meaning men and women in our community find that a past transgression, often from their youth, prevents them from obtaining living-wage employment and adequately supporting themselves and their families,” Stadelman said. "Illinois law allows people who meet certain criteria to seek judicial relief, and we all benefit as a result.”

Prairie State Legal Services provides event training that volunteer attorneys can be use toward the state's continuing education requirements. Local attorneys interested in donating their time can enroll in the training session online at www.senatorstadelman.com or by calling 815-985-2902.

In case you missed me on Facebook ... 

Another important marker in the rebirth of downtown Rockford was this afternoon's ribbon-cutting on the Indoor City Market -- made possible in part through state historic tax credits for projects that reclaim aging urban property like this extension of the popular outdoor City Market.

The Missing Person Table Ceremony at tonight's POW/MIA event at Loves Park City Hall. September 20th is national POW/MIA Recognition Day, an opportunity to honor the bravery of all former American prisoners of war while reaffirming our quest to locate the servicemen and women who remain missing in action. I was honored to present a Senate resolution recognizing this important ceremony.