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Results of Legislative Questionnaire
In August, our chapter sent legislative questionnaires to 18
state legislative candidates from the NW suburbs. The
questionnaire was developed by the Mental Health Summit, a
Chicago based coalition of mental health support and advocacy
groups including Illinois NAMI
Unfortunately, only five of the candidates chose to respond.
The others were too busy, or forgot or perhaps put our
questionnaire on the “to do” pile where it got covered by more
pressing issues or was forgotten.
In any event, we are very pleased to report the responses we
received. They include:
Michael Noland – Senate District 22
Hoffman Estates, Streamwood, most of Elgin, East Dundee and
Carpentersville
Ruth Munson – House District 43
Most of Elgin, East Dundee and Carpentersville
Mark Beaubien – House District 52
Northern Barrington, Wauconda, Fox River Grove, Island Lake &
southern McHenry
Jeffry Ketelsen and Suzie Bassi – House District 54
Palatine, Inverness, SE Barrington, South Barrington, and NW
Rolling Meadows
Here are their responses: The questions have been abbreviated
to fit on the table.
Responses to the Legislative Questionnaire
October, 2006
|
|
Senate 22 |
House 43 |
House 52 |
House 54 |
House 54 |
|
|
Michael Noland
(D) |
Ruth Munson
(R) |
Mark Beaubien
(R) |
Jeffrey Ketelsen
(D) |
Suzie Bassi
(R) |
|
1. Keep fee for service funds in the mental health
system |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2. Increase funding for mental health services |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
If budget allows |
|
3. Improve access to mental health medications |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No reply |
|
4. Support increased funding for housing for those with
mental illness |
Yes/no |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
State is in fiscal crisis |
|
5. Increase funding for suicide prevention |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
State is broke |
|
6. Increase Medicaid reimbursement rates to increase
availability of hospital psychiatric units |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Need additional information
|
|
7. Increase funding for mental health services in the
criminal justice system and provide mental health courts
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
8. Fund implementation of the Children’s Mental Health
Partnership |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes – if funding is available |
|
9. Vote for legislation to move mentally ill persons out
of nursing homes & into better community settings |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes – if funding is available |
|
10. Vote for creation of department to coordinate Ill
mental health services |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
11. Increase funding for services to those with dual
diagnosis. |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Cannot do this now
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Comments: The questionnaire asked the candidates to include any
additional comments or thoughts about the questions.
Michael Noland – Senate 22
These are all serious issues that demand immediate
attention. Unfortunately, I don’t believe our state budget can
afford to do all at once. I want to work with organizations
like NAMI and its chapters to prioritize the most immediate
needs and work to secure funding to make a realistic difference
for Illinoisans with mental illnesses.
Ruth Munson – House 43
No additional comments.
Mark Beaubien – House 52
Please note that the reality of any bills requiring any
additional expenditures are unlikely to get out of committee.
As we are all aware, Illinois has a real budget crisis that
cannot be solved by spending additional $ on new programs. I
would support prioritizing existing increases for mental health
services, but the likelihood of this is not good.
Jeffry Ketelsen – House 54
No additional comments.
Suzie Bassi – House 54
My father had manic depressive illness. I lost my brother
to depression 9 years ago. I pay attention to mental illness
issues – but my concerns right now is the fiscal crisis the
state is facing. I know social service agencies overall have
been shorted over the last 8 years.
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