Galesburg, IL…State Representative Don Moffitt (R- Gelesburg) is urging constituents who support the passage of a concealed carry law to sign his online petition in hopes of encouraging a vote on the measure before the end of spring session.

“There is only two weeks of session before scheduled adjournment at the end of May.  We need to build a strong coalition of supporters to show Speaker Madigan and other members of the House just how important this legislation is for the people ofIllinois,” said Rep. Moffitt.  “The more people we can get to sign the petition and show their support for concealed carry, the better chance we have at getting the legislation called for a vote.”

House Bill 148, co-sponsored by Rep. Moffitt, would allow the issuance of conceal carry permits to qualified residents who meet necessary legal requirements.  The Illinois State Police would issue permits to residents allowing individuals to carry concealed firearms if they are at least 21 years of age, do not have a history of mental illness and have completed specified training requirements.  It also sets out specific areas where concealed firearms would not be permitted, such as schools, courthouses, and correctional institutions.

Representative Moffitt’s petition states:

“Chicago political bosses have refused to uphold our constitutional rights. Illinois is the only state in the nation that has no procedures in place for law-abiding citizens to apply for concealed carry permits. Our citizens should have the right to defend their families and property from violent criminals.

 It is for this reason that we, the undersigned, support passage of House Bill 148, the Family and Personal Protection Act.”

 Rep. Moffitt is encouraging residents to visit his website, www.moffitt.ilhousegop.org, and sign his online petition encouraging members of the General Assembly to pass House bill 148.  Anyone with questions should contact Rep. Moffitt’s office at (309) 343-8000, or via email at moffitt@grics.net or stop by the district office at 64 S Prairie St., #5, Galesburg, IL 61401.

Galesburg, IL…State Representative Don Moffitt (R-Galesburg) was honored today as “Legislator of the Year” by the Illinois State Ambulance Association (ISAA) at the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) lobby day luncheon held in Springfield.  This is the first year that the ISAA has awarded this distinction to a legislator and Rep. Moffitt shared today’s distinction with his colleague Rep. Lisa Dugan (D-Kankakee).  Rep. Moffitt and Rep. Dugan co-chaired the Illinois House EMS Task Force.

Rep. Moffitt was afforded this award due to his tireless work in 2011 on the EMS Funding Task Force.  The EMS Funding Task Force held 17 “town hall” style meetings covering nearly 4,000 miles between events to ensure that they received a full understanding of the funding, regulatory and staffing issues affecting how all citizens in Illinois have access to ambulance service.

“Ambulance service is something citizens expect will be there when they pick up the phone and call; and that’s good, but we need to make sure we keep it that way,” said Rep. Don Moffitt.

Testimony presented at the EMS Task Force meetings sparked the introduction of new legislation this spring, including:

• HB 4691- Toll exemption for all ambulances that are engaged in an emergency service
• HB 5880- Provides for a “provisional” EMT license for 16 and 17 year olds to be licensed
• HR 872- States that Emergency Medical Services should formally be declared an Essential Service
• IDPH PENDING rule change to allow 1 EMT & 1 First Responder to respond to calls at a volunteer ambulance service instead of the current requirements for 2 EMT’s
• IDPH PENDING rule change to allow one person to drive the ambulance to the emergency scene and a second person can then meet the ambulance at the emergency scene, for volunteer ambulance providers only

The final report from the EMS Funding task force is scheduled to be released within a few weeks.  “This is not the end, said Rep Moffitt, “We have more legislation that will be forthcoming and I look forward to helping these folks who are there to help us out 24 hours a day seven days a week.”

For further information regarding the legislation, please call the Galesburg district office at (309) 343-8000, email Rep. Moffitt at moffitt@grics.net or stop by the district office at 64 S Prairie St., #5, Galesburg, IL 61401

GALESBURG . . . Following the opening of the new Amtrak Station in Kewanee, Rep. Don Moffitt announced plans today to convene a summit of leaders of communities along the Carl Sandburg Amtrak line in West Central Illinois to promote tourism, educational and business opportunities in the area along the corridor.

“The grand opening of the Kewanee Amtrak Station demonstrated the willingness of other communities on the Carl Sandburg Amtrak line to support each other.  In light of this demonstrated support, I am announcing today my intention to convene a summit this summer to include government, business, education and community leaders from the area cities served by Amtrak’s Carl Sandburg train”, Rep. Moffitt said today at the Galesburg Amtrak station after returning from the Kewanee opening.  “I hope those communities fromPrinceton to Quincy and even beyond will join Kewanee, Galesburg and Macomb in a joint effort to promote our part of the state.”

The Kewanee event drew support from not only towns along the Amtrak Carl Sandburg line, but also representatives of state and federal government and businesses including Amtrak.  All were gathered in support of promoting Amtrak ridership and the economic benefit those riders bring to each community on the line and surrounding communities.

Moffitt added: “If we band together, we will have a greater voice and impact for the entire area instead of all working toward different individual goals.  I am looking forward to working with other leaders to the benefit of our communities and will notify you as soon as dates, times and locations are set.”

In closing, Moffitt said, “Our individual communities along this corridor are separated by a few miles (or geography) but are united by rails.  With a summit, we can also be united in our efforts to expand tourism, passenger rail service and economic development.”

Galesburg, IL…State Representative Don Moffitt (R-Galesburg) passed bi-partisan legislation out of the Illinois House of Representatives today that will rename the Department of Agriculture’s administration building in honor of local native John R. Block.

John Rusling Block is a Galesburg and Gilson area native who was born in 1935.  He was a member of the 4-H club and Future Farmers of America.  Mr. Block attended West Point and served as a second lieutenant with the 101^st Airborne Division.  Upon completion of his military contract Mr. Block returned to Knox county to become an agricultural business partner with his father.  He expanded their agriculture operation from 300 acres to 3,000 and they went from 200 hogs to 6,000.

Mr. Block served on the Illinois State Farm Bureau from 1972 to 1976 and was the Illinois Director of Agriculture in 1977-1981.  From 1981-1986 Mr. Block served under President Ronald Reagan as the U. S. Agriculture Secretary and he was instrumental in developing the 1985 Farm Bill, which restored economic stability to the American farming industry.

After serving as the Secretary of Agriculture John R. Block has had a very successful career in the private sector to include being a former member of the board of directors of John Deere and Co. and as the President of Food Distributors International.

John R. Block is believed to be the only Illinois Director of Agriculture who went on to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.  Naming the Illinois Department of Agriculture administration building brings honor to Mr. Block and the Illinois agriculture industry.  Naming this building in honor of a former Illinois Director and U.S. Secretary helps to raise the status and stature of agriculture in Illinois.

In 1992, John Block won the Horatio Alger award.  Mr. Block also serves on the Board of Directors of Friends of the World Food Program, a non-profit dedicated to supporting the UN World Food Program and its efforts to end global hunger.

For further information regarding the legislation, please call the Galesburg district office at (309) 343-8000, email Rep. Moffitt at moffitt@grics.net or stop by the district office at 64 S Prairie St., #5, Galesburg, IL 61401.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn gave his annual State of the State address in Springfield this week, outlining his goals for the 2012 legislative session.  In his message, the Governor gave his support to Medicaid and pension reform which was applauded by many including State Represenative Don Moffitt.   Moffitt said the Governor put a positive spin on the address, identifying a number of things that were plusses for the state and Moffitt added that we do need to stop and address the good things along with the bad.  But while he is not against a lot of what the Governor said, he does have concerns about how the administration intends to pay for the programs.

Representative Moffitt’s comments on the State of the State address….