SPRINGFIELD, IL – (Lauren Pozen KMOV – TV Please click to read the full story and accompanying video. Here is an excerpt) Would you allow your underage teen have an alcoholic drink in your presence when you’re out to dinner? That’s what’s being proposed by some lawmakers in Illinois. “Why not? If they are with their parents as long as they are responsible if they can vote, why not? They can serve in the military? Why can’t they have a glass of wine or beer? “says Bradley Hammonds. That’s the thinking behind a new proposal that would allow people as young as 18 to be served wine or beer at restaurants, but there’s a catch: they have to have mom and dad’s permission, and no hard liquor allowed.

CHICAGO, IL – (AP story click to read the entire story from the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Here is an image) • Illinois’ Republican governor says he is “very concerned” that the state’s residents might be “left in the lurch” under the health care plan proposed by congressional Republicans. Gov. Bruce Rauner said Tuesday he is talking with his fellow GOP governors and members of Congress on ideas for changing the proposal. He declined to discuss his specific recommendations.

HARRISBURG, IL – Illinois Senators achieved some small steps towards ending the budgetary impasse with a series of votes, according to State Sen. Dale Fowler (R- Harrisburg).

Senator Fowler voted to support a supplemental appropriation that would guarantee critical state services would continue for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2017. Additionally, the Senator supported a measure which, if enacted; would bring hundreds of jobs to Williamson County through the development of an entertainment complex.

Two Johnson County groups traveled to the Capitol this week. Senator Fowler welcomed the Vienna Junior High BETA club and the management team from the Family Counseling Center was in attendance to discuss human services funding.

Senator Fowler was pleased to welcome the Southeastern Illinois College Model Illinois Government team to the Capitol on March 2. The group includes students from three 59th District counties. SIC’s team was seeking its 10th Outstanding Delegation Award and they compete against other community colleges and universities – all of which are larger enrollments.

Earlier in the week, Senator Fowler traveled the district on the second leg of his media tour with stops in Franklin and Saline Counties. He took part in a legislative forum with regional library stakeholders and held a series of constituents meetings across the district.

A number of constituents have been reaching out to Senator Fowler concerning the state’s public safety infrastructure. As a result, he began touring local state facilities with a stop at the Illinois Youth Center at Harrisburg. The facility is host to criminally-convicted youth under the age of 18, who are being institutionalized for very serious crimes.

The Senator’s concerns focus on the safety of the staff and offenders who are incarcerated at the IYC.

Senator Fowler plans upcoming stops at Vienna Correctional Center, Shawnee Correctional Center and the Dixon Springs Work Camp. Prior to his retirement from the State of Illinois, Senator Fowler spent 20 plus years working for the Departments of Correction and Juvenile Justice.

FOWLER HOSTS TELEFORUM

On Feb. 28, Senator Fowler hosted his first ever town hall forum from Springfield. The Senator’s teleforum was part of his constituent outreach plan and he was able to speak with more than 3,800 citizens. The forum took place over a phone line which gives the audience a talk radio show atmosphere. Senator Fowler fielded questions on a wide variety of topics concerning the state budget, Second Amendment, and a host of locally-centered issues