Senator Rutherford on Blagojevich's new book
State Senator Dan Rutherford recently appeared on
FoxNews Chicago. The main topic dealt with
former Governor Blagojevich's new book,
'The Governor.'
The Senator noted that he and the former Governor
were elected to the Illinois General Assembly at the
same time, thus he was able to offer some
personality insight on Rod Blagojevich.
President Barack Obama is
seen on a monitor as Republic National Committee
chairman Michael Steele, not pictured, appears on
CBS's "Face the Nation" in Washington, D.C., on
Sunday. (AP Photo/CBS Face the Nation, Karin Cooper)
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President
Barack Obama says requiring
people to get health insurance and fining them if
they don't would not amount to a backhanded tax
increase.
"I absolutely reject that
notion," the president said. Blanketing most of the
Sunday TV news shows, Obama defended his proposed
health care overhaul, including a key point of the
various health care bills on Capitol Hill: mandating
that people get health insurance to share the cost
burden fairly among all. Those who failed to get
coverage would face financial penalties.
Obama said other elements of
the plan would make insurance affordable for people,
from a new comparison-shopping "exchange" to tax
credits.
Telling people to get health
insurance is absolutely not a tax increase, Obama
told ABC's "This Week."
"What it's saying is, is that
we're not going to have other people carrying your
burdens for you anymore," said Obama. "Right now
everybody in America, just about, has to get auto
insurance. Nobody considers that a tax increase."
Obama faces an enormous political and communications
challenge in selling his health care plan as
Congress debates how to pay for it all.
(Photo courtesy:
www.usmaaonline.com)
By Mike Riopell
SPRINGFIELD -- A state law that
made it difficult for amateur martial arts
tournaments to operate has been changed.
Previously, lawmakers approved
rules to regulate professional martial arts
contests for safety purposes. But amateur martial
arts groups complained that the regulations were
too harsh and expensive for their events.
As a result, Gov. Pat Quinn
signed legislation this month to roll back those
regulations for amateur events.
Roby Irby, Illinois
representative for the United States Martial Arts
Alliance, said the new law was key to keeping
tournaments going in the state.
Rutherford informing constituents about insurance
hotline
PONTIAC, IL –
State Senator Dan Rutherford (R-Pontiac) is
informing residents about the Illinois Insurance
Hotline, a resource residents can contact when they
need general insurance information.
The Illinois
Insurance Hotline is an educational resource
designed to help consumers with questions about
insurance-related matters. Consumers can use this
information to make informed decisions on insurance
related issues.
Rutherford
provided additional insight, “Insurance can be a
complicated and confusing subject. People can call
or email the Hotline to receive unbiased information
on a number of insurance topics. Knowledge empowers
us to become better consumers.”
The Illinois
Insurance Hotline is a nonprofit industry-sponsored
outreach that is available to answer basic insurance
questions, distribute educational materials, or
offer direction when problems arise. Thousands
contact the hotline for assistance each year.
Hotline users
have common topics such as financial strength
ratings and complaint records for prospective
insurers; auto and life insurance company contact
numbers; what to expect in the claim process;
options for those turned down for coverage; and
insight into insurance terms like actual cash value;
replacement cost, and negligence.
Consumers can
reach the Hotline at 1.800.444.3338. Monday-Friday
between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or email at
insurancehotline@illinoisinsurance.org. The
association also has a Web site located at:
http://www.illinoisinsurance.org/Consumer.aspx.
