Senate Kills GOP Plan to Reverse Obama’s Birth Control Rule

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin voted with 50 other senators Thursday to reject 51 to 48 a controversial amendment sponsored by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) that would have overridden the Obama Administration's new contraception coverage rule and allowed any employer to refuse to cover any kind of health care service by citing "moral reasons." Three Democrats, Sens. Bob Casey (Pa.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Ben Nelson (Neb.) voted with Republicans in favor of the amendment, and only one Republican, Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine), voted against it, according to Huffington Post.

Illinois’ Republican senator, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, did not vote. He is still being hospitalized after suffering a stroke.

Although Obama's contraception mandate includes a broad exemption for churches and faith-based employers, Senate Republicans argued on Thursday that requiring any employer, even a non-religious one, to cover health services that they oppose is an attack on religious freedom.

State Commission Endorses Anti-bullying Bill

The Associated Press reported that the Illinois Human Rights Commission is endorsing legislation that would require a statewide bullying-prevention policy. Commission chairman Martin Castro said earlier this week that the panel also voted to join the Prevent School Violence Illinois Commission.

The legislation, sponsored by Chicago Democratic Rep. Kelly Cassidy, would require school districts to adopt guidelines to prevent bullying and cyberbullying by the start of school this fall.

Naperville Chamber Endorses Jeanne Ives for State Rep

The Naperville Area Chamber Political Action Committee (NACPAC) has endorsed Jeanne Ives for election to the Illinois State House along with eight other candidates for local office for the March 20, 2012 primary, reported .

“To earn the endorsement of the Naperville Area Chamber Political Action Committee a candidate must demonstrate that they understand how government can help or hinder job creation and economic growth,” said Joe Dunn, Chairman of NACPAC and who previously represented Naperville in the Illinois House.