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Quick Hit
by Michael Sandler
12:34pm
Thu May 24
2 comments

Social Media Password Bill May Soon Be Illinois Law

A bill making it illegal for employers in Illinois to ask employees for their Facebook passwords is one step closer to becoming state law.

HB 3782 was approved by the Illinois Senate on Tuesday by a vote of 55-0. The proposed amendment to the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act would make it illegal for employers to ask potential and current employees for their social media passwords.

“From a public policy standpoint, employers should not be allowed to look at those passwords,” said State Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago), a co-sponsor of the bill, in an interview with Progress Illinois. “That information is off limits.”

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Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
3:25pm
Fri May 11

Tenaska Compromise Doesn’t Win Over Skeptics

The Nebraska-based energy company Tenaska, Inc. negotiated a deal with state lawmakers this week to run a proposed electricity plant in Taylorville on natural gas instead of coal gasification, and the amended legislation will be called before the House Public Utilities Committee next Thursday.

But environmentalists against the original proposal remain opposed for now – they contend that the new legislation will let Tenaska phase into the more expensive and environmentally risky proposition of converting Illinois’ abundant downstate coal into gas.

“It is kicking the most expensive and dirty parts down the road,” says Jack Darin, director of the Sierra Club Illinois chapter. Read more »

Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
2:52pm
Wed May 2

Latino Political Leaders Plot 2012 Election Strategy

Latino leaders Wednesday lamented their community’s economic struggles and lack of a voice in national politics, while expressing hope they could make a difference in this year’s election.

“We have to educate folks on how you do politics,” said Jesse Rios, the executive director of the Chicago Metro Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, adding that more Latino residents must “knock on the door of their Congressman; knock on the door of their Senator.” Read more »

Quick Hit
by Michael Sandler
3:21pm
Thu Apr 5
2 comments

Employees In Illinois May Soon Have Social Media Password Protection

Employers in Illinois may soon be prevented from asking employees for their social media passwords, according to a bill proposed by State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago).

House bill 3782 would make it illegal for any employer to request any employee or prospective employee to provide a password in order to gain access to the person’s profile on a social networking site, such as Facebook. The bill easily passed a House vote last week, and Ford said he believes the Senate will vote on the bill shortly after returning from recess on April 17. Assuming the bill passes in the Senate, it will move to a full House vote.

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