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

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin voted with 50 other senators March 1 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. 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 hospitalized .

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.

14th Congressional District Dem Candidates Give Their Opinions

Two Democrats vying for their party’s nomination in the 14th Congressional District addressed questions from interested residents in late February. The League of Women Voters of Central Kane County hosted the candidates in a forum in .

Dennis Anderson of Gurnee and Jonathan Farnick of Woodstock will square off in the March 20 Illinois primary in the hope of challenging Republican incumbent Randy Hultgren for the 14th District. To read the answers to questions the League asked, .

Grabowski Calls His Primary Opponent a Plant for the Other Side

Richard Grabowski, Hometown resident and 3rd Congressional District candidate, has released a blistering press release charging that his main challenger for the Republican primary nomination to challenge Democratic incumbent Dan Lipinski, Western Springs’ Jim Falvey, is a “fraud” and a “Democrat in Republican clothing,” reported.

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. Dunn previously represented Naperville in the Illinois House.

Sparks Fly in 11th District Democrats Debate

The three Democratic candidates running in the new 11th Congressional District squared off in a debate last week, answered questions from the audience and spent much of their time spiritedly outlining the differences between them. Read more in .