Heather Steans
Encyclopedia
Heather Steans is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate
, representing the 7th district. She was appointed after winning a controversial special primary election that followed the mid-term resignation of her predecessor, Senator Carol Ronen
. In November 2010 she was elected to a full term with 84% of the vote.
, announced her resignation on October 22, 2007. Ronen said the timing of her announcement was chosen “so that anyone who wishes to run for the office will be able to file petitions for the February 5th, 2008, primary election by the November 5th deadline.” Chris Lawrence, an independent, reported to the Chicago Reader that he believed Ronen announced her resignation too late for “independents to mount a campaign”. Only two individuals, Heather Steans and Suzanne Elder, were able to collect enough signatures to run in the special primary. Steans won the election with 63.26% of the vote.
website. She sits on the following committees of the Illinois State Legislature: Human Services, Insurance, Local Government, and Labor.
, “The new law remakes the system of admission to nursing homes, ensuring that only those in need of 24-hour skilled care are admitted...The law sets higher nursing home quality and staffing requirements, raises penalties for violations, and increases inspections and monitoring.”
Steans also partnered with a formal political rival, Suzanne Elder, to pass anti-discrimination legislation. Working together, she and Elder faced formidable opposition from the state’s teachers’ unions and overrode an amendatory veto from Governor Quinn to enact legislation that protects the health and civil rights of students with diabetes and other disabilities (The Care of Students with Diabetes Act, P.A. 96-1485).
Co-sponsoring SB 3346 with State Representative Karen May
, Steans passed a bill reducing mercury
in the ambient environment by improving the material’s collection and recycling from thermostat
units. According to the Environmental Law and Policy Center, an organization that helped to draft the bill, “It’s a bill that environmentalists, manufacturers and the entire General Assembly could agree on.”
. She earned a masters degree in Public Policy from Harvard University
’s John F. Kennedy School of Government
where she serves on the Dean’s Alumni Leadership Council.
reported that Steans had an ownership stake in Evergreen Health Care Center, a southwest suburban nursing home
whose license was being revoked by state authorities due to repeated citations for serious patient neglect and medical errors that allegedly led to the deaths of two patients. State health officials cited Evergreen after facility staff failed to notify a doctor as the health of a 90-year-old resident with pneumonia deteriorated in January 2009. "This failure resulted in the resident being transferred to the hospital in full respiratory arrest ... and then dying at the hospital," a state health department report said. She divested her stake in the facility and a separate but related management company, several weeks later. The Steans family maintains a 15% interest in Evergreen Health Care Center.
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
, representing the 7th district. She was appointed after winning a controversial special primary election that followed the mid-term resignation of her predecessor, Senator Carol Ronen
Carol Ronen
Carol Ronen was a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 7th District from 2000 to 2008.- Early life :Ronen graduated from Bradley University with a degree in Political Science...
. In November 2010 she was elected to a full term with 84% of the vote.
Special primary election
Steans’ predecessor, Carol RonenCarol Ronen
Carol Ronen was a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 7th District from 2000 to 2008.- Early life :Ronen graduated from Bradley University with a degree in Political Science...
, announced her resignation on October 22, 2007. Ronen said the timing of her announcement was chosen “so that anyone who wishes to run for the office will be able to file petitions for the February 5th, 2008, primary election by the November 5th deadline.” Chris Lawrence, an independent, reported to the Chicago Reader that he believed Ronen announced her resignation too late for “independents to mount a campaign”. Only two individuals, Heather Steans and Suzanne Elder, were able to collect enough signatures to run in the special primary. Steans won the election with 63.26% of the vote.
Public service
A full list of bills sponsored by Heather Steans can be found on the Illinois General AssemblyIllinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois and comprises the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Illinois has 59 legislative districts, with two...
website. She sits on the following committees of the Illinois State Legislature: Human Services, Insurance, Local Government, and Labor.
Healthcare reform
Steans is Chief Sponsor of IL Senate Bill 655 (SB685), which created new rules designed to improve care at nursing homes and prevent patient neglect and abuse. According to a press release by the Office of Governor Pat QuinnPat Quinn (politician)
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Quinn III is the 41st and current Governor of Illinois. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Previously elected three times to statewide office, Quinn was the sitting lieutenant governor and became governor on January 29, 2009, when the previous governor, Rod Blagojevich,...
, “The new law remakes the system of admission to nursing homes, ensuring that only those in need of 24-hour skilled care are admitted...The law sets higher nursing home quality and staffing requirements, raises penalties for violations, and increases inspections and monitoring.”
Steans also partnered with a formal political rival, Suzanne Elder, to pass anti-discrimination legislation. Working together, she and Elder faced formidable opposition from the state’s teachers’ unions and overrode an amendatory veto from Governor Quinn to enact legislation that protects the health and civil rights of students with diabetes and other disabilities (The Care of Students with Diabetes Act, P.A. 96-1485).
Environmental reforms
Steans authored the Lead Sinker Act, SB 1269, an education program that promotes the use of fishing products that are not detrimental to humans and wildlife.Co-sponsoring SB 3346 with State Representative Karen May
Karen May
Karen May is the Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 58th District since 2001. The district includes parts of Bannockburn, Deerfield, Glencoe, Highland Park, Highwood, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Northbrook, and Riverwoods....
, Steans passed a bill reducing mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
in the ambient environment by improving the material’s collection and recycling from thermostat
Thermostat
A thermostat is the component of a control system which regulates the temperature of a system so that the system's temperature is maintained near a desired setpoint temperature. The thermostat does this by switching heating or cooling devices on or off, or regulating the flow of a heat transfer...
units. According to the Environmental Law and Policy Center, an organization that helped to draft the bill, “It’s a bill that environmentalists, manufacturers and the entire General Assembly could agree on.”
Marriage reform
In 2009, Steans introduced a gay marriage bill (SB 2468) which introduces civil marriages in Illinois and allows religious institutions the right to decline marrying same sex couples. SB 2468 states, “nothing in the Act should be construed to interfere or regulate any religious practice concerning marriage and no religion is required to solemnize a marriage to which it objects”. The bill states that marriage is legal between two persons (rather than only a man and a woman), but that these persons cannot have the following relations: aunts, uncles, siblings. The bill has been re-referred to the Assignments committee as of March 19, 2010.Education
Steans received her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Urban Studies from Princeton UniversityPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. She earned a masters degree in Public Policy from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
’s John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
where she serves on the Dean’s Alumni Leadership Council.
Evergreen Health Care Center
On June 16, 2010, the Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
reported that Steans had an ownership stake in Evergreen Health Care Center, a southwest suburban nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
whose license was being revoked by state authorities due to repeated citations for serious patient neglect and medical errors that allegedly led to the deaths of two patients. State health officials cited Evergreen after facility staff failed to notify a doctor as the health of a 90-year-old resident with pneumonia deteriorated in January 2009. "This failure resulted in the resident being transferred to the hospital in full respiratory arrest ... and then dying at the hospital," a state health department report said. She divested her stake in the facility and a separate but related management company, several weeks later. The Steans family maintains a 15% interest in Evergreen Health Care Center.