My Letter to the Editor

My most recent letter was published on 10/31/10 in The News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana, IL)

To read it go to www.marylynnfuller.com and click "Letters to the Editor".

Stay tuned for a new blog after today's election returns are in.

IL State Representative Districts 12th & 103rd

Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-12th District) has been very detrimental to adoption reform in IL. Just her lying and sneaky traits tell me that she must be doing a lot of harm in Springfield. Her opponent Dave Lenkowski is a history teacher and comes across as an honest person who would do as much good for the people as he possibly can. I don't live within the 12th district so I can't vote for Dave but I strongly support him.

In the 103rd District we have Rep. Naomi Jakobsson (D) who might as well be glued to Rep. Feigenholtz's hip when it comes to adoption reform. Although she is an adoptive mother and Rep. Feigenholtz is an adoptee, they are anti-adoptee civil rights. The reason that I say this is because the new IL law does not treat all adoptees equal. Those waiting until Nov. 15, 2011 to submit a request for their original birth certificate will have conditions to go by and a wait to see if they will actually receive the document. There are others like myself who fall into a category that was not covered within the text of the new law. I'm entitled to my birth certificate now but instead I'm waiting while the problem that arose with releasing it is resolved. Just how long this will take, we shall see.

Rep. Jakobsson has failed her constituents in other ways other than adoption reform. It is past time to put her out to pasture and Norm Davis would be a great replacement for her in Springfield. He is a Christian who cares about people. He is a businessman and his experience would be of help with digging IL out of a $13 billion deficit, if not more by now.

Both Dave Lenkowski and Norm Davis are Republicans but neither one has indicated that their party is more important than the people. This is vital if Illinois is to survive!

VOTE FOR Dave Lenkowski in the 12th District and Norm Davis in the 103rd District!

HOW MANY MISINTERPRETATIONS?

It is no big surprise to me that the text of IL HB 5428 (now known as PA-96-0895) has resulted in at least one misterpretation of the legislative intent of the law. I'm glad that I questioned why I was told that I had to wait until Nov. 15, 2011 to apply for my OBC. My birth mother is deceased and I had enclosed a copy of her death record.

A reply letter from Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) confirmed my suspicion. Her letter went on to say, "Once this issue is resolved someone will be contacting you so that you may obtain a non-certified copy of your original birth certificate.".

While I am trying to be patient during the wait I can't help but wonder how many misinterpretations will result from the dysfunctional writing of the lengthy text. There are other situations besides having a deceased birth mother. I know of one person not allowed to register with IARMIE. I'm sure the list must go on and I hope those being denied will email me at mlf@marylynnfuller.com so I can enter you into a rejects database. Problems don't go away unless addressed.

It is so important to not take "NO" for an answer unless you are absolutely certain there is no option. I doubt very much that we have a team of attorneys on board in the Division of Vital Records to interpret the text of the law. No, it might not require that but believe me it is easy to tire of the tedious reading when so many words are repeated. Even though it is lengthy it does appear that some situations were left out. Prior to November 15, 2011 is the testing period in my honest opinion. Vital Records will receive lots more applications on or after this date.

So if you have had an application returned to you, please speak out! I know that some of you are used to hearing the word, "NO" but sometimes there are alternatives and you need to utilize them.

IL OBC REJECTS DATABASE

I have started an IL Rejects Database to compile statistics as to how many requests for OBC's are refused, received advice to resubmit on or after November 15, 2011 or been told they don't qualify to register with IARMIE. The mistakes made writing the text of the law must be fixed. If they are not, I don't think we can expect any better in the time ahead.

Please spread the word that I can be contacted by dropping me an email at mlfuller65@comcast.net.

I won't be publishing the list of names but I will enter them on the database along with contact information so that when a person of importance does listen about the flaws of this law, we will hopefully have ammuntion to get changes made.

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE NEW IL LAW

Many among the Internet Adoption Community do not agree about the new IL adoption law (May 2010). It is not a perfect world so it is no surprise.

Illinois is known as the Land of Lincoln in honor of former President Abraham Lincoln. He was known for his honesty and believing in that all should be treated equal. It is a wonder that he has not come out of his grave and shaken his fists at our legislators and governor.

We have a Democrat governor and the Democrats were controlling the House and Senate. A perfect year for Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D) to sponsor an unrestricted bill. Of course, there would have been some opposition. Many oppose to change. I'm one that changes with the times or I'd be typing this on a standard typewriter and posting it on a bulletin board. But I strongly oppose to the new law because it does not treat all adopted adults equal.

What on earth is fair about those born prior to 1/1/46 being able to request and receive their original birth certificate (OBC)? Word on the street is that even these adoptees are waiting months before receiving their OBC. But yet the media was told that they would be treated just like those non-adopted and receive it within the average turnaround time. Those born on or after 1/1/46 can request and receive their OBC beginning November 15, 2011.

Some adoptees might die within this waiting period but a family member could request their OBC. It won't mean as much to them but what the heck.

My own birth mother is deceased and according to Rep. Feigenholtz's Web site I can request my OBC and submit her death record. I did that almost a month ago and it was returned to me rather quickly. In so many words it was said that I'm not old enough and can request my OBC in November 2011. I have written to Rep. Feigenholtz since she sponsored the bill that became law and should be able to clarify whether I can have my OBC now or not. I have gone through the text of the law and unless I overlooked it I'd say my own situation was not covered. It makes me wonder what else might have been overlooked. Or perhaps if I'm mistaken, will some of the employees for the Registry and Vital Stats make mistakes.

I could go on and on but the above is a summary of why I don't think the new IL adoption law is great. Congratulations to those who can receive their OBC now and good luck to the rest!

IL's New Adoption Law

The News Gazette (7/16/10)

JOAN GRIFFIS: ILLINOIS ANCESTORS

Adoption bill

Mary Lynn Fuller, P.O. Box 184, Urbana, IL 61803, has written to tell that the adoption bill recently signed by Gov. Quinn is "horrid"and her lengthy letter details the bill's unfair provisions. As an adoptee herself, she "would be more than happy to receive email from anyone with questions" (or offers to "help turn this mess around") at mlf@marylynnfuller.com."

(A scanned copy of this part of the newspaper is at www.marylynnfuller.com (click "In the news").

DEROGATORY INTERNET ADOPTION PUZZLES

Careful thought was given to whether I should write this blog or not. Once I decided that I should defend myself, a busy schedule kept me from doing it until now. There is a difference between criticism and telling lies about someone you don't like.

It was crafty how blogs and newsletters were referred to so that a few words could be taken from here and there to form lies. Perhaps jigsaw puzzles became boring since all pieces to the right one do fit. I did wonder if this was a result of my speaking out over what I saw with my own eyes or because someone did not receive what they had asked for; or perhaps both.

There are organizations that I don't believe in since they don't support open records for ALL adopted adults. There are some who do until the going gets tough and a legislator wants to add some conditions and it is thought to be okay. It is entirely their choice just as it is my choice to not support a conditional bill.

I was one of many who did try to stop IL HB 5428 in its tracks. The bottom line is that it does not treat ALL adopted adults equally and anything less is just not acceptable to me. Somehow this new law must be changed, the sooner the better. But those who want to bad mouth that we were not successful in stopping the horrid bill from becoming law must have selective memory to have forgotten that the bill was whisked through terribly fast. A legislator who had told me that she would keep me informed about any adoption legislature is now a liar in my book. I am doing all that I can to see that she loses in the November election.

I do encourage those who read something derogatory about someone to read back through blogs and newsletters to see for yourself as to if it is really true. Never will all of us among the Internet adoption community agree 100% on everything. It just is not a perfect world. But we activists for adoptee rights have a tough battle on our hands and to waste time on being crafty is using energy that could be better spent.

HURRICANE IL HB 5428

As many of you know adoption deformers are coming out in numbers. Unfortunately this is an attention getter. Innocent new advocates can get caught up with the talk that deformers dish out and actually begin to believe that it is okay to leave some adoptees behind as long as some will have access to their original birth certificates (OBC).

Not long ago Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) made it sound to the public that the bill she sponsored was great while telling others that it was not the best bill. Deformers do tend to talk whichever way the wind blows. Of course it was just not Rep. Feigenholtz that created a lot of damaging wind in IL. The wind was so strong that we reformers did not have much of an opportunity to air our views and when we tried, the wind just hushed us right out. "Hurricane IL HB 5428: blew in a horrid new law that we reformers must now do something about.

One major step will be to knock deformers down, help them back up and make them realize that we will not tolerate any adoptee being left behind.

I have no way of knowing if we have any IL adoptees born on Jan. 2, 1946 but we must have some born in 1946 who do not have access to their OBC while those born prior to Jan. 1, 1946 do. Many of us know what it is like to stand in line for a long time, only for the person in front of us to be told they are the last one in. But that is absolutely nothing compared to being a 64 year old IL adoptee who has waited for many years to hold their OBC in their hands but then be told they are not quite old enough. True in Nov. 2011 they can request their OBC, and if no birth parent identified on the OBC has claimed anonymity, they will receive it. But if one has, they will receive a redacted version that will not mean nearly as much to them. Something is wrong with the picture, don't you think? Chances are very few birth parents will go this route but still why should there be strings attached when their biological mother and possibly the biological father too had their legal right severed in a court of law many years ago. Keep in mind too that some of the 64 year olds could pass away while waiting for Nov. 2011 to arrive.

I know that those new to adoption reform might be confused over who to beleive when they hear that it is okay to support a bill that leaves some adoptees behind while others only support ALL adopted adults having access to their OBC. But I'd think they could just give thoght to how this might apply in everyday life when they, a spouse, or a child are not treated the same as everyone else. It is upsetting and should not be tolerated.

Please throw out your deformer shoes and grab a pair of reformers!

IL HB 5428 LEADS TO DISRESPECT & MISREPRESENTATION

We can only suspect what blew HB 5428 through both houses without much opposition from legislators. The text of the bill is evidence that if it would become law, many adopted adults will still be treated like children. But birth parents would again have rights that were terminated years ago. The previous court order would mean nothing. I won't go into my thoughts as to what precedent this could set in regards to rulings of judges. I wonder what notary publics think about redacted original birth certificates. The notary seal does not seem to mean much in IL.

The wait is on as to if Gov. Quinn will or not sign the bill into law. I honestly don't know how he can sign it in the midst of a fiscal crisis. It is stated on White Oak Foundation's Web site that the year-long, nationwide public campaign will not cost taxpayers. However it fails to state who is going to pay this bill. Neither is there ia statement as to who foots the bill for the state registry and confidential intermediary program. The last I heard IL has a $13 billion defict but maybe there is a large piggy bank stuffed full with currency!

Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, sponsor of HB 5428 and Melisha Mitchell with White Oak Foundation are keeping us entertained during the wait to see just what Gov. Quinn will do. However the disrespect and misreprsentation shown by Sara and Melisha are far from being humorous.

Sara or someone using her email address sent a reply to concern shown by Lori Jeske. No matter who wrote this reply Sara is responsible. It is a must read at The Daily Bastardette. We advocates who dwell on all adopted adults being treated equally by having access to their original birth certificate were referred to with disrespect. Many think of us as troublemakers but to be called "ungrateful bastards" by a state representative is totally out of line. Street talk is that she is an adoptee - hard to believe, isn't it?

While still shaking my head over Sara's behavior, I checked out White Oak Foundation's Web site to see what Melisha Mitchell might be saying about HB 5428. She refers to we opponents as "sloppy fact checkers". She does show a bit more respect than Sara! Maybe that is why she is entitled to misrepresentation of the bill. It is a must read but I will point out one thing that stands out as not being told just the way it should be.

Melisha states that the State Registry will not be strengthened. She says that this legislation would eliminate the need for an adopted person seeking his/her birth record to be signed up with the Registry. But yet according to the text of the bill, if I were to request my original birth certificate, I would have to register with the Registry. Of course I could not even do it until November 2011. My birth mother is a deceased adoptee so in order to request hers a death record must be filed with the Registry by either a confidential intermediary or suviving relative of hers. Wonder if I would be considered to be a relative? Possibly unless a confidential intermediary decided to charge me for a red tape process. The state would continue to be treating me like a child, especially when it comes to trying to obtain my own original birth certificate.. But yet Sara claims that HB 5428 will treal IL adoptees just like those in open records states. Who is she fooling? Obviously she has fooled many legislators and some of the public, including adoptees who believe in baby steps.

The past few weeks have been quite interesting in IL. As the strong winds continue to blow through the prairie I wonder just what will be said next from Springfield or Chicago. It probably won't be good

LIES AND SLIME - IL HB 5428

Rep. Sara Feigenholz (D-Chicago) and her buddies' performance of deceit in Springfield has resulted in the most horrid bill possible lying on Governor Quinn's desk for his signature. They call it adoption reform when in fact it is distort.

Granted there will be a group of adoptees born prior to 1/1/46 who will be able to receive their original birth certificate with no strings attached. But God pity those born on or after this date.

Termination of rights in Illinois now means that birth parents can choose anonymity. It does not matter that years ago a court order severed the legal relationship between parent and child. The child could be 60 years old now but a birth parent(s) can prevent him or her from having their original birth certificate. Oops, maybe they will receive one with birth parent identifying information redacted. One wonders how a notary would feel if they knew years later that a legal document notorized by them would be revised. I guess legal just has a different meaning in IL and one of these days money will be spent to notify the public.

Speaking of money - I've not heard anything about the estimate of what it will cost for the OBC-Public Information Campaign Oversight Committee to conduct the year-long, nationwide announcements to inform as many as possible about this new law about to go into effect, if Governor Quinn signs HB 5428.

Illinois currently has a $13 billion deficit. But why not cut programs for the needy and seniors, lay off teachers, just not pay some bills...?

After all it is more important to keep an ineffective registry and confidential intermediarey service intact. By the time another 25 years have passed maybe the registry will have matched 10% of the registrants. By all means keep those working for Midwest Adoption Center employed. They need to save lots of money because if they ever become disabled or a senior citizen, there might not be any state agencies to help them.

I've heard and read so many lies about HB 5428 that the TV remote and the local newspaper are starting to feel slimy.

IL Governor Quinn must VETO HB 5428

Adoption reform in IL has steadily been going down the drain. As we feared the full Senate did pass this horrid HB 5428. Sneaky Sara and her cohorts have been lying and playing dirty politics. I know that is nothing new but this latest show will not only harm adoptee rights in IL but to those in other states who follow suit. Many of has have been preaching how serious this situation is and unfortunately it seems that some have to be burned worse than they already have been before they wake up. I will get off my soap box because the most important step you can take right now is to contact Governor Pat Quinn and urge him to VETO HB 5428.

Will you get to directly talk to the governor? Most likely not but he has office staff that will relay your message. The Springfield Office # is 217-782-0244 and the Chicago Office is 312-814-2121.

Please don't sit back - call NOW!

GAY ELLEN BROWN'S TESTIMONY - 4/13/10

Gay had written testimony in her hands and read it word for word on April 13th before the IL Senate Judiciary Committee. I am a witness to that since I was present at the hearing. I have permission from Gay and her husband to place it on my Blog site. I respect their privacy so I have not included Gay's date of birth, their home address, phone # or email address. But other than that in its entirety:

April 13, 2010

To the Members of the Illinois Senate Judicary Committee:

My name is Gay Ellen Brown, I am a wife, mother of three daughters and grandma to Jacquline, my name sake, because I was born Jacquline Lenn Thompson on _________ in Chicago, Illinois and I am also an adoptee.

I flew in from New Jersey today to make my plea to you to stop the HB5428, it is unfair and unconstitutional to all adoptees born in Illinois.

My 51 year journey of self discovery of who and what I am came to a grinding halt last year because I wsas diagnosed with pre-cancerous conditions which required surgeries. My surgeon felt it necessary at this point in time to test me for the BRRCA gene for breast and ovarian cancer, however, my health insurance denied coverage for this very costly test because I can't prove anyone in my immediate family has this cancer and that I am not of a high risk group such as Swedish or Hungarian, but how do I know if I am? If I do not know my own heritage. If I had my original birth certificate I would know.

Growing up I always wanted to know answers to the questions every adoptee has. But today those answers could save my life or give me a better quality of life. I am also a birth mother who CHOSE to keep my daughters and I can't even protect them from possible inherited conditions that I may be passing down to them.

The discrimination we endure as adoptees must stop now, and our basic civil and human rights must be restored. Our original birth certificates belong to us and not to the state of Illinois.

Thank you for your time and consideration into this matter.

URGENT - CONTACT IL SENATORS TODAY (April 17)

It is URGENT that you contact IL Senators today (Sat., April 17). They must be persuaded to not pass IL HB 5428.

I've just placed a link on IL Open for phone and fax #'s for the senators. Below it is additional contact information for Web contact forms and email addresses. There is no guarantee that the Web contact forms and email addresses will work. But some do differ from what has been posted during recent days. If you are not going to call or fax the senators, by all means try reaching them through Web contact forms or email. It is vital that everyone fight this battle.

If HB 5428 is signed into law, many IL adopted adults will REGRET it. So will adopted adults in other states with closed records because often another state will follow suit. Remember that IL is a large state.

Please do your part and don't sit back thinking that others are taking care of things!

CORRUPT IL HB 5428

For 30 years I've been an advocate for open records. I do understand that HB 5428 is a horrid bill. What I don't understand is how any legislator who is serving the people can vote Yea. My thought is that the length of the bill was meant to confuse as many as possible. How many legislators actually sat down and read through 80 pages (67 if saved into a Word file). I was at the hearing and saw first-hand how some of the senators were talking among themselves and laughing. Of course I don't know what they were laughing about but their minds did not seem to be totally on what was being said at the hearing. I won't go into what all I viewed but the rudeness and disrespect did stand out.

Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) displayed power and perhaps it was used to fast-track this bill. I urge all of you to read an old blog at Chicago Reader about Rep. Feigenholtz not being a reformer. She claims to have adoptees within her heart but yet she sees nothing wrong with leaving many behind. An example of how stupid she is: after the hearing on April 13 she walked up to me, shook my hand and thanked me for my support. I had a "NO to IL HB 5428" sticker attached to the top that I was wearing. When I replied with an unfriendly expression on my face, "we are enemies", she started in about how we are not. She says that she wants what we want but this bill was the best that she could do. Then Rep. Feigenholtz moved on to talk to a reporter.

Melisha Mitchell with White Oak Foundation introduced herself and said that she reads the blogs and that she has never charged anyone for help. I thought that I would puke for certain. Then Sara entered our conversation by saying that adoptees want to find birth families and they want medical records. I told her that there are others like myself that want our civil rights restored. I went on to tell her that my family has been found and I have my original birth certificate but my civil rights have not been restored.

A pure clean bill I'm sure would be difficult to get passed into law. But what can seem to be impossible still holds a shred of hope. Present the bill well, get lots of supporters and give it a try. If it does not pass now, then keep sponsoring one like it every year until it does pass. Determination is the key to accomplishng tasks.

Those who attended the hearing on April 13 can confirm my saying that Rep. Feigenholtz received compliments as if she had just invented something greater than electricity. I forgot to take a "barf bag" with me so I did stomach the BS the best that I could. She had some idiot from Alaska testify as a supporter and he went on and on and on some more about his life. This was after the chairman for the hearing did announce that only two supporters and two opponents would be allowed to testify. Yep! I still have not figured out why the Alaskan's testimony was relevant other than he had been in an orphanage. It was all that I could do to not fall asleep. Then a lady representing The Cradle in Evanston testified in support of the bill. She talked as if the bill is what IL adoptees have needed for years. My guess is that she has not read the bill or she would know that many would be left behind.

Then the chairman announced that one opponent who felt the bill did not go far enough could testify plus one who felt that the bill went too far. Now how were we opponents to know which two could approach the table and speak. I told Gay Brown, A Chicago adoptee who now lives in NJ to grab a seat. An adoptive father grabbed the other one. Of course he got to speak first and he does not know his beans from apple butter. It was evident that the senators realized it because of the questions they threw at him. But yet he was allowed to go on and on. Mary Dixon with the ACLU was called up to clarify some things since the man had several in the room shaking their heads. She does not know much more than he. She actually "quoted" a law but left out a sentence. She did not understand some of the questions asked of her so one or two were repeated. I felt sorry for Gay sitting there waiting and waiting to be be able to speak. She did a great job when the opportunity was given to her! She talked about not knowing one's nationality and some medical issues she has experienced. But she did place emphasis on the bill being unfair and unconstitutional to all adoptees born in IL. She did stress that our basic civil and human rights must be restored. I do think what she had to say must have tugged at some hearts. Unforutnately the majority of the senators did vote Yea. But you must remember that this is Illinois and politics are more important than lives. Treat people inhumane but go with what your party leaders want. Actually I do question how they can vote prior to reading written testimony but they sure did it. But I did hand my own in anyway before I left and that of an organization's.

Those who know some of the IL history have heard of Al Capone. Yes, the mafia gunned down people but then cared for the deceased's family. Now we have a different mafia in Springfield that does not gun down people at the Capitol. What they do elsewhere, I'm not sure. But they look you right in the face while they aare actually stabbing you in the back. They think that we are stupid when we are smarter than at least many of them. They are not as nice as Al Capone but do refrain from having someone gun you down at the Capitol or in the parking areas. They even let Blago walk away so we are probably safe in that respect. Just how long I'm not sure.

Gay Brown and I were interviewed by Steve Staeger with WCIA3. He did a great job of reporting the story and I urge you to listen to it. A few words that Gay said at the hearing are part of the film.

This bill is getting closer and closer to the governor's desk but we still have a chance of defeating it with the full Senate. We can not give up this fight. I admit that I think the chances are slim of winning but until the full Senate votes we have got to let them know how we feel about this bill. Don't wait until tomorrow or sit back while others speak out. Everyone is needed - even get your neighbor's dog to bark "NO" over the phone. Just a one minute message left on voice mail or with an administrative person could help. All IL adopted adults must have their civil rights restored and nothing less is acceptable. Please quote that last sentence if you wish!

THE CLOCK IS TICKING AWAY TO FIGHT IL HB 5428

This is Saturday, April 10 and the Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a public hearing at 2:30 pm on April 13. Not everyone feels comfortable doing public speaking but we need opponents present at this hearing. The Capitol is not hard to find in Springfield.

If you cannot make it to the hearing, have you contacted the senators? Contact information is at the IL Open Web site - www.ilopen.org. You do not have to be personally touched by adoption to join in this battle to stop a bill that does not restore civil rights to all adopted adults.

Just a brief phone call could be effective, especially if a senator's office receives loads of them. Don't expect to speak directly to the senator but a clerk/secretary will relay your message. Wouldn't it be great if each senator received so many messages that not all of them could be held in two hands?

Example:
I am calling to plead with the senator to vote NAY to HB 5428. It does not restore civil rights to all adoptees and nothing less is acceptable. Birth parents' rights were terminated at the time of the adoption and they have no right now to say whether or not their son or daughter can have their original birth certificate.

Please do your part - everyone is needed in this battle!

URGENT - IL OPEN ORGANIZATION ACTION ALERT

There is an URGENT IL Open Organization Action Alert posted at www.ilopen.org.

NOW is the time to speak out and everyone opposed to IL HB 5428 needs to do this. Please don't think that others are taking care of it. Don't stop with the senators because we need for newspapers to print what a horrid bill this is. We need the news media to let the taxpayers know. How could they be happy about an expense that is not necessary when there is already a fiscal crisis in IL?

If this bill becomes law, forget adoption reform in IL. It would set a precedent to the other states with closed records too.

We want civil rights restored to ALL adopted adults - you must speak out!

TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED

When I have not been busy with writing to senators and newspapers regarding IL HB 5428, I have been wondering where are the IL adopted adults.

Now I do realize that those born prior to 1/1/46 could be happy with anticipating that if the horrid bill becomes law, they will have access to their original birth certificate (OBC) with no conditions attached. Sadly some people only think of themselves.

I'm from the old school where I was raised to treat others the way that I like to be treated. For years I've had my own OBC but I still care about the ones that don't. I've never been able to turn my back on other adopted adults. I will admit that I do want my civil right restored to me and I won't sit back until it is. But neither will I sit back and not kick and scream to see equality for ALL IL adopted adults. Nothing less than equality for all is acceptable.

Do those sitting back realize that if this bill becomes law in IL, a precedent will be set for other closed record states? Do they realize that if this bill becomes law, adoption reform will not happen in IL?

Those living in IL should think about the unemployment rate and how it is on the rise partly due to the fiscal crisis in our state. When less income is coming in, less spending is done and that ultimately affects many things.

Are you going to sit back or are you going to speak out? The time is here and the clock is ticking away. HB 5428 was fast-tracked through the House and it is happening in the Senate. If you have written to newspapers and not had a letter published, write some more letters. If you have emailed legislators, try calling or faxing them. It appears that our legislators do avoid email. A phone call might not result in getting to speak directly with a senator but the more messages from opponents the better.

Thanks in advance for helping to fight this bill!

URGENT - IL HB 5428

The IL Senate Judiciary Committee has announced there will be a public hearing at 2:30 on Tuesday, April 13th.

I realize that not every one likes to speak out in front of a group of people. But to have a large number of opponents to this bill at the hearing could help.

Please email me if you can help - mlf@marylynnfuller.com.

WHICH IL SENATORS?

IL HB 5428 really should be referred to as the quiet little mouse. Sneaky Sara Feigenholtz and company mapped out where the traps were and the bill just scurried through on a fast track. We probably will never know how much cheese was dished out first or if favors will be shown down the road a bit further. Not enough representatives had any backbone so now the bill has reached the senate judiciary comittee.

Which senators will do the right thing showing that they believe in equality for all? Will politics come first to where all the Democrats will vote YEA disregarding the state's fiscal crisis? Will they think that it is only right for more people to be laid off work and needed programs be cut? Or will they not even begin to estimate the cost of the year-long, nationwide campaign to inform the public about a new law so birth parents can decide or not to deny their offspring their original birth certificate? Granted we can't count on all the Republican senators to do the right thing either. Many politicians thrive on "scratch my back, I'll scratch yours".

But the legislators who don't do right do not have to be reelected. Voters, keep track of the representative and senator for the district that you reside in. If they don't do right with this bill, can you count on them to do right with other bills? Probably not.

It is doubtful that IL HB 5428 is the only bill that has been kept as quiet as a mouse. When you think about it, it is no wonder that IL is in a fiscal crisis.

Write to your newspapers re: IL HB 5428

I've had another letter to the editor published. Go to www.marylynnfuller.com, click on "letters to the editor" in the navigation bar and scroll on down past the one that was published in The News-Gazette on 3/30.

"Urbana woman says bill harmful to adoptee rights", Paxton Record, 3/31/10

We MUST stop HB 5428 in its tracks. Public awareness never hurts and one of the easiest ways is to write to the editor of the different IL newspapers. See http://newslink.org/ilnews.html#major for links to newspapers. "Contact us" is usually at the top or near the bottom of the individual Web sites. Many editors can be emailed while there will be Web forms to complete at some of the Web sites. Include your name, city of residence, and phone #. Your phone # will not be published but you could receive a call to cofirm that you actually submitted the letter.

IL HB 5428 and IL Newspapers

The IL senators serving on the Assignments Committee for this horrid bill don't seem to want to be contacted by email. They do have phone and fax #'s plus physical addresses. But I consider it vital to get newspaper coverage for HB 5428. You do NOT have to live in IL to write a letter to editors. Go to: http://newslink.org/illinois.html#major and you will find it quite easy to go to the individual websites. A few newspapers have web forms for writing letters while others have email addresses. An Illinois Open Organization Action Alert is forthcoming that will provide a string of email addresses that you can just click. Write one letter if you wish or change the wording a bit for each one - it is up to you.

This morning one of my letters was published in The News-Gazette - go to www.marylynnfuller.com and click "letters to the editor". I have more letters to send out and I hope that you will join me in this needed effort. HB 5428 has got to be amended to treat all adopted adults equally or it has to be killed and not pass through the Senate.

Illinois Open Action Alert

Immediate help is needed to stop IL HB 5428 in its tracks. Illinois Open Organization's Action Alert is posted at www.ilopen.org plus a sample letter for you to write to senators.

Please don't sit back and think others will take care of this. Everyone's help is needed!

GIANT STEP BACKWARD IN ADOPTION REFORM FOR ILLINOIS

Our state representatives have been busy and zipped HB 5428 through the House and now it is in the Senate. We MUST stop this bill from becoming law. The 80-page nightmare of regulation not only keeps the state registry and CI program intact but treats adopted adults as if they were toddlers.

Let's face it adopted adults are allowed to vote and they fight in wars but when it comes to a civil right being restored to them, forget it. We need legislation where ALL adopted adults are treated equally. We can not allow a bill to become law that allows birth parents to have a say in whether their son or daughter can have their original birth certificate.

The bill allows birth parents to file anonymity with the state registry. An OBC-Access Public Information Campaign Oversight Committee will be appointed for a year-long nationwide campaign to inform the public in earnest about the conditions under which an adult adopted or surrendered person may receive a non-certified copy of his or her OBC. I guess it does not matter that Illinois has a severe deficit so is making budget cuts that affect the needy and elderly. They can find money for this type of legislation that is so unnecessary?

The state registry and confidential intermediary program would remain intact. Of course it is benefiting Midwest Adoption Center and should be a conflict of interest if they had any part in writing this bill.

Identifying information pertaining to a birth parent who filed a denial will be redacted. OBC's were signed by attending doctors and notorized. So now it would be legal to alter what was a legal document? I wonder how many notaries approve of this. Would this be a precedent in IL that all notorized documents can be later changed?

PLEASE contact your senators and stop this bill from becoming law. Don't sit back and think that your neighbor will take care of it. We need everyone to contact their senators and not just those personally touched by adoption. See Illinois Open's Web site for how to contact your senators. There is a link on the first page too on how to learn who your senator is - just type in your address at the Web site that you will find a link to.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF A BROTHER

At the age of 56 my beloved brother John lost a long courageous battle with cancer. As I once told him, he was a true inspiration to all cancer patients plus those going through any type of tough trial. John was one to radiate love and encouragement. He often said, "you do what you have to do" with no sign of self pity.

When it seemed that the end was approaching, friends asked how they should pray for John. I told them to ask God for it to be His will that John not become bedfast. He was always so active that I was concerned about how miserable he would become if completely immobile. I can only imagine how tough the battle with cancer was and I did not want John lingering in a state where one loses their dignity. Praise the Lord that prayers were answered.

John will be missed and I regret that I did not know him much longer. But I feel blessed for the time that I had with him. In 2004 he and I really enjoyed going up into the Santa Ana Mountains in CA. He pointed out property to me that he had admired for a while. We talked about how neat it would be to own it and the gorgeous view there would be from any window. We enjoyed other quality time together that I will always cherish.

Thank you, John! I'm sure thinking of your courage and inspiration will always help me through difficult times.

Both John and Joann (refer to my 6/9/09 blog) have passed away. Our time together was short but precious!

Adoptees and Medical History

It is not uncommon these days to pick up a magazine and read about the importance of knowing one's family medical history. Of course I never read anything about all the adopted adults who don't hold a clue about their own. Although I'm a reunited adoptee and know a lot about my own my heart goes out to those who don't.

There are social workers and legislators who think medical history provided by a birth mother at the time of relinquishment is sufficient. They don't seem to care that even just a few days later she might have been diagnosed with a serious illness. I doubt that there are too many of us that can say our health has not changed within the past 18 years.

Of course just what social workers and legislators do get and what they admit to are two different things.

In IL we have a disgraceful state registry and CI program in place so adopted adults should consider themselves equal to queens and kings! Just who all is benefiting from them financially would be quite interesting to know. But in IL corruption walls tend to come apart brick by brick while there are workers replacing them as fast as one falls out.

So the majority of IL adopted adults must continue to get their medical checkups and tell their doctors that their birth mother was in great health years ago. There sure is something wrong with this picture.

The primary election is approachng so maybe it is time to clean house in IL and bring in new legislators!