There’s no question that tracking and limiting large purchases of pseudoephedrine (PSE), a main ingredient in making of illegal methamphetamine, has helped reduce the number of homemade meth labs in our local communities. A key component of that success is a pilot program that currently allows all Illinois pharmacies to electronically track PSE purchases and block sales that exceed state and federal limits. But if we don’t act, the pilot program will expire in January, 2012.

Last week I signed-on as a co-sponsor of legislation initiated by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan that will make the pilot program permanent and help ensure our continued success in the battle against meth.

In drafting the new legislation, Attorney General Madigan consulted with the Illinois State Police and also shared the draft with the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. The proposed legislation does not expand or change the requirements of the current pilot program and is designed to allow a seamless transition to permanency without costs to the state or to Illinois pharmacies.

I look forward to working with the Attorney General to pass this legislation through the House as soon as possible.