LEXINGTON, Ky.--Forty-eight state policymakers from across the country have been selected as The Council of State Governments' Henry Toll Fellows for the Class of 2014.

The 2014 Toll Fellows represent 34 states and Puerto Rico, with 33 representing the legislative branch, five serving in the judiciary and 10 hailing from the executive. A nine-member committee of state leaders, many who are Toll Fellows themselves, reviewed a record number of applications to select the class.

"Individually, these leaders have a proven track record of accomplishing great things; collectively they represent the future leadership of the states," said David Adkins, CSG's executive director/CEO.

Members of the 2014 CSG Toll Fellows Class by state are:

Alabama: Sen. William Holtzclaw

Alaska: Rep. Lora Reinbold

Arizona: Sen. Kelli Ward

Arkansas: Judge Rhonda Wood, Court of Appeals & state Supreme Court justice-elect;Marquita Little, director of Policy and Planning, Department of Human Services

Colorado: Rep. Lois Landgraf

Connecticut: Andrew Clark, director, Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy; Rep. Roland Lemar; Judge Erika Tindill, Connecticut Superior Court

Delaware: Deputy Secretary Nicole Majeski, Delaware Department of Transportation; Sen. Nicole Poore

Hawaii: Rep. Linda Ichiyama

Idaho: G. Richard Bevan, administrative district judge, District Court for Fifth Judicial District

Illinois: Rep. David Harris

Indiana: Rep. Judson McMillin; Sen. Karen Tallian

Iowa: Rep. Deborah Berry

Kansas: Sen. Elaine Bowers

Kentucky: Matthew Trebelhorn, legislative analyst, Judiciary Committee, Legislative Research Commission

Maine: Rep. Michael Devin

Massachusetts: Scott MacLeod, Mitigation and Disaster Recovery section chief, Emergency Management Agency

Nebraska: Sen. Lydia Brasch

Nevada: Assemblyman Elliot Anderson; Assemblyman Michael Sprinkle

New Hampshire: Rep. Cindy Rosenwald

New Mexico: Rep. George Dodge; Sen. Tim Keller

North Dakota: District Judge Bradley Cruff, Southeast Judicial District

Ohio: Judge David Michael Gormley, Delaware Municipal Court

Oklahoma: Rep. Lee Denney; Sen. Dan Newberry; Commissioner Terri White, Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services

Oregon: Rep. Nancy Nathanson

Pennsylvania: Rep. Ryan Mackenzie

Puerto Rico: Sen. Jorge Suárez

Rhode Island: Rep. John Edwards

South Dakota: Secretary Trevor Jones, Department of Public Safety; Secretary Lynne Valenti, Department of Social Services

Tennessee: Sen. Becky Massey; Sen. John Stevens

Utah: Sen. Deidre Henderson

Vermont: Commissioner Noelle MacKay, Department of Housing and Community Development

Virginia: Nathan Hatfield, assistant clerk, Virginia Senate

West Virginia: Jason Pizatella, deputy chief of staff, West Virginia Governor's Office; Sen. Roman Prezioso

Wisconsin: Rep. Jill Billings;Sara Buschman, assistant deputy secretary, Department of Children and Families

Wyoming: Rep. Donald Burkhart

Republican co-sponsor, prominent national organization declare support for Seniors' Access to Social Security Act

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley's (IA-01) continued push to prevent impending Social Security service cuts got a bipartisan boost, as Rep. Don Young (R-AK) signed on to the Seniors' Access to Social Security Act. The bill has also received the support of the Alliance for Retired Americans?a group with millions of members focusing on issues affecting seniors. The bill now includes nearly two dozen sponsors from over a dozen states and the support of multiple national organizations.

"Protecting services that eleven million Americans use every year isn't a Republican or Democratic issue?it's an issue of commonsense," Braley said. "They're gutting services Iowa's seniors rely on and there's absolutely no evidence the cuts will save a penny. The bottom line is that the cuts need to be delayed until savings are shown and the administration can clearly illustrate how the cuts won't harm the Iowans that depend on them."

Last week Braley called on Iowans to visit braley.house.gov and share their experiences with Iowa Social Security Administration offices as he continues his push to delay the cuts to the essential services that 11 million Americans?including many Iowa seniors?used just last year. Braley will share the comments he receives with the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Beginning August 2014, SSA will no longer issue Social Security number printouts in its field offices.  In addition, beginning October 2014, SSA field offices will stop providing benefit verification letters, except in emergency situations.  Many seniors rely on these verification letters for a variety of services. Those requesting this information would be able to do so only online or over the phone. Last year alone, 11 million Americans used SSA offices to request this information.

Iowa's 19 SSA field offices are located in Cedar Rapids, Decorah, Dubuque, Marshalltown, Waterloo, Burlington, Coralville, Davenport, Ottumwa, Council Bluffs, Creston, Des Moines, Ames, Carroll, Ft. Dodge, Mason City, Sioux City, Spencer, and Storm Lake.

Over 450,000 Iowa seniors received Social Security benefits in 2013.

Braley's Seniors' Access to Social Security Act would prevent those cuts for one year, during which time Braley will seek verification that the proposed service cuts will not adversely affect Iowa's seniors and will save taxpayers money.

Braley recently wrote a letter to SSA Commissioner Carolyn Colvin asking her to provide a series of answers about the proposed cuts, including whether an analysis of cost savings has been done and if public input was solicited prior to the proposed cuts. Braley also sought information from Colvin on how Iowans seeking these services would be informed of cuts.

In June, Braley joined a Congressional push to prevent the elimination of the SSA services in a letter to the head of the SSA, noting that it's vital that seniors be able to receive these services in person especially given that telephone wait times for SSA services have risen drastically in the last year, and that many seniors lack internet access.

Congresswoman Kelly Joins Governor to Urge General Assembly to Pass Illinois Public Safety Act and Take a Stand Against the Violence

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn, joined by Congresswoman Robin Kelly, today visited the site a recent fatal shooting in Chicago's Morgan Park neighborhood to urge legislators to stand with families and communities and take action against gun violence. The Governor pushed passage of the Illinois Public Safety Act, legislation that would ban the sale or delivery of assault weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines in Illinois and require background checks for the transfer of guns. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to make Illinois neighborhoods safer.

"The recent epidemic of violence in Chicago is unacceptable and we must join together to fight back," Governor Quinn said. "Public safety is government's foremost mission and Illinois should not wait any longer to act. There are too many victims of a war being waged on our streets, a war fueled in part by the availability of deadly, military-style assault weapons that have no purpose other than killing.

"We must work together to protect the lives of those we love and stop what's happening in our communities. I urge the Illinois General Assembly to take a stand and pass this legislation that will save lives and protect communities."

The Governor today was joined by Congresswoman Robin Kelly who recently released the Kelly Report on Gun Violence in America, the first-ever Congressional analysis of the nation's gun violence epidemic that offers a blueprint for ending the crisis.

Senate Bill 3659 - the Illinois Public Safety Act - was introduced during the recent spring Legislative session by State Senator Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) and supported by Governor Quinn. It bans the possession, delivery, sale and purchase of assault weapons, large capacity ammunition feeding devices such as magazines or clips, and .50 caliber rifles and cartridges in Illinois. Valid Firearms Owners Identification Card (FOID) holders who possess any of these devices at the time the law is enacted would be allowed to keep them, but could not transfer or sell them except to a family member. The legislation also requires background checks for the transfer of firearms except to a family member or at a gun show.

A review of mass shootings between January 2009 and January 2013 by Mayors Against Illegal Guns found that incidents where assault weapons or large capacity ammunition magazines were used resulted in 135% more people shot and 57% more killed, compared to other mass shootings.

"This is a common-sense solution to preventing gun violence and keeping our children and families safe," Senator Kotowski said. "This measure will protect our communities by ensuring that military-style assault weapons are off the streets and out of hands of criminals."

Governor Quinn has long fought to protect Illinois neighborhoods from gun violence. He signed legislation in 2013 that increases penalties on gun owners who don't report the theft or loss of a weapon. This major legislation was a key priority in the Governor's 2013 State of the State address. He also signed a law in 2011 to increase penalties for convicted felons who are found carrying guns - this helps fight gun crime in Illinois by ensuring that felons who are convicted of new weapons offenses will be sent to prison and not allowed to walk the streets of Illinois. Governor Quinn also signed a law in 2009 establishing mandatory prison time for gang members convicted of possessing a loaded gun in a public area.

Seven states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws banning assault weapons: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. In addition, Minnesota and Virginia regulate assault weapons.