Passing a Budget to Increase Funding for Local Schools and Avoid a Government Shutdown
Last month I voted to pass for a spending plan that would help restore stability to the state of Illinois by increasing funding for local schools and ensuring that vital services for middle-class families, children, and elderly are provided. Our state and our community deserve better than a year-long budget impasse. The budget we passed includes spending reductions and would only spend a fraction of what has been spent in the past while still protecting Illinois’ working families and vulnerable residents.
The funding plan would provide for local public elementary schools and high schools more than $6 million in additional funding over last year. The plan also funds life-saving breast cancer screening and treatment for woman, medical care for the elderly covered by medicaid, services for children with developmental disabilities, autism and epilepsy. and services for abused and neglected children.
Fighting to Bring More Money to Our Local Schools
In May I held a press conference calling on the Governor and legislature to increase the state’s financial investment in our local elementary school and high schools. The governor proposed a plan that would leave a number of our schools with less state assistance than they received last year. We must e working to help all our students receive the resources they need and deserve. A number of our schools in the Metro East are hanging by a thread financially. This is unacceptable to me, and I will continue to working to make sure our students’ education is a top priority.
Standing Up for Working Families
Thousands gathered in front of the state Capitol in May to encourage the Governor to stand with middle class families and set aside his anti-working family agenda that threatens families’ economic stability by allowing wages to be cut and making it harder for workers injured on the job to get the medical care they need to return to work. We need a fair environment that works for everyone and allows the middle class to grow.
The financial security of the middle class has been put in jeopardy, but this rally made it clear that working families will not stand by silently while the Governor tries to diminish their wages and drive down their standard of living.
Providing Support for Social Service Providers
Social service organizations and the recipients of the care they provide continue to experience the worst effects of the state’s budget impasse. I worked with a bipartisan group of legislators to provide organizations with emergency funding to keep their doors open and continue serving our state’s most vulnerable. However, there is still much work to be done. That is why I supported a state budget proposal that would ensure critical funding for children with development disabilities, autism and epilepsy, medical care for the frail, struggling families and persons with disabilities, and mental health and human services programs. I will continue to fight against reckless plans that would slash the critical services that families, children and the elderly depend on.
Veterans Suicide Task Force
The Metro east has one of the largest veteran populations in the state. To help continue investigating the causes to and prevention of suicides among Illinois soldiers returning to civilian life, I joined the Veterans Suicide Task Force at Southwestern Illinois College. The task force has been focused on the mental health challenges facing veterans from all eras of service. At a recent meeting, task force members and I heard from several veterans who have had unnecessary problems obtaining the care they need, and we discussed how we can help solve these problems. We will continue working to reduce the bureaucracy, red tape, and other barriers that are preventing veterans from receiving the care they deserve.
Honoring Our Soldiers
On May 30 we celebrated Memorial Day, recognizing the heroes who serve in our armed forces and sacrifice so much to defend out rights and freedoms. Sadly, far too many of these men and women never make it home to see their loved ones. I believe we have a duty to honor them and keep their memories alive. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends who have lost loved ones in service of our country. They must never be forgotten.