Senator Stadelman's Weekly Bulletin - July 10, 2017

Legislature ends budget standoff

  

Ten Republicans in the Illinois House of Representatives joined Democrats last week to override Gov. Rauner's veto of a $36.1 million spending plan that gives Illinois its first budget in two years, assures public schools open in the fall and prevents summer road work from grinding to a halt.

It was the final step in breaking a 736-day stalemate, the Senate having already quashed Rauner's veto. The legislative initiative closes a $5 million hole in the governor's own budget proposal.

With the state's credit rating teetering on the brink of junk status and the Comptroller warning that by August incoming revenue would not match money needed for court-ordered spending, "it was time to set aside politics," State Senator Steve Stadelman said, "and put the state's interests first."

 

Lawmakers will continue work on reforms the Governor has requested such as property tax relief.

Measure could help Rockford-area adults earn high school diplomas

Thousands of adults in Winnebago and Boone may get the chance to earn their high school diploma, thanks to legislation that passed the Illinois House. Sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman in the Senate, the measure effectively eliminates the existing law prohibiting school districts from awarding high school diplomas to anyone over the age of 21. 

"A high school diploma is nearly essential in today's world, but not everyone is able to complete high school in the same amount of time," Stadelman said. "These programs will give people a second chance and help them obtain job skills. And they benefit everyone, because a trained workforce is good for economic development in our communities." 

The legislation allows non-profit entities, including community colleges, to establish programs that can award high school diplomas to adult learners.  House Bill 2527 passed both chambers unanimously and heads to the governor's desk for approval.

How the State of Illinois can AVOID junk bond status! - Frerichs for Illinois

Dear Friend,  No state in our nation's history has ever had their General Obligation bonds rated as "Junk bonds."  Enacting a budget was the first step in preventing a financial meltdown, but more work remains to be done. The credit rating agencies have made it clear that our political failures are the reason we are on the precipice of junk bond status.  Illinois needs leadership that is willing to put their ideological demands aside to protect this great state. Yesterday I outlined five steps the Governor needs to take if he wants to avoid presiding over the first state in the country to fall to "junk." 1. Meet with the three rating agencies to ensure implementation of the budget and revenue plan passed by the General Assembly.  2. Take the fiscally responsible step to pay down our backlog of bills. New bonding would would work like refinancing a mortgage at a lower rate.  It would save the state millions in interest and could allow Illinois to capture $3 billion in federal funds.  3. Fix the broken school funding formula and sign SB1. Without school funding reform, Illinois schools will not have the funds to open in the Fall. All kids in Illinois deserve a quality education that is not based on where they are born. 4. Illinois employers need to be informed. The Governor and the agencies he controls must communicate the new tax rates to Illinois businesses so they can properly plan for implementation.  5. Time to end the divisive rhetoric that is holding our state back.  The rating agencies want to see civility and bi-partisanship.  Illinois has had 8 credit downgrades since Governor Rauner was sworn in. He has to power to avoid future ones. Join me in urging the Governor to show the rating agencies we are serious about fixing the financial problems of Illinois. We have no time to waste. Let's stop the bleeding and put Illinois families first. Let's not become a Saturday night joke about our political dysfunction.    Sincerely,

 

 

 

Frerichs for Illinois - Red, White, & Boogie!

Dear Friend,  It is that time of year that we celebrate our nation's independence! Parades are one way we can celebrate our unique communities and what makes our hometowns special. I am looking forward to walking in your hometown next week! I will be in Riverside, Oak Park, Skokie, Evanston, and Rockford on the 4th of July.  Below is a picture of me walking in my hometown of Gifford, IL on June 24, 2017:                          Will you join Team Frerichs and walk with me on Tuesday, July 4th?    SIGN UP HERE! https://goo.gl/forms/wj7mIoXM4AcDLgFy2 8:45 AM Riverside  Parade Start: Bill Ball Park (Longcommon Road and Delaplaine Road Riverside IL) Parade Route: South down Longcommon Rd from Big Ball Park to Guthrie Park SIGN UP HERE!    10:00 AM Oak Park  Parade Start: Longfellow Park (Ridgeland Ave and Adams St. Oak Park IL)  Parade Route: North on Ridgeland to Augusta St., turn east and end at Whittier Elementary at Harvey Ave.  SIGN UP HERE!    12:00 PM Skokie Parade Start: Oakton Community College (Lincoln Ave & Dobson Skokie IL)  Parade Route: http://www.skokie4th.org/uploads/3/4/8/3/34838622/3306913_orig.png Ends at Oakton Park (Oakton St & Keating Ave)  SIGN UP HERE!    2:00 PM Evanston  Parade Start: Central Park Ave East and Central St. (Evanston IL) Parade Route: Central Street to Ashland Ave (Ryan Field)  SIGN UP HERE!    7:00 PM Rockford Parade Start: 7th Street & 6th Avenue (Rockford IL)  Parade Route: Proceed west on State St to Wyman St then proceeds South on Wyman St., continues south to Chestnut St. Turn west on Chestnut St to Winnebago St.   SIGN UP HERE!    Thank you,

 

Wallace Encourages Further Budget Progress, Urges Colleagues to Finish the Job

Statement …             

From State Representative Litesa E. Wallace                         

For Immediate Release:                                                                            

June 30, 2017

 

Wallace Encourages Further Budget Progress, Urges Colleagues to Finish the Job

                                                                                      

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Litesa Wallace, D-Rockford, issued the following statement as bipartisan budget negotiations continued in Springfield:

 

"From the first day of this budget impasse until now, I have urged colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put aside the partisan rhetoric and work to craft a responsible, balanced and honest budget. There have been positive signs today that negotiations are moving in the right direction, but work still remains. I will continue to stay in Springfield and am willing to support a spending plan that protects seniors, the developmentally disabled, survivors of abuse and other vulnerable individuals. Every resident in Rockford and every resident in this state will be impacted by the decisions made in the coming hours. With Democrats and Republicans coming together on a framework for a spending plan, I urge the governor to cooperate and to avoid derailing talks until a solution is in place."

                              

 

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Senator Stadelman's Weekly Bulletin - June 21, 2017

With 10 days left in fiscal year, governor calls special legislative session

More than three months after he called Republicans off a promising budget compromise in the Illinois Senate, Governor Bruce Rauner has called lawmakers in both chambers to Springfield for a special legislation scheduled to last until the start of the new fiscal year July 1.

Senate leaders from both parties began working in late 2016 on bipartisan to balance spending along with numerous government and ethical reforms. Five bills in a 12-bill package had been approved and the remaining seven were expected to pass March 1 when Rauner abruptly told Republicans to abandon the process.

Now, weeks later and well after the May 31 deadline to adopt a budget by a simple majority vote, the governor is ordering lawmakers to return to the Capitol at an estimated cost to taxpayers of $48,000 a day or $480,000 over the 10 days remaining in FY 17, the second without a budget.

"The blame game needs to stop," Stadelman said. "Finger-pointing doesn't get us any closer to ending this impasse, which is hurting our most vulnerable citizens and frustrating all of them."

Stadelman-backed bail reform measure signed into law

Thanks to a new law supported by Senator Steve Stadelman, people who aren't a threat to their communities won't languish in jail because they can't afford bail. The Bail Reform Act of 2017 took effect immediately after receiving the governor's signature earlier this month.

Stadelman praised the legislation for allowing courts to assess flight risk and public safety rather than focus on a defendant's ability to pay when deciding pretrial releases.

Senate Bill 2034 grants a number of rights to defendants including the right to a public defender or attorney at their bail hearing, the right to a new bail hearing, the right to non-monetary bail and the right to have courts address risk in the least restrictive way possible. 

Residents find savings on utility bills at Stadelman clinic

Experts from the Citizens Utility Board analyzed people's gas, electric and telephone bills and recommend ways they could reduce their monthly costs during Senator Stadelman's Annual Summer Utility Bill Clinic this week at the Rockford Public Library-Montague Branch. Stay tuned for information on a workshop this fall where a CUB representative will discuss how to navigate the confusing world of broadcast and web-based entertainment and news options.

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