In this issue:
- Governor talking out of both sides on redistricting
- Possible new life for Invest in Kids
- FREE Senior Fairs coming up August 4 and 6
- Fun at the Iroquois County Fair
Governor talking out of both sides on redistricting
Governor Pritzker this week called on another state to “play by the rules” on redistricting, and called a possible partisan district map “cheating.”
This comment was pretty rich coming from Governor Pritzker, who signed the most partisan gerrymandered district map in the country. He even signed the partisan districts map after expressly pledging not to do so.
Illinois’ gerrymandered legislative district map gives Pritzker’s party an unfair advantage in state elections. In 2022 Republican candidates for the Illinois House received a majority of the votes cast but won barely one-third of the seats in the House. The 2024 election was almost as unbalanced. The Democrat supermajority in the legislature is built on these unfair, gerrymandered maps, which are drawn for partisan advantage, not for fair representation.
It is a great honor to represent the people of east-central Illinois and the 106th district. However, the process used to create the boundaries of our districts is badly broken.
The Governor’s comments this week seem to suggest that he agrees. But his words ring hollow because when he had the chance to do something about it, he did the opposite.
Possible new life for Invest in Kids
Until recently, Illinois had a very popular and successful scholarship program known as Invest in Kids.
It provided tax incentives for donations used to provide scholarship opportunities to selected lower-income students. The students then received reduced-tuition or tuition-free education at the schools to which they had been admitted. More than one-fourth of students receiving scholarships were from families earning less than the federal poverty level, and two-thirds of those who benefitted came from families with household incomes below 185% of the poverty line.
Unfortunately, despite the success of the program – which helped thousands of students attain a better education – it was allowed to expire in 2023, over the objections of myself and many other members of the House.
But action in Washington might have breathed new life into this program. A recent change in federal law created a new, nationwide program for states to provide income-tax scholarship incentives. Those states which opt into the program will be able to provide scholarships through a program very similar to Invest in Kids.
In 2023 Governor Pritzker said he would have signed legislation extending the program if the General Assembly had passed it. Under this new federal law, the Governor can opt the state into the program without needing the General Assembly to send him legislation. I hope he will do so.
A recent Chicago Tribune editorial called on Illinois to join the program.
“Springfield abandoned thousands of needy students when it dropped Invest in Kids a year and a half ago,” the Tribune editors wrote. “Thankfully, now Illinois has a chance to correct its mistake. All we have to do is opt in.”
FREE Senior Fairs coming up August 4 and 6
Mark your calendars for a couple of FREE senior resource fairs coming up on Monday August 4 in Morris and Wednesday August 6 in Pontiac.
On Monday I am joining with Senators Chris Balkema and Sue Rezin, as well as Representative Jed Davis to host a senior resource fair at Saratoga Elementary School in Morris. The school is located at 4040 N. Division Street, and the event will run from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.
Wednesday’s senior resource fair will be at the Pontiac Parks and Recreation Center, at 900 N. Elm Street. Sen. Balkema and Rep. Dennis Tipsword will be co-sponsoring the fair, which opens at 9 a.m. and ends at 11 a.m.
We will have lots of vendors, from state and local government agencies as well as the private sector, all with important information about resources available for seniors and their loved ones. There will be free health screenings, refreshments and door prizes. Legislators and staff will be on hand to answer your state government questions.
These are great events with a wealth of helpful information. If you are able, I hope you will stop by!
Fun at the Iroquois County Fair
I had a wonderful time at the Iroquois County Fair! I enjoyed watching a few 4-H shows, indulging in some classic fair food, and catching up with constituents.
A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who work hard behind the scenes to make this fair such a success. Your dedication and community spirit are truly appreciated!
Our current bill backlog
When a vendor provides the state with goods and services, they submit the bill to the Illinois Comptroller for payment. The Comptroller processes the paperwork and pays the bill when funds are available in the state’s checking account. Currently the total amount of unpaid bills is $2,041,057,268. This figure changes daily. Last year at this time the state had $868 million in bills awaiting payment. This only includes bills submitted to the Comptroller for payment, not unfunded debts like the state’s pension liability, which is well over $100 billion.
Illinois headlines
Illinois Department of Labor offers new firefighter training course
Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grants now available for park projects
Illinois offers cash rewards for capturing invasive black carp
Illinois will soon become America’s lawsuit capital – unless Governor Pritzker acts