Statement …
From State Representative Litesa E. Wallace
For Immediate Release:
Aug. 4, 2017
State Rep. Litesa E. Wallace
815-987-7433
Wallace Statement on Governor Rauner's Veto
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Litesa Wallace, D-Rockford, issued the following statement on Gov. Rauner's attempt to rewrite fair education funding reform legislation in order to benefit his wealthy school districts at the expense of Rockford students:
"I helped put legislation on the governor's desk that would fix Illinois' broken funding formula, and provide fair funding for every school in the state. But Governor Rauner is trying to rewrite the bill to provide a massive handout to his wealthy school districts at the expense of Rockford students. His plan is worse than the status quo: It returns to a system of picking winners and losers; after three years, schools in areas that are already struggling will see their funding cut while the rich schools Governor Rauner and his millionaire friends send their children to will see even more money."
"The governor's unfair rewrites also punish Rockford for trying to create jobs locally. Our community has taken aggressive steps to invest in economic development through TIF districts, and under the governor's changes that would mean less money for our schools. Communities like ours should not have to choose between investing in jobs and investing in our schools, while the governor's millionaire allies rake in more and more money.
"Governor Rauner is once again targeting struggling families from across the state to benefit the wealthy. His attempt to make fair education reform entirely unfair is completely unacceptable. I will continue to work with my colleagues to enact real reforms that are fair to every school and every student."
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