Senator Stadelman's Weekly Bulletin - Jan. 18, 2018

 

Rauner veto could cause chaos for public schools statewide Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of a simple trailer bill creates potential chaos for every Illinois school that stands to benefit from long-overdue funding reform. The last-minute veto of Senate Bill 444 -- a piece of technical cleanup legislation requested by the Rauner administration and passed quickly by the General Assembly two months ago -- boggles the mind, said State Senator Steve Stadelman, a vocal advocate for school funding reform since taking office in 2013.   "While the legislative process may sound complicated, the result is not: The governor's action threatens to unravel a long-sought, bipartisan solution to an unfair system for funding public edcuation," Stadelman said.  In November, the General Assembly responded immediately to a request from the Illinois State Board of Education by again passing additional bipartisan legislation to help to more quickly implement the new school funding formula. But rather than promptly sign the resulting SB 444, Rauner sat on the measure and issued an 11th-hour amendatory veto. That veto now could derail implementation of the new formula. "ISBE is part of the Rauner administration, and ISBE had indicated being ready to move forward as soon as the trailer bill became law," Stadelman said. "Now, because of the governor's inexplicable veto, underfunded schools in Rockford and Harlem, which have been subject to an unfair formula for years, will have to continue waiting." Lawmakers will address the veto when they return Jan. 30 for the first week of their spring session. WREX-13 report on veto Free mammograms for women without health insurance A Silver Lining Foundation is offerings referrals for free mammograms to uninsured women in Winnebago, Boone and Ogle counties with the help of a $15,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. To obtain a referral for a free mammogram at Mercyhealth or UW Health-SwedishAmerican, contact ASLF at 877-924-1126. ASLF, a Chicago-based nonprofit, played a key role in launching Senator Stadelman's Women's Wellness Fair in 2015 and has participated every year since, promoting mammograms for early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Commission issues mandatory workers' comp reminder In Illinois, if an employer has one employee, even a part-time employee, the employer must provide workers' compensation insurance. The mandate includes family members of the owner(s) who are employed by the company.  An employer who knowingly and willfully fails to provide workers' compensation insurance may be fined up to $500 for every day of non-compliance, with a minimum fine of of $10,000. Corporate officers who are found to have negligently failed to provide insurance are guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Sole proprietors, corporate officers and business partners may elected to come under the Illinois Workers Compensation Act or opt out, unless they operate in industries deemed to be extremely hazardous such as construction and trucking.  For more information, call the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission at 312-816-6611 or visit www.iwcc.il.gov.

Senator Stadelman's Weekly Bulletin - Jan. 18, 2018

Rauner veto could cause chaos for public schools statewide Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of a simple trailer bill creates potential chaos for every Illinois school that stands to benefit from long-overdue funding reform. The last-minute veto of Senate Bill 444 -- a piece of technical cleanup legislation requested by the Rauner administration and passed quickly by the General Assembly two months ago -- boggles the mind, said State Senator Steve Stadelman, a vocal advocate for school funding reform since taking office in 2013. "While the legislative process may sound complicated, the result is not: The governor's action threatens to unravel a long-sought, bipartisan solution to an unfair system for funding public edcuation," Stadelman said.  In November, the General Assembly responded immediately to a request from the Illinois State Board of Education by again passing additional bipartisan legislation to help to more quickly implement the new school funding formula. But rather than promptly sign the resulting SB 444, Rauner sat on the measure and issued an 11th-hour amendatory veto. That veto now could derail implementation of the new formula. "ISBE is part of the Rauner administration, and ISBE had indicated being ready to move forward as soon as the trailer bill became law," Stadelman said. "Now, because of the governor's inexplicable veto, underfunded schools in Rockford and Harlem, which have been subject to an unfair formula for years, will have to continue waiting." Lawmakers will address the veto when they return Jan. 30 for the first week of their spring session. WREX-13 report on veto Free mammograms for women without health insurance A Silver Lining Foundation is offerings referrals for free mammograms to uninsured women in Winnebago, Boone and Ogle counties with the help of a $15,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. To obtain a referral for a free mammogram at Mercyhealth or UW Health-SwedishAmerican, contact ASLF at 877-924-1126. ASLF, a Chicago-based nonprofit, played a key role in launching Senator Stadelman's Women's Wellness Fair in 2015 and has participated every year since, promoting mammograms for early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Commission issues mandatory workers' comp reminder In Illinois, if an employer has one employee, even a part-time employee, the employer must provide workers' compensation insurance. The mandate includes family members of the owner(s) who are employed by the company.  An employer who knowingly and willfully fails to provide workers' compensation insurance may be fined up to $500 for every day of non-compliance, with a minimum fine of of $10,000. Corporate officers who are found to have negligently failed to provide insurance are guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Sole proprietors, corporate officers and business partners may elected to come under the Illinois Workers Compensation Act or opt out, unless they operate in industries deemed to be extremely hazardous such as construction and trucking.  For more information, call the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission at 312-816-6611 or visit www.iwcc.il.gov.

Oppose Removal of Democratic Candidates From Ballot - Valeri DeCastris

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IL 67th District State Representative Candidate Valeri DeCastris' Statement
on

Removal of Candidates from Primary Ballot

Contact:

Valeri DeCastris
815/969-8899
valeridecastris.com

Valeri DeCastris, Candidate for the Illinois House from the 67th District comments on the Illinois State Board of Election's removal of Jesse Aguirre and Lisa Jackson from the March 20, 2018 Democratic primary ballot.

"I think that it is truly sad that the hard work of Jesse Aguirre and Lisa Jackson and their volunteers to secure them a place on the March 20, 2018 Democrat primary ballot has failed. Every American deserves a chance to run for office and voters deserve choices. The electoral process is confusing and difficult. I obtained over 1,600 signatures (over 3 times the required number) on my petitions because they are often challenged. And, I was approached by people who wanted me to challenge my opponents' petitions, but I refused to be a party to this.

Of all of the candidates running for the 67th District State Representative, I am the only one who signed a pledge statement with the Illinois Board of Elections stating that I will not engage in negative campaigning. Instead, I will run on my strong record of accomplishments as the best qualified person for this office because of my experience working for the Illinois Legislature and State agencies and my decades of successful volunteer community service throughout Illinois. I will vigorously advocate for my hometown of Rockford in Springfield and work hard to improve Illinois. I welcome the involvement of Mr. Aguirre and Ms. Jackson in my campaign so we can work together to make a better future for all of us."



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Breakfast Matters - JB for Governor

Last week, we released a video called "Breakfast Matters," about the work I did to expand school breakfast for 230,000 Illinois kids. Studies show that breakfast is important for student development- and setting our kids up for success early is good for them and good for Illinois. That's why I've worked on improving early childhood education for years, and why it will be one of my top priorities as governor.  My early childhood education plan lays out key points to move us forward, like ensuring every child attends universal pre-k and kindergarten, increasing support and resources for families with young children, and investing in teachers and classrooms.  This plan will help Illinois students learn critical skills early on, ensuring their long-term success, and it will help our state thrive. Investing in early learning will also benefit taxpayers through budget savings in K-12 education. Finally, it will create a generation of Illinoisans with the skills necessary to get good-paying jobs and revitalize our economy. Bruce Rauner claims he supports education, but he created a school funding crisis that damaged our public schools and jeopardized our kids' futures. I understand that investing in our kids is investing in Illinois, and I'll continue to do that as governor. Thanks— JB

Senator Stadelman's Weekly Bulletin - January 9, 2018

Senate to probe deadly disease outbreak at veterans home Persistent outbreaks of Legionnaire's disease at a state-run home for veterans in Quincy and the Rauner administration's response is the focus of a special legislative hearing in Chicago this week. Thirteen people have died of the disease at the Illinois Veterans Home, a 132-year-old facility with nearly 400 residents. A new federal report states the water system at the home may never be completely rid of the bacteria that causes Legionnaire's and cautioned that more cases could occur. Concerned about keeping the facility open and safe, representatives from the state departments of Veterans Affairs and Public Health, the Rauner administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been invited to testify before a joint Senate-House Armed Services Committee.

Veterans benefit from new laws in 2018 Several new laws take effect Jan. 1 to support  veterans in Illinois including three that: * require the state public health department to promote cancer-screening programs and awareness for veterans;  * permit county coroners to include military service information on death certificates; and * offer a Coast Guard decal for military service license plates.   Learn more about other new laws affecting Illinois veterans.

Divorce law allows for "best interest" of pets Illinois judges can consider a pet's best interest when approving divorce settlements since a new Illinois law went into effect Jan. 1.  Under the law, judges may treat pets more like children than property when dissolving marriages. Pet custody cases rarely reach court – most couples decide custody on their own – but when they do, the new state law will help offer guidance to judges on how to proceed with their decision.

Senate Democratic Caucus Events: Winter 2018

 

Happy New Year! Here is a list of our upcoming events. Tuesday, January 23rd 5:30-7:30 pm Senator Tom Cullerton Reelection Kick-off More Brewing, 126 S. Villa Ave, Villa Park, IL Tickets: $50 Sponsorships: $250 | $500 | $1,000 | $2,500 Please make checks payable to: Friends of Tom Cullerton, P.O. Box 7304, Villa Park, IL 60181 RSVP: Kelly@ilsenatedems.org   Monday, February 12th, 5:30-7:30 pm -- Just added Senator Iris Martinez Illinois Realtors, 522 S. 5th Street, Springfield, IL Tickets: $250 Sponsorships: $5,000 | $2,500 | $1,500 | $1000 | $500 Please make checks payable to: Friends of Iris Y. Martinez, PO Box 47438, Chicago, IL 60647 RSVP: Lexie@ilsenatedems.org   Monday, February 26th, 5:00-6:30 pm Senator Scott Bennett & Rep. Tom Bennett DH Browns, 231 E. Monroe, Springfield, IL Tickets: $250 | $500 | $1000 | $1500 | $2500 Please make check(s) payable to the committee(s) of your choice: Bennett for Senate, PO Box 1383, Champaign, IL 61824 - or -  Friends of Tom Bennett, c/o The Newberg Group, 420 N. Liberty St., Morris, IL 60450 RSVP: Lexie@ilsenatedems.org   Save the Date Monday, May 7 -- Just added Senate President Cullerton and the Democratic Majority Caucus Springfield, IL Details forthcoming       Questions? Email Lexie@ilsenatedems.org.

 

We need to do something about climate change.

Illinois could be a leader on environmental protection, but instead Bruce Rauner has resisted policies and even worked against protecting our environment. He proposed scrapping existing limits on carbon pollution from coal-powered plants, defunded agencies that protect the environment, and refuses to say whether he will commit to upholding the Paris Climate Agreement.  As governor, I will be 100 percent committed to protecting our environment and making Illinois a state that is leading the charge to do so. Here are my top 5 environmental priorities: It's not too late to change the course of environmental protection in Illinois, but we need a leader who will be in charge and is willing to do so. Thank you-- JB

Wallace Encourages Residents to Submit Legislative Ideas

News…

 From the Office of State Representative Litesa Wallace

For Immediate Release:                                                                                          

Jan. 4, 2018                                                                                                          

815-987-7433

 

Wallace Encourages Residents to Submit Legislative Ideas

ROCKFORD, Ill. – As a new legislative session begins, state Rep. Litesa Wallace, D-Rockford, is encouraging residents to submit their ideas for legislation that they believe can help improve the state.

"The residents in our community come from a variety of backgrounds, which gives them the perspective of things that can be changed or improved," Wallace said. "No matter your background, I want to hear your ideas."

Wallace is asking residents to submit their legislative ideas by calling 815-987-7433, emailing Litesa@StateRepWallace.com, or visiting her district office, located at 200 S. Wyman St., Suite 304, Rockford, IL 61101. Wallace will review submitted ideas, and may have them drafted for consideration in Springfield. Residents must submit their ideas by Jan. 22 to be considered.

"Any idea, whether it is small or large in scope, will be considered," Wallace said. "Our state faces a number of challenges, and to help solve them I believe it's important that we tap into the insight of our communities."

 

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