Stadelman encouraged by governor’s support for education and health care

State Senator Steve Stadelman cited JB Pritzker’s emphasis on education and health care as highlights of the governor's annual budget address last week.

“I’m pleased to see the governor is continuing his commitment to fund local education. Additional money for the state’s school funding formula will greatly benefit Rockford-area schools and its residents,” Stadelman said. “Over the last several years, the Rockford School District’s property tax rate dropped significantly thanks to the new formula.”

The proposed budget increases the evidence-based funding formula for K-12 schools by $350 million in addition to making investments in early childhood and higher education.

Stadelman also commended the governor’s proposal to invest more in health care for low-income and working families.

“This proposal also makes an important investment in Medicaid,” Stadelman said. “There are many in the Rockford area who rely on Medicaid to stay healthy, and health care is absolutely vital to our economy.”

Stadelman said that he’s looking forward to working with the governor on a new budget and building on last year’s success of passing a balanced, bi-partisan spending plan.

 Reform push shifts focus to criminal justice system

A joint legislative panel listened last week to witnesses reporting on the state of criminal justice reform in Illinois.

Members of two Senate committees and a House committee heard from experts with the Illinois Justice Project, ACLU-Illinois, Restore Justice, the Illinois Department of Corrections, multiple police departments and county state’s attorneys along with people directly affected by the criminal justice system in Illinois.

 The hearing centered on various criminal justice reform issues, including cash bail and victim protection.

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Congratulations to Charles "Chuck" Jefferson who now has a section of South Winnebago Street named in his honor -- right outside of the Booker Washington Center library, which also bears his name. Six years since he stepped down as the first African-American to represent Rockford in the Illinois General Assembly, Chuck continues to provide leadership at Booker!

Veto override saves local aviation jobs

Aviation jobs across Illinois, including those in Rockford, will be protected by legislation co-sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman to reinstate a sales tax exemption on aircraft repair.

The loss of hundreds of good-paying jobs statewide was predicted if Illinois were to begin taxing equipment and parts used in aircraft maintenance. Most states offer an exemption for aircraft repair including neighboring Wisconsin, Missouri and Indiana.

When the exemption lapsed in Illinois five years ago, aviation repair companies unwittingly failed to start charging customers the tax and the state's Department of Revenue failed to catch the mistake. House Bill 3902, which became law last week after legislators in both chambers of the General Assembly overrode the governor's veto, forgives companies for the oversight and continues the exemption through 2025.

Stadelman argued in favor of Illinois maintaining a competitive edge and preserving skilled aviation jobs.

 Stadelman hears update on DNA evidence backlog

State Senator Steve Stadelman is encouraged to hear Illinois State Police have made some progress in recent months reducing its evidence-processing backlog, but he believes much more work is needed as families continue to wait far too long for justice.

That's Stadelman's asssement following a recent Illinois Senate Public Health Committee hearing, where he listened to victims reliving the trauma of their loved ones being murdered>

Latonya Moore, whose daughter Shantieya Smith, was slain in 2018 testified before the committee for her third time. “My daughter, to me, feel like a John Doe. She don’t even exist.” Moore sobbed. “If you was born in my same shoes, how would you feel? Because it feel like I’m reaching out and I’m not getting no help.”

ISP Director Brendan Kelly said additional forensic scientists have been hired and new technology has been employed to reduce the delay in processing rape and murder kits by 16 percent.

Stadelman opens office for voter registration Feb. 18

Deputy registrars will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, February 18, in State Senator Steve Stadelman's downtown Rockford office to register new voters for the Illinois primary election March 17.

To register, voters must be U.S. citizens with 30 days of residency at their voting address and must be 18 years of age before the November 3 general election. Qualified residents should bring two forms of identification, including one with a current address, to Stadelman's office in the Zeke Giorgi Center, 200 S. Wyman St., Suite 301. A photo ID is not required.

"I believe we should make voting as accessible and inclusive as possible," Stadelman said, "so I'm making my office available for one day for anyone who wants to sit down with a trained, nonpartisan registrar."

February 18 is the last day voters can register to participate in March primary without visiting their local election authority or going online.

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Congratulations to RAMP on expansion and renovation of its 100-year-old office on Market Street in downtown Rockford. The agency has raised $1.1 million of the $1.5 million required for the project, including capital funds pledged by me and other state legislators representing the Rockford area. Tuesday was "Demo Day." RAMP expects to return to the space this fall.

More property tax relief coming for Harlem schools

State Senator Steve Stadelman announced today that Harlem Unit District 122 has received the Illinois State Board of Education Property Tax Relief Grant. The grant gives school districts with high tax rates an opportunity to lower taxes on local property owners with the state replacing the lost tax revenue. Harlem's grant amount will be determined in future District 122 calculations.

“This is another positive step forward in bringing long-term property tax relief to the people of Loves Park and Machesney Park,” Stadelman said. “Property taxes have been – and continue to be – an important issue that needs to be further addressed in the Rockford area, which is why I am pleased to see this grant awarded to Harlem schools.”

More information on the Property Tax Relief Grant and a listing of each eligible school district can be found at www.ISBE.net/proptaxrelief.

Stadelman supports governor's commitment to ethics reform

Following Gov. JB Pritzker’s delivery of the annual State of the State address this week in Springfield, Senator Stadelman issued this statement:

“The governor laid out a number of proposals that are steps in the right direction. I’m happy to hear that he plans to move forward with ideas from both parties to reduce property taxes. I’m also looking forward to working with the governor on ethics reform that will help restore trust in state government.”

Stadelman also released a video sharing this thoughts on the governor's speech.

Unpaid parking tickets, civil fines will no longer cost drivers their licenses

Tens of thousands of Illinois motorists who lost driving privleges because of unpaid parking tickets or fines for other non-moving violations soon will get their drivers' lienceses reinstated. Gov. JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1786, which repeals existing laws that either required or allowed the Illinois Secretary of State to suspend driving privileges for unpaid fines and other violations.

State Senator Steve Stadelman voted to pass the "License to Work Act” in March 2019, but the Illinois House didn't approve until late October during the fall veto session. The repeal goes into effect July 1.

"I've always believed in common-sense legislation," Stadelman said. "If people can't get to work, they're less likely to be able to pay their debt, not to mention buy groceries for their children or see a doctor."

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 Thank you to the 140 soldiers of the Illinois National Guard's 135th Chemical Company who are being mobilized for service overseas. And thanks to their loved ones who will have to take over responsibilities while they're gone. Governor JB Pritzker addressed the unit during a mobilization ceremony at Harlem Middle School.

Governor signs bill to cap insulin copayments

This morning, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation co-sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman that will cap out-of-pocket expenses for prescription insulin at $100 per month. The father of a diabetic son, Stadelman worked to help make Illinois only the second state in the nation to limit insulin copayments for consumers who face life-threatening cost increases.

“I have seen the struggles people with diabetes face every day,” Stadelman said, noting that the cap will apply regardless of how much insulin a patient needs. “Diabetes is a lifelong affliction for those who have it. It shouldn’t also be the cause of financial stress for families."

More than 30 million Americans have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. An individual with Type 1 diabetes, a lifelong condition that can begin at birth, will spend an average of $5,705 per year on insulin alone.

“This legislation will provide medical and financial relief to thousands in the Rockford area and across Illinois,” Stadelman said. “I’d like to thank the governor for his commitment to lowering insulin costs throughout the state.”

Senate Bill 667 doesn’t go into effect until January 2021 to give insurance plans a sufficient amount of time to adjust their rates. The cap will apply only to state-regulated commercial insurance plans.

Ethics commission eyes full disclosure of all lobbying in Illinois

Across Illinois on a daily basis, people are likely being paid to lobby governments without ever having to register as lobbyists or disclose any information. While Illinois state government, the city of Chicago and Cook County require lobbyist registration and disclosure, hundreds of units of local government throughout Illinois no such lobbying requirements.

That's the picture that emerged during a hearing before the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform. The commission faces a March 31 deadline for making recommendations for reform to the General Assembly, which formed the commission in response to recent scandals and ongoing federal investigations.

Witnesses detailed lobbyist laws and procedures that are in place in a few jurisdiction, but it was acknowledged that there are no such requirements in the vast majority of cities, counties, school boards, park districts and other government entities. Commissioners were told of a DuPage County requirement that is largely unenforced and other counties that abandoned the issue after court challenges.

An initial hearing focused on rules and protocol for the commision. The second focused on the Lobbyist Registration Act, and the next hearing will concern the Governmental Ethics Act. Those appearing before the commission have included representatives from the Illinois Municipal League, Illinois State Association of County Chairs and the Better Government Association.

Rockford Park District to receive state grant

State Senator Steve Stadelman announced this week the Rockford Park District will receive $275,000 to renovate Keye-Mallquist Park through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Land Acquisitions and Development program. Illinois has invested $419 million in 1,765 local park projects since establishing OSLAD in 1987.

“Our local parks provide a great way for all of us to stay active,” Stadelman said. “It’s great to see our park district working hard to pursue available funds."