State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) released the statement below following Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2017 budget address.

“I appreciate that Governor Rauner acknowledged the bipartisan effort of my colleagues in the Senate and our work on a budget deal. I am, however, disappointed that the he did not fulfill his constitutional duty to propose a balanced budget.

“Illinois has been greatly hurt by the unprecedented budget impasse. With funding now stopped for services for our most vulnerable citizens, it is more urgent than ever that we end this stalemate.

“In the Senate, I look forward to continuing to work toward a negotiated, bipartisan budget for the first time in over two years.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) released the statement below following Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2017 budget address.

“I appreciate the governor’s acknowledgement that the Senate has taken the lead in working toward a bipartisan budget compromise, which also contains many of the reforms he has called for in the past.

“However, weeks after state funding ended for higher education and services for our most vulnerable citizens, the governor once again failed to lay out his own plan to address the two-year budget impasse.

“In the Senate, I look forward to continuing to work toward a negotiated, bipartisan budget for the first time in over two years.”

SPRINGFIELD – Beginning on Jan. 1, law enforcement officials will have to accept cash to post bail thanks to Senate Bill 2252, which was passed earlier this year by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford).

The idea was brought to Stadelman by Rockford-area resident Kevin Lunsford, whose teenage son was arrested for a traffic offense last year. When Lunsford arrived at the Winnebago County Juvenile Center to bail out his son, the credit card machine was broken and the county has a policy to refuse cash.

As a result, Lunsford’s son was forced to sit in the juvenile center the entire weekend – significantly longer than the law requires and at an increased cost to taxpayers.

“This new law is a prime example of a citizen getting involved when they notice a problem with their government,” Stadelman said. “Because Kevin brought this problem to my attention, we now have a common-sense solution so nobody will have to stay in custody longer than necessary because of a simple technology malfunction or a policy to refuse cash."

SPRINGFIELD – After nearly two years of negotiation led by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford), Governor Bruce Rauner signed into law Senate Bill 1488, which will extend the River Edge Historic Tax Credit for an additional year. Previously, the tax credit was set to expire Jan. 1, 2017. The legislation is Senate Bill 1488.

The credit has been an important economic tool for the revitalization of downtown Rockford and is equal to 25 percent of the rehabilitation costs for a business in a historic building.  

“This credit is a vital tool for economic development. For years, it has been the only financial incentive for developers to invest in downtown Rockford,” Stadelman said. “To date the tax credit has spurred more than $100 million in development in our community alone.”

Previously, the tax credit was used to incentivize projects like the $12 million renovation at the Prairie Street Brewhouse, which created 110 construction jobs. In addition to Rockford, the credit is also available in Aurora, Peoria, Elgin and East St. Louis.