Please join State Senator Steve Stadelman for a discussion on issues facing our community at any of the three locations listed below.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D – Rockford) released the statement below following Governor Rauner’s budget address today:

“I share the governor’s frustration that Illinois has been without a budget for over eight months now. He had an opportunity today to lay out his plan to resolve the crisis we are in, which has forced layoffs at Rock Valley College and eliminated programs for children with autism.

“Instead, today we heard more partisan rhetoric and few answers. The governor and legislative leaders have to come together to find a bipartisan solution to stop the damage that is being done to our state.”

Despite the historic budget impasse Illinois is facing, Democratic lawmakers and Governor Rauner came together last Spring to pass a budget to fund K-12 education. Even though the education budget was signed into law, the Illinois Comptroller can still choose to divert available funds to other areas of the budget. I believe we must continue to prioritize education funding. Below is a letter I sent to Comptroller Munger today asking her to do the same.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) voted in favor of a proposal today to provide funding for Rock Valley College. The college, which has received no state funding this year due to the budget impasse, has been faced with drastic cuts and layoffs recently.

The legislation, Senate Bill 2043, provides $260 million to community colleges across the state.

“Rock Valley College is a tremendous asset to the entire Rockford area. It is past time they received this funding to allow them to do what they do best – educating the future of our state,” Stadelman said.

Funding for Monetary Assistance Program grants was also included in the proposal. The grants, previously held up by the budget impasse, help low and middle-income students pay for college tuition.

While many colleges and four-year universities were able to continue to provide funding for students during the fall semester, nearly 1,000 students were unable to return to school in 2016 as some schools’ funding dried up.

The proposal, which passed the Senate with a vote of 36-12-3, now heads to the governor’s desk.