Communities Matter. Families Matter. People Matter.

Communities Matter

Jobs and the Economy

Economic stabilization has been a major issue during my first term as Senator of the 40th Legislative District. I believe the best thing a state can do to spur the states economy during an economic downturn is to create jobs. After a decade of waiting, I supported two comprehensive capital plans in the Senate to jump start our economy and put Illinoisans back to work.

Supplemented by federal stimulus dollars, the first capital plan infused $3 billion into the Illinois economy, putting shovels in the ground in every corner of the state. The second plan, a comprehensive $31 billion dollar plan that will invest dollars in every community, township and county in our state.

Economic Development

Illinois has been hit especially hard during the national recession. We have seen numerous businesses leaving Illinois and heading to bordering states due to a more business friendly environment.

This session, I sponsored several measures to make Illinois more business friendly by providing incentives and tax breaks for small business owners to give them more incentive to stay and grow here in Illinois.

The first measure creates a pilot program in which the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will provide interest-free loans to businesses to restore and update buildings that have been vacant for at least 90 days. The bill applies to buildings being purchased for the purpose of retail, manufacturing and office space. The other measure allowing taxing districts to lower property taxes for new businesses moving into buildings that have been vacant for at least 24 months.

We want to give local businesses attractive financial resources and reward them for utilizing our current infrastructure. Not only will it help rejuvenate the local economy, it will also help maintain our existing buildings.

Families Matter

Foreclosures

During this economic recession, many families have lost their homes due to the unemployment, or the disgusting predatory practices of unscrupulous mortgage brokers. Lost in the conversation many times are renters who live in buildings that are being foreclosed upon.

This year, I supported legislation that guarantees notice of foreclosure to tenants living in distressed properties. The bill specifies that after the foreclosure of a property is complete, new management must make good faith efforts to identify residents of the property and notify them of new ownership, inform residents that the property has been foreclosed and provide contact information for resident concerns and repair requests.

People Matter

Seniors

I believe that it is our responsibility to protect the dignity of our seniors at this most vibrant, yet vulnerable time in their lives. During my first legislative session, I sponsored numerous legislative measures to ensure that senior needs are met. I effectively sponsored legislation that gives seniors on a tight budget a chance to afford the daily prescription drugs they depend on for good health. You can count on me to fight for the ability of seniors to live out their retirements in safety, with dignity and comfort.

Education

We have an obligation to fund schools in Illinois fairly and equitably. A quality education is not a privilege for the few who can afford it. For years the legislature has debated over education funding reform. I am so proud, that in term the Senate passed legislation to reform the way education is funded in Illinois, changing the current inequitable funding system that has plagued Illinois for years while providing the largest amount of property tax relief to Illinois homeowners. The fight to invest in our children is a fight we can’t afford to lose.

In the area of higher education, I have taken a particular interest in community colleges funding. This year I sponsored legislation to commission a task force that will study the inequities in community college funding. Community colleges serve nearly 64 % of students and only receive 14% of the available state funding. Community colleges are our best defense against the rising inability of middle class families to afford college education.