SPRINGFIELD – With eleven days remaining until the start of the new fiscal year, Governor Rauner is urging rank-and-file Democrats to come back to Springfield to vote on the education funding bill (HB 6583/SB 3434) and stopgap budget proposal (HB 6585/SB 3435) as proposed by the GOP Leaders.
“Democrats in the super majority are misleading their constituents,” Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said. “While in their districts they say they’re working towards a solution, but fail to mention that they were the ones that voted for Speaker Madigan’s $7.5 billion unbalanced budget which would have almost certainly forced a massive tax hike on taxpayers. It’s time for them to stop slow walking this process and come back to Springfield and vote on these bills.”
The clean education bill (HB 6583/SB 3434) would provide full school-year funding for PK-12 schools allowing all schools to open on time in the fall. While the vast majority of schools will see an increase in General State Aid, it also ensures no district would lose a dime compared to last year.
In Central Illinois, the stopgap bill (HB 6585/SB 3435) would fund breast cancer screenings for women, services for children and adults with developmental disabilities, domestic violence shelters, job training programs, veterans’ home operations and mental health services. It would also allow transportation and construction projects to continue without interruption including the I-57/I-74 interchange project in Champaign County and road and bridge repairs on I-55 and I-72 in Springfield.
Additionally, the following places would receive funding under HB 6585/SB 3435:
- McFarland Mental Health Center
- Jacksonville Centers for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired
- University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana
- University of Illinois at Springfield
- Eastern Illinois University in Charleston
- Illinois State University in Normal
- Community Colleges including Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Richland Community College in Decatur, Heartland Community College in Normal, Parkland Community College in Champaign, and Lake Land Community College in Mattoon
- Danville Correctional Center in Danville
- Decatur Correctional Center in Decatur
- Clayton Work Camp in Clayton
- Graham Correctional Center and related facilities in Hillsboro
- Greene County Work Camp in Roodhouse
- Illinois River Correctional Center in Canton
- Jacksonville Correctional Center in Jacksonville
- Lincoln Correctional Center in Lincoln
- Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln
- Decatur Correctional Center in Decatur
- State Parks and Recreational Areas