SPRINGFIELD – In light of the state legislature’s passage of a criminal justice reform measure, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) released the following statement:

“Over the past four months, the Illinois Senate has conducted public hearings on specific legislative proposals related to criminal justice reform. Much of the content of the hearings was based on legislation pending before the General Assembly. The first public hearing was held on September 1, 2020. In total, nine public hearings were held, accounting for over 30 hours of public testimony. The work of those hearings was finalized and legislation was filed, reflected first in House Bill 163, with the anticipation that legislative action would be considered by the General Assembly during this past week.

After 22 years of public service, Manar leaves legacy of fighting for everyday people

BUNKER HILL – After eight successful years in the Illinois Senate representing the 48th District and more than 22 years in public office, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) announced today that he will be resigning from the Illinois Senate on January 17, 2021. 

Manar was first elected to the Bunker Hill City Council at the age of 21 in 1997. He was elected Mayor of Bunker Hill in 2001 and Chaired the Macoupin County Board until his election to the Illinois Senate in 2012.  

During his tenure in the Senate, Manar passed numerous consequential laws that will have an impact on hardworking Illinois families for generations. Some highlights include Automatic Voter Registration, a statewide minimum wage for teachers, elimination of police ticket quotas, capping the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $100 per month, and the first ever regulation of pharmacy benefit managers.  Manar was a vocal supporter of labor unions, voting rights, access to affordable health care, teachers, and the LGBTQ community.

SPRINGFIELD – To bolster affordable housing opportunities Downstate, $200,000 in revitalization grant funding has been made available to the City of Springfield through the Illinois Housing Development Authority Board.

State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) championed the program during negotiations for the Rebuild Illinois construction plan.

“Quality, affordable housing is a fundamental human need. We negotiated the landmark, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan because we recognized it’s a need that government has the ability to play a critical role in providing,” said Manar, who chairs the Senate Appropriations II Committee. “Repurposing vacant buildings not only makes it easier for struggling families to put a roof over their head, but it also gives Downstate municipalities that have seen their budgets devastated by COVID-19 the opportunity to add value to their communities.”

The grants where made available after the Illinois Housing Development Authority Board approved $10 million in funding for the initiative. Awarded under the new Strong Communities Program (SCP), the initiative will provide municipalities across the state with funding for the attainment, maintenance, restoration and demolition of abandoned residential properties.

The program, which began in August, awards grants of up to $250,000 to local governments to return vacant residential properties to productive use. A total of $30 million in grant funding will eventually be awarded through multiple funding rounds.

SCP Funding will reimburse municipalities for acquisition, rehabilitation, maintenance and other costs related to returning abandoned properties to a useable state. Program funds may also be used for demolition in cases where properties are beyond repair and negatively impacting neighboring residences.

SPRINGFIELD – To bolster affordable housing opportunities across the state, $10 million in revitalization grant funding is available for municipalities through the Illinois Housing Development Authority Board.

Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus championed the program during negotiations for the Rebuild Illinois construction plan.

Three members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus joined together to speak on behalf of residents struggling to stay healthy and pay their bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn yesterday.

Together, they urged Gov. Pritzker and fellow members of the legislature to close corporate tax loopholes to preserve education, health care and other essential community services.

“People in Illinois are in extreme pain,” said State Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago), Chair of the Senate Black Caucus, whose district stretches from Chicago’s loop to the Indiana border. “While so many people struggle, 651 billionaires saw their combined wealth jump over a trillion dollars during this pandemic. They are so rich that they could give every American $3,000 and still have more money than they had at the start of the pandemic. It’s time for those who have made money hand over fist to pay their fair share.”

SPRINGFIELD – To provide a public update on the progress made by the Illinois Commission on Equitable Early Childhood Education & Care Funding, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) held a joint hearing of the Senate Appropriations II and Education Committees Thursday.

“Today’s hearing was an opportunity to update the Illinois Senate on the work of the Commission and its effort to making a more equitable education system a reality,” said Manar, who serves as a co-chair of the commission and chairs the Senate Appropriations II Committee. “There’s no doubt that the implementation of many of these ideas will take both time and commitment from elected officials and state agencies, a commitment our kids deserve.” 

Following its formation in December 2019, the Illinois Commission on Equitable Early Childhood Education & Care Funding held monthly meetings, which led to recommendations about how to achieve an equitable form of early childhood education for all Illinoisans. Those recommendations include redesigning funding mechanisms to improve equity, building on successful at-home services and centralizing the early childhood education system.

“The current system only works for some, and it’s our responsibility to construct a system that serves working families, bridges inequities forged by decades of negligence, and affords opportunity for all,” Manar said. “Too many communities do not have pre-k programs available in public schools or licensed child-care centers for working parents. By following the commission’s recommendations and building on them, I believe we can transform the way we fund early childhood education for the better, especially in rural towns and underserved urban areas.”

The commission will continue to meet as they finalize their recommendations ahead of the January 15, 2021 deadline set by Gov. Pritzker.

SPRINGFIELD – To provide the public with an update on the progress made by the Illinois Commission on Equitable Early Childhood Education & Care Funding, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) is holding a joint hearing of the Senate Appropriations II and Education Committees.

CARLINVILLE – The renovation of the seat of Macoupin County government, the Macoupin County Courthouse, is progressing steadily thanks to a $1 million investment through the Rebuild Illinois statewide construction plan.

State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill), who currently leads budget negotiations for the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus and served as chairman of the Macoupin County Board from 2003 to 2012, advocated for swift action on this project.

"As a lifelong Macoupin County resident, securing the funding in the state budget for this renovation project was especially important to me. The courthouse is the crown jewel of Carlinville and deserves to be treated as such,” Manar said. “During my tenure as Chairman of the County Board, I came to understand just how challenging it was for the county budget to pay for the needed repairs to preserve the working seat of our government. The county budget can’t handle this expense on its own. So, it is my hope this state investment will both preserve our rich history and help the county board and sheriff continue their work.”

As it stands, the top of the courthouse received three coats of paint while the remaining coats of paint and roof repairs are set to commence in the Spring. Critical repairs to the courthouse roof structure and dome are also being made. The project is being carried out by Joiner Sheet Metal of Highland, Illinois.  Heading up the project is Sheriff Shawn Kahl who is responsible for the maintenance of county buildings and a committee of the Macoupin County Board.

“Being able to witness the progress of the Macoupin County Courthouse restoration project over the past several months has been a blessing for the Carlinville community,” said Sheriff Shawn Kahl, who advocated alongside Manar to fund this project. “The courthouse is a monument to the history of Macoupin County, and I could not be more thankful to Sen. Manar for his continued advocacy on this project’s behalf.”

The Macoupin County Courthouse, nicknamed the “Million Dollar Courthouse” because of its original cost when completed, is one of the largest courthouses in the country. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places and has been named one of Illinois’ great places by the American Institute of Architects. Years of delayed maintenance on the building, however, left it in dire need of revitalizing.

“The improvements to the courthouse provided by this project have been a long time coming," Macoupin County Board Chairman Mark Dragovich said. "A few fresh coats of paint and a new roof go a long way in showing appreciation for such a historic landmark."

“This undertaking represents a monumental change in our county,” County Board Member Harry Starr said. “A new courthouse dome gives the people of Macoupin County something to take immense pride in, and I’d like to thank Sen. Manar for his efforts to make it a reality.”

The project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2021.