Following Gov. Pritzker’s budget proposal speech Wednesday, Senate Democrats expressed their thoughts on the priorities he outlined and their concerns about the areas they feel must remain the focus as negotiations begin in earnest.

Senate Democrats’ top budget negotiators said they found much to like in Pritzker’s message but stressed that negotiations are just beginning.

“The governor has presented a budget plan that I believe has been put forward in good faith and that takes important steps to fund the vital criminal justice reforms we passed, including funding for additional law enforcement training and body cameras,” said State Senator Elgie Sims (D-Chicago). “Likewise, I am heartened by his proposal to increase funding to some social services, including those that help people stay in their homes. As I prepare to negotiate further, I’m determined that these areas remain our unshakeable priorities.”

CLINTON – State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) and State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) traveled to the Clinton Power Station Thursday to tour the facility and meet with employees.

“As a devastating energy crisis unfolds in Texas due to winter storms, consumers are experiencing skyrocketing natural gas prices. This demonstrates how essential our nuclear fleet is to reliable energy production in Illinois,” said Hastings, who serves as chair of the Senate Public Utilities and Energy Committee. “Rest assured, when the time comes, I will be prepared to do everything I can to protect our existing clean energy infrastructure.”

This is Hastings’ sixth power plant tour in recent months, as his committee begins its work this spring on the future of the state's energy policy. Exelon has indicated it will close more nuclear plants this year unless it receives additional aid, and state lawmakers are expected to discuss the future of clean energy in Illinois thoroughly this session.

Joining Hastings on the tour was State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield).

“The situation in Texas serves as a harsh reminder of what can happen when state government neglects existing energy infrastructure and fails to innovate. Everyday Texans are still enduring unusually frigid temperatures without access to heat and water. This simply cannot be allowed to happen in Illinois,” Turner said. “I look forward to working to ensure that our state’s energy infrastructure remains state-of-the-art, implement training programs for people transitioning to a job in a new energy sector and protect existing, good-paying jobs Downstate.”

The Clinton Power Station has the ability to generate nearly 1,069 net megawatts, enough electricity to power about 1 million average American homes. The 5,000-acre cooling lake is formed by a dam built at the convergence of Salt Creek and the North Fork of Salt Creek. The station serves as an economic driver for numerous Downstate communities, contributing $13 million in property taxes annually. Clinton also supports 2,100 direct and secondary jobs in Illinois.

CLINTON – State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) traveled to the Clinton Power Station yesterday to tour the facility and meet with employees.

“The situation in Texas serves as a harsh reminder of what can happen when state government neglects existing energy infrastructure and fails to innovate. Everyday Texans are still enduring unusually frigid temperatures without access to heat and water. This simply cannot be allowed to happen in Illinois,” Turner said. “I look forward to working to ensure that our state’s energy infrastructure remains state-of-the-art, implement training programs for people transitioning to a job in a new energy sector and protect existing, good-paying jobs Downstate.”

MARYVILLE – State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon), vice-chair of the Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee, joined conversations Thursday to discuss the state’s recovery plan for businesses, hotels and restaurants hurt by the pandemic.

“While I understand the importance of keeping residents safe, it has been difficult to watch local businesses suffer as residents cross our borders to support restaurants and shops in neighboring states,” Crowe said. “Illinois has so much to offer, and I’m looking forward to discussing our state’s recovery plan to re-ignite our unique tourism and hospitality industries.”

The committee’s first hearing on Thursday covered the strategic plan for COVID-19 recovery and relief in the hospitality industry and featured testimony from representatives of various areas of the industry. Details on the next meeting will be announced when finalized.

Committee schedules, witness slips and live proceedings are available at www.ilga.gov.

Industry leaders looking for green light to safely kick-start industry

CHICAGO – The first hearing of the Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee, chaired by Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), convened earlier today to discuss an industry that has been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The hospitality and tourism sector generates nearly a million jobs among hotels, restaurants, cultural institutions, and supporting industries, and over 60% of those employed are from disproportionately impacted areas,” said Feigenholtz. “These jobs have been decimated due to the pandemic, and our focus needs to be on establishing a coordinated path and predictable plan to get this industry open and moving.”

As the Illinois Latino Legislative Caucus prepares for the negotiations during budget season, they look forward to collaborating with Governor Pritzker to devise a series of strategies anchored in addressing the chronic fiscal and structural issues faced by our state in both spending plans and revenue generation. This year presents additional layers of constraints and opportunities as the COVID-19 pandemic and heightened awareness of systemic racism call on public servants to be more precise and deliberate with mitigating impact and reconciling past harm.

The Latino Caucus especially looks forward to continued partnership with the Governor's Office in the areas that greatly impact over two million Illinoisans who identify as Latinx, nearly 750,000 individuals who are immigrants and/or refugees, and an estimated 324,000 who are undocumented from Latin America-all who count on our ingenuity and commitment to protect basic elements of dignified life. We are prioritizing building on the following areas this budget cycle:

CHICAGO – Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) is urging drivers to follow Scott’s Law after six more Illinois State Police troopers were hit while responding to roadside incidents this week, marking 10 crashes caused by drivers who didn’t slow down and move over when they saw a roadside first responder in 2021.

“As a former police officer, I know the life-threatening situations law enforcement officers face on the job. Drivers have the power to reduce that risk for officers and first responders addressing incidents on the side of the road,” Munoz said. “If you see flashing lights, slow down and move over—it’s the law, and it might just save a life.”

According to the Illinois State Police, three Scott’s Law-related collisions occurred in just one day. Six of the 10 crashes have left troopers with injuries, and one in Will County on Feb. 15 left a trooper seriously injured.

SPRINGFIELD – In a conversation following the governor’s annual budget address Wednesday, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) offered her perspective on the proposal and pointed to areas that need further negotiation.

“I think this starts our discussion,” Murphy said. “First off, we have to finalize, hopefully, addressing COVID-19—we have to get everybody vaccinated so we can go forward from that.”

Murphy expressed her support for certain parts of the governor’s proposal, including plans to fully fund the state pension system and increase funding to the Illinois Department of Employment Security, which has been overwhelmed with unemployment insurance claims since the onset of the pandemic.

Using the governor’s proposal as a starting point, Murphy says she hopes lawmakers will be able to negotiate more assistance for middle-class Illinois families, especially parents with college-age students struggling to afford tuition.

The full interview is available here.