SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) and other members of the Senate Commerce Committee questioned representatives from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and communicated concerns from their local business owners at Thursday’s subject matter hearing regarding the Business Interruption Grant program.

“Today’s hearing shed some light on the processes the department used to evaluate applications and distribute BIG funds, but our small businesses deserve complete transparency,” Murphy said. “We need access to all available information to properly evaluate how small business owners could be better served in the future.”

PARK FOREST – Individual income tax returns for Illinois may be submitted starting Friday, Feb. 12, and State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) urges residents to file early this year.

“This is an important filing season, given the pandemic,” Joyce said. “I encourage folks to begin filing as soon as they’re able so they can receive their tax refunds as quickly as possible.”

MARYVILLE – Thanks to an inspiring response from students, families and community members, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) will deliver hundreds of Valentine’s Day cards to residents at Stearns Nursing and Rehab in Granite City and Foxes Grove Supportive Living Community in Wood River.

“The pandemic has left our neighbors in local long-term care facilities feeling isolated from loved ones over many events and holidays,” Crowe said. “But thanks to members of our community, I am overwhelmed with joy to deliver these notes to remind our older residents how much they are cared for.”

PICTURED: (LEFT) Senator Rachelle Crowe poses in her Maryville district office with cards donated by Collinsville High School students and local residents. (RIGHT) Cards dropped off in Senator Rachelle Crowe’s Wood River office location.

Holmes urges taxpayers to be wary, vigilant of ID theft

AURORA – Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora), Chair of the Senate Labor Committee, warns taxpayers to be aware of ongoing nationwide unemployment fraud as tax season approaches. Across the country, taxpayers are opening their annual earnings statements and learning they've been the victim of unemployment fraud that has swept the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's bad enough that so many people have lost their jobs during this pandemic. It's just plain evil that there are hackers out there preying on individuals, stealing their identities and filing fraudulent claims, too many of which will go unnoticed until the annual earnings statement arrives for tax time,” Holmes said. “Check your statements, check your credit and if you've been a victim, take action now."

This ongoing fraud attack on unemployment systems was a key part of a Senate Labor Committee hearing this week. The vulnerability of the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program for self-employed workers and independent contractors left unemployment systems exposed to fraud. IDES, working with law enforcement, put stronger documentation requirements in place for wage and identification to reduce that vulnerability, and the federal government is engaged at the national level.

Most importantly, state officials said they have set up hotlines and added advice to the state agency website to help victims. Individuals can call IDES at (800) 244-5631 with questions about their 1099-G form. Resources are also available on IDES's website, at https://www.ides.illinois.gov/1099G or https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/Pages/Report-Identity-Theft.aspx.

This week’s hearing culminated many virtual meetings of a working group Holmes has led since last year. Next week the Labor Committee will hold a second hearing on unemployment issues with representatives of business and labor.

CHICAGO — Mike Simmons became the first openly gay member of the Illinois Senate, and the first person of color to serve as state Senator from Illinois’ 7th District after being sworn in Saturday.

“This breaks down a ceiling that is important for the most diverse state Senate district in Illinois,” Simmons said. “And as our new state Senator, I will work tirelessly to amplify the voices and urgent needs of the most vulnerable residents of my district: Our immigrants, those struggling with access to housing, seniors, people in between jobs, single mothers, returning citizens, LGBTQIA+ people, young people, and so many others who have been hit hardest by the pandemic.”

State Senator Heather Steans stepped down at the end of January from her 7th District seat following a career marked by major changes to the law in her 13 years in office. During that time, she was instrumental in legalizing the adult use of cannabis in Illinois, taking important strides to transforming the state’s hospital system, and negotiating the finer details of the state’s annual budget.

In recent years, Steans was an outspoken advocate on many issues. During the years-long budget impasse, she fought to preserve child care assistance funding, argued on behalf of those who need state aid for their struggles with addiction, and moved forward appropriations to help the state’s most vulnerable. She was a champion for direct support personnel and imposed stiffer fines on vandalism associated with hate crimes.

HIGHWOOD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Buffalo Grove) is relieved those who are part of the state’s most vulnerable community can start getting vaccinated by the end of the month.

“Many people who have disabilities or pre-existing conditions can be at higher risk of complications from COVID-19,” Morrison said. “We must take care of our most vulnerable people. Those in the developmentally disabled community are presented unique challenges that put their lives in danger each day.”

BRADLEY – A new 6,000-square-foot facility serving Commercial Driver’s License holders will open in Bradley on Tuesday, Feb. 23, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) announced.

“We have depended on transportation companies and truck drivers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to keep the supply chain running,” Joyce said. “This new location will maximize the facility’s traffic flow and efficiency to keep this essential industry operating smoothly.”