SPRINGFIELD – Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement on Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposed budget:

“This proposal is a good-faith effort by the governor to both recognize our state’s financial realities and honor our commitments and priorities.

“Coming out of this pandemic, we need to get people back to work. Our first priority with any tax incentive needs to be jobs for hardworking Illinoisans.

“So, I think it’s fair to ask what the hardworking taxpayers of Illinois are getting in return for these corporate tax breaks. It’s entirely appropriate to put some of these incentives under the microscope to see what works and get rid of what doesn’t.

“Senate Democrats, however, are always interested in finding resources for education. I suspect this year will be no different.”

Hazardous road conditions cause spike in roadside crashes

WILL COUNTY – To help keep first responders safe while they assist motorists on the side of the road, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Plainfield) and State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) are reminding residents to reduce speed, switch lanes if possible and drive cautiously when emergency lights are visible.

"Scott's Law means move over for emergency vehicles, which is especially important with the winter weather conditions we're currently experiencing," Loughran Cappel said. "I am grateful the trooper involved in the accident in Will County has been released with non-life-threatening injuries, and I urge drivers to move over and drive slowly when passing emergency vehicles to prevent further tragedy."

AURORA – State Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) will lead a subject matter hearing in the Senate Labor Committee today at 9 a.m. to learn more about the experiences of employers and employees with the Illinois Department of Employment Security in the last year.

The goal this week is to hear from employers and employees about their experiences with the unemployment system. The pandemic, during which more than 1 million Illinoisans lost their jobs, forced the creation of new unemployment programs for people who were not previously covered by the system, like gig workers and self-employed individuals. These new programs added tremendous strains on IDES, and as a result, many Illinoisans who expected to be covered by unemployment insurance struggled to access benefits. 

CHICAGO – On Tuesday afternoon, State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) chaired the first Senate Public Safety Committee Hearing of the 102^nd General Assembly to share updates on public safety and dispel rumors on carjacking in an effort to ease residents’ fears about the increase of crime in the city.

“With the increase in carjackings around the city, I wanted to make sure that the uprise of cases was discussed so the public could be properly informed,” Peters said. “I also thought it would be best to hear from criminal justice experts on the root causes of crime, so we as legislators can learn the best methods to increase safety in our communities.”

CHICAGO – On Tuesday, Feb. 16, the Senate Public Safety Committee, co-chaired by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago), will hold its first meeting of the 102^nd General Assembly in a joint hearing with the Senate Criminal Law Committee.

“Our committees did great work over the summer and fall of 2020 to create and pass the landmark criminal justice package, and I’m eager to get to work to continue the fight for safety and justice,” said Peters, chair of the Public Safety Committee.

The subject of the hearing is “public safety outcomes update,” and one of the main topics will be the discussion of carjacking, a subject which has recently garnered a lot of intention and stoked a lot of public fear.

Peters hopes to use the hearing to share information and dispel rumors in an effort to ease residents’ fears about the safety of the city.

The hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. More information can be found here.

WHO: Senate Public Safety Committee

WHAT: Subject matter hearing on public safety outcomes update

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 1 p.m.

WHERE: Virtually, can be accessed via https://ilga.gov/senateaudvid.asp

BUFFALO GROVE — State Senator Adriane Johnson has seen small businesses in the community suffer like never before. To provide those businesses support and let their owners know she is there to help them through this difficult time, the Buffalo Grove Democrat toured a number of shops throughout the Northern Suburbs.

“Small businesses have faced unimaginable challenges this year, and many owners worry daily if they’ll be able to make it through the winter months,” Johnson said. “Each person I met has faced a unique set of challenges. I’m hopeful our conversations served as a reminder that people are looking out for them and want to see them succeed.”

KANKAKEE – Renovations to the Technology Building at Kankakee Community College are moving forward after State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex ) and State Representative Lindsay Parkhurst (R-Kankakee) secured funds last year’s budget for capital infrastructure improvement, and will be used to renovate some of the Technology Building classrooms on the Kankakee Community College Riverfront Campus.

“Colleges and universities like Kankakee Community College not only provide students with a top-notch education, but also contribute to economic development in our communities,” Joyce said. “Despite all the challenges we have faced this year, this funding shows the state’s commitment to accelerating higher education in Kankakee.”

HIGHWOOD – Stories of clinics not receiving their promised number of COVID-19 vaccines, appointment websites crashing, and people spending the night in their cars hoping to be first in line to get their dose aren’t unheard of. The frequency of these stories – and others – led State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) to schedule a Senate hearing on the statewide vaccine distribution plan.

“As the demand for the vaccine has grown, so has anticipation for each of us waiting for the vaccine,” Morrison said. “We’ve been fielding calls from frustrated and frightened constituents who are eligible but can’t find their place in line or get the vaccine.”