Inside:
- Digging into the budget proposal
- Building the future of manufacturing in Illinois
- Alexis 7th grader was House Page for a Day
- Around the district
Digging into the budget proposal
Last Wednesday marked the formal kickoff to the budget-making process for the upcoming state fiscal year. The House and Senate will be working on putting a state budget together over the next few months. This process has been marred by partisanship, secrecy and wishful thinking over the last several years, as budgets have been drawn up behind closed doors and put up for a vote in the wee hours of the morning with little time to review them. The result has been out-of-control spending, and higher taxes. This year needs to be different.
The budget which Governor Pritzker proposed last week would set yet another spending record. In spite of the state’s revenue problems, he actually wants to spend even more money, $56 billion – nearly a billion more than last year. The proposal relies on $728 million in new revenue, including new taxes on social media platforms and more taxes on gaming.
In all, this would amount to a 40% increase in spending since Governor Pritzker took office in 2019 – more than $16 billion in additional spending. In eight years in office, Governor Pritzker has never introduced a budget which did not include new proposed or expanded tax increases.
We need to rein in the out-of-control spending and reduce taxes rather than increase them. We need a government that works efficiently and provides accountability and transparency. And more than anything, we need policies which are fair and affordable, and help struggling Illinoisans meet the cost of living – not make it even harder.
If this is our starting point, we are going to have a lot of work to do this spring.
Building the future of manufacturing in Illinois
Over the last several years, Illinois has suffered from a “brain drain” of young people who grow up here and get their education here but then leave the state for job opportunities elsewhere. This has affected a number of important industries, including manufacturing. This year, I am sponsoring a bill to help turn that trend around and encourage Illinois students to pursue the skilled trades here at home.
House Bill 5578 makes changes to the Higher Education Student Assistance Act to create a Manufacturing Promise Scholarship Program. This program would be open to Illinois residents who are enrolled in a public community college or other program with a major in manufacturing or a skilled trade. Each year, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission will receive and consider applications for the scholarship, so long as they meet specified criteria. A portion of the funds available would be set aside for students from underrepresented areas. Both traditional and non-traditional students would be eligible for the scholarships, as well as adult students.
This legislation, if enacted, would provide an incentive for Illinois students to pursue a career in manufacturing or the skilled trades here at home, and help build the next generation of Illinois manufacturers.
The bill is currently awaiting action by the House Rules Committee.
Alexis 7th grader was House Page for a Day
Colum Morgan, a 7th grader at United Junior High School, served as a Page for a Day in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. Colum is a bright student with a bright future, and it was great to have him join us on the House floor to see the House of Representatives in action.
Colum is the son of Levi Morgan of Alexis and Jessa Morgan of Galesburg. He is a drummer in a band and is a mid-distance runner on the track team. He volunteers at a local Rotary Club food bank and at both Sandburg College and Knox College, even serving as Blaze, the Knox College mascot. Colum has also volunteered at Experience Galesburg, the local tourism office.
He has helped with the Shamroxville Parade in Knoxville and with the Galesburg Holly Days parade. He has visited 26 states and two Canadian provinces and hopes to visit Ireland or Germany. In addition to his studies and extracurricular work, he is currently working with his dad to restore an historic opera house in Alexis.
Around the district
It was a busy weekend, and a popular time for pancake breakfasts around the 71st District!
Friday was the Galesburg Lions Club annual noon and evening pancake day. A great crowd and awesome pancakes. Thank you, Lions, for all you do serving the Galesburg area.
Saturday morning, I attended the Bushnell Fire Protection District pancake breakfast at Prairie City. There were outstanding pancakes and a great group of dedicated emergency responders.
Later that day we headed to the Sherrard Fire Department Taco supper. It was a great day – we saw many old friends and made some new friends as well.
We started our Sunday morning attending a pancake breakfast at the Doric Lodge #319 in Moline. I had an opportunity to tour the former dentist’s office and now lodge. One gentleman commented, he can still hear the drill while he attends meetings because the dental chair was in the same room as the meetings are held now.
After breakfast another stop at home to do a quick wardrobe change for participating in the polar plunge. A great turnout and a lot of fun.
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