General Assembly Completes Spring Session

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Published on June 3 2019 9:32 am
Last Updated on June 3 2019 9:32 am
Written by Greg Sapp

The spring session of the Illinois General Assembly concluded over the weekend. The first few months of J.B. Pritzker's term as governor included some major accomplishments that reflect his themes on the campaign trail.

Both the Illinois House and Senate approved sports gambling, legal recreational marijuana and a constitutional amendment on a progressive income tax.

Lawmakers also approved a plan to double the gas tax to pay for a widespread capital bill to repair roads and bridges and to repair mass transit and waterways.

Proponents say the measure pumps $375 million into the public school funding formula that was revamped two years ago. It borrows more than $1 billion to pay toward a lingering $7 billion pile of past due bills to save money on interest payments.

The budget invests $500 million in the popular needs-based Monetary Award Program college tuition assistance program, and it increases by $100 million funding for the Department of Children and Family Services, which has seen its share of criticism over its inability to save three children in its care who have died this year.

Locally, State Representatives Blaine Wilhour of Beecher City and Darren Bailey of Louisville voted against the budget, saying it does nothing to address pension problems and the state's long-term debt.