Murphy legislation grants local governments the tools to hold utility companies accountable

SPRINGFIELD – Thanks to a measure from State Senator Laura Murphy local governments and municipalities have better tools to hold utility companies accountable for payments.

“Utility companies already collect this tax on behalf of municipalities—it’s just a question of whether the money gets where it’s supposed to go,” Murphy said. “This legislation would ensure local governments can depend on utility companies to hold up their end of the bargain.”

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Legislation to grant Chicago principals the right to unionize passes Senate with Pacione-Zayas support

SPRINGFIELD –A longtime champion of worker’s rights and increasing support for education workers, State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas is supporting a measure that would allow principals and assistant principals in the city of Chicago to collectively bargain.

“Workers in all roles can suffer under unfair workplace policies—even those in managerial positions with more power in the workplace than others,” Senator Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) said. “School principals should have the same right to organize and demand change in their working conditions as other employees, and this law will ensure they can do just that.” 

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Pacione-Zayas advocates to increase funding for affordable housing program

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure families with limited economic resources have access to affordable, permanent housing, State Senator Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas is the Senate sponsor of new legislation to provide increased funding for the Rental Housing Support Program.

“Without affordable housing options, folks may lose their jobs, be displaced from their community and separated from their families,” said Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago). “It is imperative that we continue to invest in affordable housing programs so that we increase access all over the state, and this initiative takes the first steps to do just that.”

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Senator Turner highlights investments in early childhood education at Ball Elementary School

Springfield –State Senator Doris Turner joined the governor and a number of local community leaders Thursday to highlight investments into the Preschool for All program.

 “I’m proud of the work we have done to promote high quality education for our children,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Preschool is the very beginning of our student’s education. Giving our children a strong education at an early age gives them the foundation for more educational opportunities to come. I look forward to working more with Governor Pritzker to continue high quality childhood education for all of our children throughout Sangamon County.”

This visit comes after the increased funding of the Early Childhood Block Grant last August. This increase brought in an all-time high for statewide funding. This allows young children the ability to receive home-visiting services, as well as half-day and full-day preschool. Since the grant has been introduced, the Illinois has seen over 6,300 new half-day preschool slots, 1,000 new full-day preschool slots and 1,075 new home-visiting slots.

Read more: Senator Turner highlights investments in early childhood education at Ball Elementary School