budget, State Representative Maura Hirschauer

Budget proposal is fiscally and socially responsible

Today, the Governor outlined a fiscally and socially responsible budget proposal that demonstrates that Illinois is on the strongest financial footing we’ve had in decades. We can use this surplus to invest in the people and communities who need help the most, be great stewards of our debt, and set the stage for future growth.

After almost two years of struggling through a global pandemic, working families are in desperate need of support. I appreciate that the governor’s proposal includes using much of this surplus to provide direct tax relief to families and their everyday needs. Illinoisans are feeling the pain of inflation while still recovering from the financial hit of the pandemic. The Governor’s proposal for a 1-year moratorium on state grocery taxes and a 1-year freeze on the gas tax will give families assistance in these unprecedented times.

Throughout the pandemic our students and teachers have suffered through interrupted learning; and working families have struggled to find and maintain affordable childcare. I am glad to see Governor Pritzker is calling for half a billion dollars to fund preK-12 schools, which includes $150 million for early childhood education. Prioritizing state dollars to support our talented students, teachers, administrators, and support staff is critical to growing a strong and bright future.

However, to truly make a difference in the lives of Illinois families, we cannot ignore the importance of early intervention services and affordable day care. Throughout the pandemic our littlest and most vulnerable learners have received interrupted early intervention care. Disparities in development and kindergarten readiness, already wide, are growing deeper and more stark with underfunding of critical programs. Child care providers, early childhood educators, and caregivers need well-funded support to grow programs to meet the needs of Illinois families. I urge the Governor to expand the 10% increase for early education to include Early Intervention (EI) services and the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).

Governor Prizker presented us with a budget that puts the needs of Illinoisans first. His proposal marks an optimistic start to our budgeting process and I look forward to digging into the details to ensure that folks in the 49th District have the support they need to thrive.

Maura Portrait

“After almost two years of struggling through a global pandemic, working families are in desperate need of support. I appreciate that the governor’s proposal includes using much of this surplus to provide direct tax relief to families and their everyday needs.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, issued the following statement Tuesday at the end of the spring legislative session:

“As we begin to move forward from the pandemic, it’s crucial that we continue to provide support to those most heavily impacted by it. I voted to pass a responsible budget that works to deliver meaningful relief to residents and businesses, while also protecting essential services that our most vulnerable rely on.

“More than ever before, the COVID pandemic has exposed the need to make health care more affordable. Employees who lose their jobs or need to take time off to care for a loved one should still have access to health insurance. I sponsored several measures to expand access to coverage and reduce high health care costs, so families can better afford their prescriptions and medically necessary procedures.

“I also worked to address the pandemic’s continuing impact on housing by supporting economic assistance for homeowners, renters and landlords who lost the ability to make their payments. The pandemic and its restrictions were incredibly difficult for small business owners and employees, it’s important that we continue to take steps to support job creation and respond to economic concerns in the coming months.

“Gun violence, which has tragically plagued our communities for years, did not stop during the pandemic. In the final few days of session, I passed a bill that I first began working on as a volunteer with Moms Demand Action, the Fix the FOID Act. This bill improves the state’s gun owner licensing laws, and works in tandem with another gun safety measure I supported to prevent mass shootings by disarming people who pose a risk to others or themselves.

“While we accomplished a lot this spring to build a stronger and safer Illinois, more needs to be done. I look forward to continuing my work with members of our community to address the challenges we will face in the days ahead.”

Rep. Maura Hirschauer

(D-Batavia)
49th District

Springfield Office:
276-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-1653

District Office:
946 Neltnor Blvd #108
West Chicago IL 60185

The post Hirschauer Passes Responsible Budget, Fights for Economic Recovery, Health Care and Gun Safety appeared first on Illinois House Democratic Caucus.

Budget proposal is fiscally and socially responsible

Rep. Maura Hirschauer

(D-Batavia) 49th District

(D-Batavia)
49th District