SPRINGFIELD – A plan to increase school funding, fund vital human services providers and appropriate funds for ongoing highway and road construction projects passed the Senate today.

“Today’s vote means parents won’t have to worry that their children’s school won’t open on time this fall. It means college students can have faith that their MAP grants won’t be delayed and that their degree means something from their academic institution. And it means the countless human services providers who have been asked for almost a year to continue taking care of our most vulnerable without being paid will finally see payment,” co-sponsor State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D – Chicago Heights) said.

The proposal, contained in Senate Bill 2047, increases state support of public schools and ensures they are able to open on time this fall. Many schools were facing the prospect of not being able to open without their payments from the state. Locally, Chicago Heights School District 170 would see a $1,283,120 funding increase, Bloom Township High School District 206 would see a $994,479 funding increase, Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233 would see an $864,976 funding increase and Manhattan School District 114 would see a $449,019 funding increase.

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – A plan to provide funding for the Teen REACH program, which provides grants to support local communities’ after-school programs that serve at-risk youth, is expected to be considered today in the Illinois Senate.

“Study after study points to a direct correlation between investing in quality after-school programs and higher levels of student success and lower rates of crime,” State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D – Chicago Heights) said. “Many communities across Illinois, from East St. Louis to Rockford to municipalities in the South Suburbs, are suffering from disinvestment and high rates of crime. The common denominator in all of these communities is that too many youth are not in school and are not working.”

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – Area schools would see millions more in state funding next year under a plan being considered tomorrow in the Illinois Senate.

“Investing in the future success of our students starts with ensuring our classrooms are well-equipped and ready to train the leaders of tomorrow,” supporter State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D – Chicago Heights) said. “Increasing state funding for school districts not only accomplishes this goal but also takes the pressure off communities with little property wealth to draw resources from.”

Read more ...

“Government should ensure women have access to all forms of contraceptives without intrusion by insurance bureaucrats or politicians.” – State Senator Toi Hutchinson

SPRINGFIELD – With 98 percent of American women using birth control at some point in their lives, having easy access to the myriad forms of contraceptives available is an important part of the health care delivery system for women.  

“Women utilize contraceptives for many different reasons. The most obvious reason is for birth control,” State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D – Chicago Heights) said. “But for many women, contraceptives play a key role in our overall health. Government should ensure that women have access to all forms of contraceptives without intrusion by insurance bureaucrats or politicians.”

Read more ...