State Senator Mattie Hunter (D- Chicago) issued the following statement after today’s budget legislation votes:

We’ve been working to reach a bipartisan budget agreement for months. The plan we passed today is a solution that gives us certainty and stability.

The budget package will fully fund the next fiscal year which includes funds to education, MAP grants, breast and cervical cancer screening, addiction treatment and funding for programs like Teen Reach. All of these programs are essential and work to restore and improve the quality of life for our constituents.         

The state of Illinois has been longing for fiscal certainty for almost two years. Because of this, many statewide businesses operated on hope. I’m glad, on this day, we were
able to provide them with more. We were able to come together despite our political differences to change the status quo.
            
It is my hope that the Governor will join us in signing the budget plan. The people of this state have suffered long enough. They shouldn’t have to wait any longer because the time is now.

In an effort to address the growing number of out-of-school and jobless youth in Illinois, legislation sponsored by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) passed both legislative chambers, which will create a statewide task force to develop programs and opportunities for this rapidly increasing population.

“We cannot continue to fail our young people,” said Hunter. “The first step to fixing this problem is listening to the young people who will become our next leaders. When I talk to youth in my district their number one request is to bring jobs to the community. We need to further our support for programs that will help keep our youth active and will put them to meaningful work, especially youth in communities where their only other option may be to turn to the streets.”

The University of Illinois at Chicago released a report in 2016 that states there were 190,945 youth and young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 years old who were jobless and not in school in Illinois. Other studies have found 88 percent of black teens in Chicago aged 16 to 19 are unemployed. In Chicago, 85 percent of Hispanic teens in the same age range are unemployed compared to 71 percent nationwide.

Ashley’s Quality Care, a 25-year-old social service agency, is on the brink of closure due to the almost-two-year budget stalemate between Republican governor Bruce Rauner and the Democratic-controlled legislature.

“The governor needs to be truthful and transparent. He needs to make clear his budget plan for the state, bring everyone together and lead us out of the recession we’re beginning to face,” said Michael Robinson, CFO of Ashley’s Quality Care.

Rather than forcing families to put loved ones into nursing facilities, AQC strives to enhance the quality of life for their customers by offering personal care and services to seniors and disabled individuals.

“Our employees cook, clean and handle a lot of the household duties clients are unable to manage,” said Robinson. “We’re blessed to have workers that have stayed loyal to the company throughout this fiscal battle.”  

Typically, AQC receives 99 percent of its funding from the state, but since the impasse, has been working under tight restriction.