NEWS

From the Illinois State Senate

State Senator Mike Jacobs, 36th Legislative District

For Immediate Release: May 16, 2012

Jacobs: We must restore childcare funding

SPRINGFIELD, IL –Senator Mike Jacobs (D-Moline) is working with his colleagues to ensure that the legislature reauthorizes additional funding to help fill the hole in childcare funding.

“Last week, the Department of Human Services sent child care providers throughout the state letters informing them that there is not enough money in the state budget to pay for child care services for the rest of the fiscal year, ending June 30, 2012,” said Senator Jacobs.  “Child care providers have no financial safeguards to help them until the new fiscal year begins, unlike many other service providers in Illinois.”

Without child care, nearly 85,000 single parents and families would lose a safe, reliable facility to care for their children while they work or go to school.  In addition, the state would be putting nearly 3,000 child care centers and approximately 30,000 home-based providers out of business.

In addition, if no child care is available, parents cannot go to work, school, or participate in any sort of training programs. Child care is expensive, and many families can barely afford to work. This isn’t just an issue for low-income families either. Many middle-income families are struggling to pay for daycare. In addition, child care centers are largely not-for-profit organizations that provide quality care for children at a reasonable cost.

House Bill 6164 has been amended in the House of Representatives to provide these much needed funds and ensure that child care providers are able to continue to offer these critical services.  This legislation will help to ensure that current child care services are not interrupted.  Without these funds, a significant percentage of providers across Illinois would go out of business, leaving thousands of families without care for their children.

Senator Jacobs went on to say, “We need to find a resolution that will allow for continued funding through the end of the fiscal year for these vital services."

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NEWS

From the Illinois State Senate

State Senator Mike Jacobs, 36th Legislative District

For Immediate Release: Friday, May 11, 2012

Jacobs urges Congress to pass Federal Transportation Measure

SPRINGFIELD, IL –Senator Mike Jacobs (D-Moline) is urging Republican Congressman Bob Schilling to work with his caucus to pass the federal transportation bill currently sitting in their chamber.

“Governor Quinn, in conjunction with IDOT, has committed to putting forth the funds to start work on the I-74 Bridge connecting Illinois to Iowa.  This federal transportation bill is vital to ensuring the completion of this critical infrastructure project,” noted Senator Jacobs.  “In addition, the building of this bridge will provide jobs and help to boost both states local economy.”

According to the USA Today, the last long-term transportation bill expired in 2009. After working on the measure for over three years, the U. S. Senate, with the help of Senator Durbin, finally passed a $109 billion bill with bipartisan support earlier this year. The bill would give states more flexibility in how they spend federal money, step up the pace of road construction by shortening environmental reviews, impose a wide array of new safety regulations and boost funding for a federal loan guarantee program to encourage private investment for major infrastructure projects.

The federal government's authority to spend highway trust fund money expires on June 30, 2012 according to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  “If the Congress cannot come to a consensus soon, Illinois and the rest of the country will continue to fall behind in the building and maintaining of our roads, bridges, and rail lines.”

“As a member of the Republican Majority, Congressman Schilling must convince his colleagues to vote for this crucial measure that will not only build vital road and rail projects, including the I-74 Bridge, but also bring jobs and economic development to Illinois, and the rest of the nation,” stated Senator Jacobs. 

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NEWS

From the Illinois State Senate

State Senator Mike Jacobs, 36th Legislative District

For Immediate Release: April 18, 2012

Jacobs and Verschoore call on Congressman Schilling to end the roadblock preventing the passage of the federal transportation bill 

SPRINGFIELD, IL –Senator Mike Jacobs (D-Moline) and Representative Pat Verschoore are calling on Republican Congressman Bob Schilling to work with his caucus to pass the federal transportation bill currently sitting in their chamber.  This legislation will help local communities repair and maintain their infrastructure.

“The Governor of Iowa has been implying to the media that they have a funding source to pay for their half of the I-74 Bridge connecting Bettendorf, IA and Moline, IL,” said Senator Jacobs.  “Illinois also has a funding source in place that will fund the building of our half of the bridge.  However, without the earmarked funds in the federal transportation bill, neither side will be able to afford to complete the project, and it will effectively become a bridge to nowhere.”

The U.S. Senate has already passed the bi-partisan legislation that will provide $109 billion to aid in the building and repair of vital infrastructure projects throughout Illinois and the country.  The main benefit to passing this measure would be to repair aging roads and bridges that have been neglected for far too long.

“As a member of the Republican Majority, Congressman Schilling must convince his colleagues to vote for this crucial measure that will not only bring jobs and economic development to Illinois, but to the rest of the nation,” stated Senator Jacobs.  “I am urging Congressman Schilling to follow Illinois’ lead and pass a bi-partisan proposal that include earmarked funds for the I-74 Bridge.

In recent years, the Illinois Senate passed a much needed capital plan to help build our infrastructure and put people to work.  The measure passed by the Senate was a bi-partisan effort spearheaded by the then newly elected Senate President John J. Cullerton.  Since its passage, schools have been built, roads have received much needed repairs, bridges that were in danger of collapse have been rebuilt or repaired and thousands of Illinois jobs have been created.

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