Lightford: This is a significant step toward equity in education funding

• Video
• Education
• Education Funding Reform

SPRINGFIELD- Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) released the following statement following the Senate’s approval of legislation that would provide equity in the way the state funds education:

“The legislature was able to come together through bipartisan compromise to approve a plan that fixes our worst-in-the-nation school funding formula. While there are aspects in this proposal that will need revision, I refuse to continue denying our children a quality education.

“We are closer than ever to enacting a measure that provides equity for all children by putting dollars where they are most needed. I will continue working to make education more accessible and fair on every level, and I am glad we were able to take a significant step toward that goal today.”

Lightford: Rauner denies workers a living wage

• Minimum Wage

SPRINGFIELD — Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) released the following statement after Governor Bruce Rauner vetoed legislation that would have increased the statewide minimum to $15 per hour by January 2022.

“Governor Rauner’s veto doubles down on his stance against some of our most vulnerable communities. Throughout his term he has irresponsibly cut the child care assistance program, held up grant money for low-income college students and caused severe damage to our social services through a historic budget stalemate.

“There is no reason why a single parent working full-time should qualify for food stamps and Medicaid. Our workers deserve financial independence and the empowerment that comes from being able to provide for a family.

“Our fight does not end here. I will continue to stand for hardworking people struggling to make ends meet as I have done my entire career because I know the difference a living wage can make in a person’s life, in our communities and in our entire state.”

Lightford proposals helping youth, minority teachers and veterans now law

SPRINGFIELD - Measures led by Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) increasing counseling sessions for minors, expanding eligibility for a minority teachers scholarship and promoting the awareness of cancer in veterans were signed into law on Friday.

Minors 12 years and older seeking counseling will receive more sessions without having to receive prior consent from a guardian under one of the recently approved laws. House Bill 3709 allows counselors to continue serving youth in circumstances where seeking parental permission may be detrimental to the youth.

“Young people, especially LGBTQ and homeless youth, may sometimes feel like they have no one to turn to in dealing with hardships. They will now have more accessibility to counseling, and I hope it will encourage our youth to seek help when they need it,” Lightford said.

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Lightford votes to override education funding reform veto (VIDEO)

• Education
• Education Funding Reform

SPRINGFIELD- Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) released the following statement following the override of Governor Bruce Rauner’s veto of legislation that would provide equity in the way the state funds education:

“For decades students have suffered under a broken formula that shortchanged low income children throughout the state. The governor’s veto fell far from our goal of making a quality education a reality for every child in Illinois.

Our schools need the proper investment and certainty that Senate Bill 1 provides. I stand committed to making sure our schools stay open and fixing our broken funding formula.”

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