SPRINGFIELD — Members of the Illinois Senate Black Caucus to the governor’s unwillingness to support commonsense measures to curb gun violence and help sweep unregistered firearms off the streets.

Succumbing to pressure from the NRA, Gov. Bruce Rauner today vetoed the Gun Dealer Licensing Act, which would have permitted the state to license and inspect gun dealers in an effort to assist the federal government in holding corrupt dealers accountable for illegal firearm sales.

Rauner vetoed the measure less than 24 hours before a national walkout to protest school gun violence and call on lawmakers to enact stricter gun laws.

Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood), who also chairs the joint Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, delivered a clear message: “Leave it to Governor Rauner to put politics before public safety. If his goal was to curb gun violence in our state he would have appointed a commission his first day in office, not over three years into his term. There is too much at stake to continue stalling for personal advancement.”

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate approved legislation Wednesday that establishes a new $3.5 billion Medicaid Hospital Assessment Program, including $360 million in new funding for safety net and critical access hospitals.

The Black and Latino Caucuses in the Illinois General Assembly gave support to these hospitals by signing a letter earlier this year stating they would not support a plan that would cut funding for safety net hospitals.

“Safety net hospitals play a vital role in our communities and serve some of the most vulnerable populations in our state,” Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) said. “If their funding is cut, we would see a direct impact on our constituents who depend on them to stay healthy.”

Safety net hospitals often serve a large number of Medicaid patients which makes it difficult for the hospitals to subsidize those costs through private insurance as other hospitals can.

The current assessment program is set to expire this summer. Senate Bill 1773 now heads to the House for consideration.

Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) was the keynote speaker at Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ Black History Month Celebration, which was held in the Illinois State Capitol rotunda. Lightford shared a message of support and honor for organizations and activists that have uplifted the Black community throughout history.

Leader Lightford spoke of the legacies of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Black Panther Party and the Black Lives Matter Movement, all organizations that were established as defense mechanisms against injustices faced by African Americans in this county.

As the Chairman of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, Senator Lightford leads unapologetically in continuing the legacy of the caucus’ founding members set forth in 1967 to ensure equity, prosperity and representation of African-Americans throughout Illinois.