Springfield….On day 2 of 4 scheduled Special Session days, State Representative John Cavaletto (R-Salem) is urging Senate President John Cullerton to send SB 1, the revamped school funding formula bill, to the Governor’s desk. The Senate has been holding on to the bill for more than 6 weeks, something Cavaletto says is a purposeful manipulation of the democratic process.

“The Chicago politicians that run the House and Senate are putting pressure on school districts and families and trying to create a crisis of schools not opening on time to score political points,” Cavaletto said. “They are using school kids as pawns in a high stakes political blame game.”

Cavaletto says the Senate is holding on to the school funding bill instead of sending it to the Governor because the Governor has pledged to take out a provision in the bill that allows Chicago to move to the front of the line to receive money to bailout Chicago public schools’ underfunded pensions.

“SB 1 as it currently is written would prioritize paying Chicago pension debts over increasing funds for schools in southern Illinois. That isn’t fair. That money should be going to classrooms in southern Illinois,” Cavaletto said. “Governor Rauner has promised he will fix SB 1 using his veto power. We want to make sure that all districts in Illinois receive equitable and adequate funding. That’s what the Governor’s amendatory veto will accomplish and I fully support him.”

After two press conferences on Wednesday where Governor Rauner singled out Chicago Democrat Senate President John Cullerton for holding back the school funding bill, Cullerton said he plans to send SB 1 to the Governor on Monday, July 31, which is also the final day of 4 planned Special Sessions.

“This is a completely avoidable crisis that the Senate President and Speaker Madigan are causing,” Cavaletto said. “Why are they waiting? People are tired of this. I’m tired of this. Our children don’t deserve to be treated this way. I’m calling on Senate Democrats to do what’s right and send SB 1 to Governor Rauner so he can fix it now.”

                                                                           

####

The Illinois State Police Merit Board is currently processing applications
for Cadet Class 127, tentatively scheduled for February 4, 2018. In order
to be considered for Cadet Class 127, the Merit Board must receive your
completed application and required documentation by July 15, 2017.

Education Requirement Update
Effective July 1, 2017, Any person who has been honorably discharged who
served in a combat mission by proof of hostile fire pay or imminent danger
pay during deployment on active duty, or has served 3 years of full
active and continuous military duty and received an honorable discharge,
meets the collegiate educational requirement of the Department of State
Police.

State Representative John Cavaletto (R-Salem), a member of the Cost Benefit Analysis Committee, today voted to support the Governor’s veto of the budget plan that raises the state income tax rate from 3.75% to 4.95%.

“My vote on Sunday for the proposal in front of us was based on the ‘junk bond’ rating threat to the State of Illinois and that huge negative impact on borrowing and the cost to Illinois taxpayers,” said Rep. Cavaletto. “But I found out this morning directly from Moody’s that this budget plan doesn’t seem to help and they are still considering a downgrade from Baa3 rating level because Illinois’ debt obligations does not have stable funding to meet our obligations, even with this tax increase,” Cavaletto continued.

“The more than one thousand calls, emails and Facebook messages I have received have been about 10 to 1 opposed to any more taxes. The message from my constituents has been loud and clear that they do not want a tax increase so I had to oppose this plan with a permanent tax increase,” Cavaletto said.

As part of this plan there is a 5% across the board cut of state agencies and a 10% cut in the funding to Illinois colleges and universities. But there are not enough reforms to change the way government spending is handled in Illinois.

“We’re pushing people out of this state with high taxes and property taxes and we need reforms and tax relief to keep people here and attract more with job growth,” Cavaletto concluded.