Agreement Provides Landmark Increases in Education 

SPRINGFIELD – With a contentious budget negotiations drawing to a close on Friday, state Rep. Karen Yarbrough (D-Maywood) helped pass a balanced budget and reflected on an ongoing legislative session that has produced advancements in public health, tax relief and relief from rising electric rates. 

“Today, I supported a budget that allows the state to live within its financial means while investing more money in education and maintaining vital funding for health care and public safety,” Yarbrough said.  “While this budget comes later than expected, I am pleased we have an agreement that is responsible and meets our obligations.  This budget has been approved by the General Assembly, but it still needs the governor’s signature.  I hope he will act quickly on this important measure.”

The Yarbrough-backed budget increases General State Aid for schools by $308 million, the largest single year increase in state history.  The budget, passed overwhelmingly by the General Assembly, increases the total amount of education funding by $590 million, boosting the foundation level from $5,344 to $5,744 spent per student.  Mandated categories, such as special education and transportation programs, will receive additional $140 million in new assistance.  In addition, the budget includes $20 million for early childhood education programs so that children have the advantages of starting the learning process early.

The budget as approved by lawmakers also includes a $2 million increase for home delivered meals to senior citizens, $8 million new dollars to boost child support programs, an extra $1.75 million for the expansion of breast and cervical cancer screenings and over $6 million to continue the anti-violence program CeaseFire.

With a balanced budget on the governor’s desk, Yarbrough also reflected on some of her recent achievements during the ongoing legislative session.

Yarbrough made history in May when she passed the Smoke Free Illinois Act, making Illinois the 22nd state to enact a statewide indoor public smoking ban.  The measure, which takes effect January 1, 2008, bans smoking in any building fully or partially open to the public and within 15 feet of entrances to such buildings.  The measure also bans smoking in places of employment, including areas where employees are required to enter, exit or pass through during the course of employment.  Smoking would also be prohibited in student dormitories and buildings where students at public and private universities congregate.

“Surprisingly, it was the testimony of people who work in bars and restaurants that convinced my colleagues to support the smoking ban,” Yarbrough said.  “When they took a step back and realized that hospitality workers are forced to work in dangerous conditions, it was easy to stand with the vast majority of Illinoisans who do not smoke and reclaim bars and restaurants for nonsmokers.”

Yarbrough was one of the first Chicago-area lawmakers to call for electric rate relief for customers of Commonwealth Edison.  While the end of a 10-year electric rate freeze hit Southern Illinois the hardest, mainly due to the many all-electric homes in the region that use electricity for heat, Yarbrough realized that ComEd customers who use gas to warm their homes would feel a similar financial pinch when summer arrived.  Her support for a punitive rate rollback measure helped bring ComEd to the negotiating table, resulting in a $1 billion rate relief and reform package that includes customer rebates and credits on future bills.

“Staying cool in the summer is important for the well-being of our families, especially for our youngsters and grandparents,” Yarbrough said.  “Without this rebate program, I am convinced we would have started hearing about families losing loved ones because they couldn’t afford to turn on the air conditioner.”

Cook County residents also faced another threat to their wallet in the form of rising property taxes.  With a popular program that caps the amount annual assessments can rise about to expire, Yarbrough worked with her colleagues to reinstate the “7 percent solution” For an additional three years.  Other major provisions of House Bill 664 include the creation of a Long-Term Homeowners Property Tax Exemption, an increase in the Senior Homestead Exemption from $3,500 to $4,000 in 2008, and the establishment of two new homestead exemptions to help disabled homeowners and veterans returning from war.

“While some benefit from rising property values, the higher tax bill that follows hurts those who simply want to continue living in the community where they grew up,” Yarbrough said.  “Seniors who own their own homes have worked hard their whole lives and don’t deserve to get priced out of their neighborhood because of high property taxes.”

Even with these notable achievements, Yarbrough notes that there is more work to do in the near future. First, the governor must sign the budget to avoid a shutdown of state services. She will also be working to find a solution to the fiscal problem impacting the CTA that avoids service cuts or fare increases.

“I strongly encourage the governor to act quickly and sign this budget into law,” Yarbrough said. “Too many vital services depend on these funds. The people of Illinois cannot afford any further delay.”

For more information, contact Yarbrough’s constituent service office at (708) 615-1747.

The End