* From today’s Pritzker presser…
I want to talk about another piece of good news that came out this week. Our state revenues are outpacing the estimates and the expectations that experts gave us earlier this year, our state and our economy, have shown tremendous resilience. While we have still far too many who are struggling, our collective economic and fiscal outlook is brighter than it was even three months ago.
Back in February when faced with financial uncertainty to the state and the prospect of billions of federal dollars going directly to our schools. I presented a flat operational budget for the state, which was all we could afford.
Because our outlook has improved I have informed legislative leaders that I am now in a position to propose increasing evidence based funding for schools by $350 million
That means that parents, students and educators can breathe a sigh of relief. As an education advocate myself I am really all too happy that our improved economic fit and fiscal condition allows us to increase educational funding.
This doesn’t erase Illinois’s structural budget problems, but I remain committed to finding long term sustainable solutions that don’t put the burden on working families who can least afford it. That’s why I will continue to pursue closing corporate tax loopholes, corporate welfare that mostly benefits large international businesses that have profited greatly even during the pandemic.
We are all in this together, and it’s time that everyone stepped up to help us recover.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
*** UPDATE 1 *** HGOP spokesperson Eleni Demertzis…
We are all glad the Governor has remembered his commitment to fully fund education. Now hopefully he can find a cure for his retrograde amnesia and veto the gerrymandered maps drawn by democratic legislators.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Rep. Will Davis, who chairs the House Elementary & Secondary Appropriations committee…
I am happy the Governor followed through on his commitment to the EBF. Funding education should never be in question. It should always be prioritized in the same manner as pensions and Medicaid. My goal is to make it an above the line or mandatory expense.
- Annonin' - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 2:18 pm:
visionary
- cover - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 2:29 pm:
This should smooth many ruffled feathers in the General Assembly, the Governor’s proposal on evidence-based funding was the most obvious item in his budget that Democratic legislators reacted poorly to.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 2:31 pm:
In the end, Pritzker can claim a “win” insofar a choice that others will applaud and thank him.
- Guy Probably - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 2:39 pm:
I wonder if this means the school where I work will hire back some of the teachers they rif’d due to a lack of funding… I doubt it.
That said, this is indeed good news.
- Perplexed - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 2:58 pm:
Surely this means Gov. Pritzker also will drop his effort to weaken the tuition tax scholarship program that gives thousands of poor kids the same school choice his own children enjoy.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 2:58 pm:
“retrograde amnesia”
An awesome use of the English language from the party of retrogrades.
- Overland - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 3:00 pm:
Like any House Republican is actually going to vote for a budget with $350 million for schools in it. Please.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 3:01 pm:
When exactly did the GOP become the party of fully fund education?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 3:03 pm:
=== Surely this means Gov. Pritzker also will drop his effort to weaken the tuition tax scholarship program that gives thousands of poor kids the same school choice his own children enjoy.===
Will the Raunerites be green for the budget?
- Perplexed - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 3:21 pm:
Remember how the tuition program was an important element of the deal that produced the new funding for public schools. I’m not aware of anyone abrogating any part of that master agreement. Because a deal’s a deal.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 3:24 pm:
=== Remember how the tuition program was an important element of the deal that produced the new funding for public schools. I’m not aware of anyone abrogating any part of that master agreement. Because a deal’s a deal.===
Then I expect them all to be green on a budget and school funding.
I mean… deal and all.
- Arsenal - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 4:31 pm:
==Remember how the tuition program was an important element of the deal that produced the new funding for public schools. ==
JB sign on to that deal, did he?