“Cutting insurance benefits for retired teachers is not the right way to balance the budget." - State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign)

SPRINGFIELD – Health insurance programs for retired teachers will be cut in the so-called “Capitol Compromise” according to the Illinois Retired Teachers Association. The budget makes a 30 percent cut to the Teachers Retirement Insurance Program, also known as TRIP.

State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign), who opposes the cuts to the program, issued the following statement:

“Cutting insurance benefits for retired teachers is not the right way to balance the budget. Not only is it extremely unfair, it is potentially unconstitutional and will just lead to more litigation instead of a long-term solution for fixing our finances.”

“If we do not have a concrete plan in place by July 1, it could mean fiscal Armageddon for Illinois.” State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign)

SPRINGFIELD – Road construction currently under way on Interstates 74 and 57 as well as work on Illinois 49 will halt without a state budget in place by July 1 according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The construction, valued at over $8 million, would be funded in the budget already passed by the State Senate almost one month ago. That budget also includes $23.52 million in funding for road projects in FY18 in the Champaign-Urbana and Danville area.

State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) hopes that an agreement ending the budget crisis can be made before the June 30 deadline.

“If we do not have a concrete plan in place by July 1, it could mean fiscal Armageddon for Illinois,” Bennett said. “Delayed road construction and capital projects along with potential junk-bond status should be enough for the governor and speaker to place their personal animosity aside and come to an agreement.”

The budget already passed by the Senate also contains funding for capital projects, like upgrades at the Lincoln’s ChalleNGe Academy in Rantoul.

The Lincoln ChalleNGe Academy, which is officially funded through the Illinois Department of Military Affairs, is a youth intervention program based out of Rantoul. The academy seeks to help high school dropouts gain job and life skills that will lead to a brighter future.

“Some of the kids who go the Lincoln ChalleNGe Academy just need a second chance,” Bennett said. “The best way for the state to guarantee at-risk youth have a future chance at success is to invest in programs like the ChalleNGe Academy that give them the necessary skills to do so.”

The Lincoln ChalleNGe Academy was started as a pilot program after the passage of the 1993 National Defense Reauthorization Act. Currently, 29 states have ChalleNGe Academies.

“This new formula guarantees that the quality of a child’s education will not be based on their ZIP code.” - State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign)

SPRINGFIELD – Danville and Westville public schools could see more money in the form of state aid under the new school funding formula passed by the General Assembly this week. The new formula, passed in Senate Bill 1, comes after months of negotiations.

Under the proposed formula, Danville School District 118 would see more than $2 million in new funding from the state. Westville School District 2 would see more than $550,000 in new funding.

State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) voted for school funding reform to help schools in downstate communities like Danville, Westville and Rantoul.

“Too many downstate school districts are left behind by the state in the old funding formula,” Bennett said. “This new formula guarantees that the quality of a child’s education will not be based on their ZIP code.”

SB 1 also contains a hold-harmless provision that guarantees no schools will receive less money from the state.

“These funds will be critical to keeping these shelters open to help victims and should have never been omitted in the first place.” - State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign)

SPRINGFIELD – Struggling domestic violence shelters mistakenly left out of a stopgap budget passed last year will get vital funding under a plan currently in the Illinois Senate.

House Bill 3259, which passed the House without opposition, provides much-needed emergency funds to domestic violence shelters such as Champaign’s Courage Connection.

State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is the legislation’s chief co-sponsor.

During the two-year budget impasse, Courage Connection and other domestic violence shelters have struggled to maintain services and stay open due to a lack of state funds. A stopgap budget passed in 2016 mistakenly left out funds for these shelters.

“Domestic violence shelters provide a safe haven for individuals trying to bring stability and safety to their lives,” Bennett said. “These funds will be critical to keeping these shelters open to help victims and should have never been omitted in the first place.”

Under the balanced budget passed by the Senate earlier this month, domestic violence shelters such as Courage Connection would be fully funded. Senator Bennett voted for that budget as well.

“While freeing up these funds quickly is important, passing a long term solution that provides stability and certainty is just as important,” Bennett said.