Hernandez Responds to Voting Against Governor’s Changes to Education Funding Reform

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, issued the following statement after voting no on Governor Rauner’s changes to the education funding reform plan:

“Students in my district, like so many across the state of Illinois, have long suffered the consequences of a broken system that discriminates against poorer communities. Governor Rauner’s changes to our education funding reform protected the status quo by stripping away the promise of fair funding for our local schools. His proposal would have taken away money from schools in areas that are already struggling, and redirected them elsewhere. And that’s unacceptable, which is why I voted against his careless changes.

“Our children deserve better, and Governor Rauner failed them. He singlehandedly undermined years of work aimed at overhauling a school-funding formula that’s considered the most inequitable in the nation. So I will continue working with all of my colleagues to do whatever it takes to ensure that all children have access to a high quality education because where a child lives shouldn’t determine what they can achieve.”

State Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez is a member of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus and represents the 24th District, which includes Cicero, Little Village, Berwyn, Brookfield, Riverside, and Stickney.