CHICAGO –State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, issued the following statement after the Illinois House passed education funding reform, Senate Bill 1947, that provides an additional $466 million dollars annually for Chicago Public Schools:
“For too long, our antiquated, inequitable formula has shortchanged children in Illinois. The education funding reform that we passed earlier this week fixes our broken system and ensures children in our community receive the educational opportunities they deserve.
“This bipartisan compromise bill was a result of Democrats and Republicans working together in good faith and meeting each other half way. The reform includes the progressive, permanent funding solution that I supported in Senate Bill 1, as well as a few items included at the request of Republicans—that I wouldn’t have supported on their own.
“At the end of the day the positives of this legislation vastly outweigh the measures that I disagree with. The alternative of passing this bill would have been more partisan gridlock leading to schools not being able to open on time, drastic cuts to programs and massive teacher layoffs. Our children deserve better and under our compromise proposal every school district in Illinois wins.”
Rep John D’Amico 
(D-Chicago)
15th District
Springfield Office:
279-S Stratton Office Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-8198
(217) 782-2906 FAX
District Office:
4404 W. Lawrence Avenue
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 736-0218
(773) 736-2333 FAX