Carroll Fights for Tax Relief, Comprehensive Gun Safety Reforms and Women’s Issues during First Legislative Session

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – During his first legislative session, state Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Buffalo Grove, passed a bipartisan, balanced budget in addition to working for greater tax relief, curbing gun violence and strengthening women’s rights.

“I arrived in Springfield for the first time in January ready to get to work on the issues most important to local residents,” Carroll said.

Carroll helped pass a balanced, bipartisan budget on May 31 that protects investments in critical services such as affordable child care, domestic violence shelters and breast cancer screenings while also increasing school funding by $350 million. The budget accomplishes these priorities without raising taxes.

“A budget ought to reflect our values while also forcing us to live within our means,” Carroll said. “More work remains, but this compromise budget shows what we can do when Democrats and Republicans sit down to help move Illinois forward.”

One of Carroll’s top legislative initiatives responded to the Trump Administration’s cut to the State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction by creating the “Illinois Education Excellence Fund.”  The Illinois Education Excellence Fund would allow individuals to donate money to Illinois public schools, which could then be written off as a federal charitable tax deduction.

“After Trump’s tax changes limited the SALT deduction, I spearheaded an effort with Republicans and Democrats to provide tax relief to families negatively affected,” Carroll said.

As mass shootings in 2018 continued to terrorize schools, churches and other public spaces once considered safe, Carroll led on gun safety initiatives, most notably by championing Senate Bill 3256, which would create a 72-hour waiting period when purchasing any firearm.

“With more than 100 mass shootings in 2018 alone, there has never been a greater sense of urgency to put an end to senseless gun violence,” Carroll continued. “Even with the National Rifle Association’s overwhelming opposition at every turn, we passed serious gun laws that would keep deadly, military-style assault rifles off our streets and prevent the senseless tragedies endured by too many families.”

Carroll also led on strengthening women’s rights, most notably by voting to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution, SJRCA 4, in Illinois, and by serving as a chief co-sponsor for the initiative.

“As President Trump looks to roll back women’s rights, I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with women in protecting their rights here at home,” Carroll continued. “I have also taken numerous stands in Springfield to protect survivors of domestic violence, ensure equal pay for working women and ensure health care decisions remain between a woman and her doctor.”

Carroll also worked with Democratic and Republican lawmakers on finding solutions to improve public safety and reduce sexual harassment and discrimination by serving on the governor’s Public Safety Working Group and the House Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Task Force.

“I am proud of the work I was able to accomplish, the coalitions I was able to build and the people I could fight for in Springfield,” Carroll continued. “I look forward to continue representing the people of my district and moving Illinois forward.”