SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Aurora, took the oath of office for a new legislative session on Wednesday. During the next two years, Kifowit looks to lead in a bipartisan manner to strengthen Veteran services, protect access to health care and boost education funding.
“This new term is an opportunity to help the state and its people repair the damaged caused by the Rauner Administration’s record-breaking budget impasse,” said Kifowit. “Many tough decisions lie ahead of us. But those decisions should be made together, with Republicans and Democrats at the table, rather than in a partisan manner.”
Kifowit will lead on better care for Veterans after it was discovered that the state’s mismanagement at the Quincy Veterans’ Home led to 14 deaths from Legionnaires’ Disease and a subsequent Rauner Administration cover-up left Veteran families in the dark.
“As a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, I am committed to ensuring high-quality Veteran services,” Kifowit said. “Illinois Veterans too often face bureaucracy and mismanagement when accessing services over the past four years. That needs to end.”
While access to health care becomes more limited and protection against higher costs erodes, Kifowit looks to double down on protecting access to those with pre-existing conditions and stopping unfair premium and prescription drug cost spiking.
“Cancer, heart disease, and countless other pre-existing conditions affect many individuals in Illinois,” Kifowit said. “I refuse to let the large insurance companies and pharmaceutical drug makers pad their profits while middle-class families suffer.”
Kifowit also looks to build off the more than $17 million in new state funding for local schools as a result of a fairer state funding formula.
“Springfield needs to continue to properly fund our schools, and the new funding is a good first step; however, it is also important to provide concrete property tax relief for families,” Kifowit continued. “Our community is entitled to fair school funding that educates every child so they can be successful adults.”
Kifowit believes in staying accessible to residents in the community because it is important to her to listen to residents’ concerns, answer questions, inform residents on current legislation and provide services and seminars at no cost. She will continue to host her Monday Morning Coffee with Kifowit. In addition, she has scheduled two events for January. Her monthly Third Thursday is an opportunity on how to use the Illinois General Assembly’s official website and a briefing on new laws that took effect on January 1st is scheduled for Thursday, January 17 at 6 p.m. at the Aurora Library – Eola Rd. Branch, located at 555 S. Eola Rd. in Aurora. An important education funding seminar is scheduled for Wednesday, January 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Wheatlands Elementary School, located at 2290 Barrington Dr. W in Aurora.
“I look forward to hearing from residents over the next two years at my weekly coffee chats and monthly events,” Kifowit said. “Resident’s stories, concerns and ideas help me best represent our community.”
