Tarver Fights for Families, Small Businesses, and Supports a Balanced Budget for COVID-19 Recovery

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Curtis J. Tarver II, D-Chicago, released the following statement after the adjournment of the Illinois General Assembly’s special session:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created an astonishing rift in what anyone would consider everyday life. As Illinoisans adjust to evolving day-to-day circumstances, it was critical for Legislators to meet in Springfield and develop a path forward for addressing issues raised by the viral outbreak.

“To address the most urgent needs of our state and to support our communities during this challenging time, I supported a balanced budget that protects access to essential services, including increased Medicaid funding, increased funding for homelessness prevention and funding for unemployment. Furthermore, the budget I supported includes hundreds of millions of dollars to protect the health of our communities and to ensure adequate COVID-19 testing is available for families and workers in the communities I represent. I will continue to fight to make sure our communities, especially our black and brown communities who have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic, are supported with the resources they need.

“I also fought to ensure that essential workers and first responders in our communities have strengthened worker protections. Thanks to bipartisan support from the small business community and labor unions, there is less of burden to receiving workers’ compensation benefits for essential workers and first responders. As we continue our recovery efforts, I will work to ensure that the needs of our workers and our small business owners are prioritized in Illinois.

“In order to support homeowners during the pandemic, I fought to suspend late payment penalties and tax sales on property taxes. I also worked to ensure that older adults, veterans and people with disabilities who are regularly required to reapply for tax exemptions have an application deferral during this pandemic. While there is still more work to be done on providing long-term property tax relief, these important measure provide direct relief that people need right now.

“As we learn more about the effects of the pandemic on our economy and our society, I will continue to advocate for my constituents to ensure that our recovery is centered on the needs of families and small businesses in our communities.” ​