Edly-Allen Issues Statement on Historic Spring Legislative Session

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Mary Edly-Ellen, D-Libertyville, issued a statement following the General Assembly’s spring legislative session adjournment late Saturday night:

“The legislature met under extraordinary circumstances to pass a budget that will protect families, seniors and small businesses amid the greatest public health crisis most of us have experienced in our lifetimes. The State of Illinois is facing historic decreases in revenue despite the growing demand for state programs and services such as healthcare, home meal delivery for senior citizens and employment services. The budget I supported protects critical funding for local schools, job training programs that will help get people back to work, and care for senior citizens including in-home care that helps keep aging residents out of nursing homes. Our budget also recognizes the need to put Illinois on a sound financial footing by making the full obligated pension payment and debt payments.

“The pandemic has presented new challenges for all of us, and our work will help families deal with the health and financial realities we face. We passed legislation expanding access to telehealth care and mental health care to meet the growing need for expanding, well-rounded healthcare services during the pandemic. I was proud to support a measure to ease the process for seniors, veterans and people with disabilities to access their property tax exemptions and to make it easier for our county boards to waive late fees for 2020 property tax bills.

“There is still much work to do, and I speak every day with business owners, families, parents, senior citizens, and residents who face unimaginable uncertainty and hardship because of this unprecedented crisis. I’ll continue to reach out to my community so we can work together to make the changes necessary to help our neighbors get back on their feet while staying healthy and safe. As always, I encourage my constituents to contact me any time with ideas, thoughts, or for assistance navigating state government by contacting me at 224-206-7647 or RepEdlyAllen@gmail.com.”