Smith: A ‘New Day’ in Illinois as Fresh Leadership Passes Budget

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Nicholas K. Smith, D-Chicago, issued the following statement upon the General Assembly’s adjournment this week:

“Over the past year, we’ve seen the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our communities and on our families. The pandemic has only amplified the need for equitable access to quality health care in our communities. That is why we passed a comprehensive health care reform package this year to improve health care access in our neighborhoods and combat implicit bias in care. With the new leadership of Speaker Welch, we were able to ensure fair housing, job opportunities and equal pay for equal work no matter your color or gender. We also cracked down on predatory lending and worked to grow small businesses through increased investment and access to financial services.

“This legislative session has provided an opportunity for Illinois to make bold steps forward to improve the lives of Illinoisans in a post-pandemic world. New leadership makes me feel optimistic that more steps will be taken to end unequal treatment in schools and provide fair funding for our children, our families, and our neighborhoods.

“This week, the General Assembly passed a budget that prioritizes common sense spending, institutes cost saving measures and provides opportunities to historically underserved Illinoisans. Legislators agreed that we can all work for Illinoisans the same way many Illinoisans have worked these past eighteen months. I look forward to continuing to work in good faith with legislators on either side of the political aisle. My top priority is to enact lasting and meaningful reforms that prioritize the well-being of all Illinoisans. Our state’s budget for 2021 lives within its means, pays down debt, and prevents a tax increase on middle-class families.”