Ortiz Fights for Tax Relief, Living Wage, Affordable Health Care, Immigrant Families, Combats Violence this Session

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. – This session, state Rep. Aaron Ortiz, D-Chicago, worked to provide working families much-needed tax relief, increase wages, protect access to health care for Illinoisans with pre-existing conditions, ensure an elected Chicago School Board, protect immigrant families from Trump’s deportation officers and combat senseless gun violence.

“Families in my community, are struggling to make ends meet, which is why I voted to ensure a living wage of $15 an hour and to provide them much needed tax relief,” Ortiz said. “A Fair Tax will ensure the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share so we could invest in our neighborhoods and build a stronger Illinois.” 

Ortiz supported the Fair Tax, which provides tax relief for 99.9% of local families in his community and ensures billionaires and millionaires to pay their fair share. Illinois’s tax system is one of the most unfair in the nation, and the Ortiz-backed will ensure Illinois is able to local neighborhood schools, domestic violence shelters, and health care services for seniors. 

Committed to lifting up working families, Ortiz supported Senate Bill 1, which increased the minimum wage to a living wage of $15 per hour. According to the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, this plan will generate $19 billion in new economic activity every year, while also lifting hundreds of thousands of families out of poverty and helping parents provide new opportunities for their children

Ortiz also championed House Bill 3487 to promote health care enrollment given the Trump Administration’s attacks on the Affordable Care Act. Under Ortiz’s proposal, hospitals are required to display information for patients to learn how to enroll for health insurance through the state’s marketplace. Ortiz also backed Senate Bill 2026, which would prevent the State from applying for waivers being pushed by the Trump Administration that would expand coverage options that are less comprehensive and less affordable.  

“Health care is a human right, so it is on us to expand access to quality, affordable health care for all Illinoisans,” Ortiz said. “While some politicians are trying to take coverage away from people with pre-existing conditions, I worked to protect access to lifesaving care, regardless of medical history, immigration status, or income.”

Additionally, Ortiz was a vocal supporter of legislation to make the Chicago School Board an elected board in order to increase transparency and representation of local neighborhoods in the decision making process. Ortiz also led the charge on Senate Bill 172, which would ensure diverse representation on the University of Illinois’ board of trustees by allowing students like Dreamers, to serve on the board. 

“As a former school counselor, I know firsthand the importance of investing in our schools and our students,” Ortiz added. “Representation matters, which is why initiatives it is crucial to ensure local families are able to serve on the school board and that students of all backgrounds have a seat at the table when it comes to making decisions for the future of their university.”

Ortiz also backed Senate Bill 1290, which creates the Immigrant Tenant Protection Act to ensure landlords are not able to discriminate against their tenants based on their immigration status. Under this plan, landlords will be prohibited from threatening, harassing, or disclosing a tenant’s citizenship status to any immigration or law enforcement. Additionally, Ortiz worked to ensure local law enforcement cannot enter into agreements with Trump’s deportation officers to tear apart local immigrant families and their loved ones.

“Donald Trump’s bigoted agenda has made communities like mine, vulnerable to discrimination,” Ortiz said.

“I’m proud to have supported measures that put in place state-level protections to combat extremist politicians and ensure that immigrant families are able to go about their everyday lives in peace.” 

Lastly, Ortiz worked to prevent senseless violence in his community by supporting Senate Bill 1966, which makes mandatory background checks more stringent by closing the person-to-person background check loophole. Among other things, the measure clarifies when a Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card can be revoked due to an individual taking any actions that cause harm to others; and allocates money to both school-based and community based mental health programs.

“Our neighborhoods are plagued by violence, so we must work to ensure guns do not end up in the hands of criminals,” Ortiz said. “This is a commonsense reform that will improve background checks and invest in mental services to ensure the safety of our neighborhoods.”