Ramirez Responds to Governor’s Address, Renews Commitment to Empowering Working Families and Seniors, Denounces Corruption

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – Following Gov. Pritzker’s State of the State Address, state Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Chicago, released the following statement:

“As the costs of living continue to rise, seniors struggle to make ends meet on fixed incomes and wealth is increasingly accumulated in the hands of few at the expense of working families, it is time we implement comprehensive solutions to reform our economy. Our community deserves access to affordable health care and child care, good schools, neighborhoods free from gun violence, and government officials that are committed to improving our state, not lining their own pockets.

“After years of divestment in services that empower working families and seniors, our state is finally beginning to take steps in the right direction. Last year, we passed historic reforms to invest in the middle class and those struggling to make ends meet by raising the minimum wage, increasing funding to our k-12 schools and public universities, passing the most equity-centric recreational cannabis program in the country, and expanding access to financial aid to all students, regardless of citizenship status or gender.

“Investing in all of our children is one the most fundamental ways we can build a stronger Illinois. As the new acting chair of the Adoption & Child Welfare Committee, I intend to focus on ensuring our state prioritizes the care of our children by expanding access to prenatal care for mothers and securing resources to adequately safeguard and support children and families.

“Much remains to be done to hold the ultra-wealthy and large corporations accountable and create a stable economy and environment for years to come. Our community is facing many challenges and selfish politicians engaging in corruption causes further harm. In the coming weeks, I will introduce legislation to root out greed and graft to restore accountability and integrity to public office. I pledge to work with my colleagues and the governor to make sure millionaires and billionaires finally pay their fair share, secure housing as a human right, pass comprehensive ethics reform to crack down on those who wish to game the system, find innovative ways to provide property tax relief and expand access to health care.”