Hernandez Calls on Governor to Compromise, Highlights Impasse Effect on Latino Communities

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, member of the Latino Caucus, released the following statement Wednesday at the end of the regularly scheduled session of the General Assembly:

“Latinos have made tremendous gains in the last few decades, but Governor Rauner’s three-year budget crisis has put so many of these gains at risk. Our communities are suffering. Our schools and universities may not be able to reopen in the fall. Access to health care is being threatened. And yet the governor remains unwilling to compromise, let alone discuss how to move forward together.

“The residents that I represent made it very clear that economic development, education, affordable housing, and immigrant integration programs are essential tools to help families succeed. Yet, the governor refuses to even meet with us until his demands to lower wages and weaken workers’ rights are met. And that’s unacceptable. Compromise is necessary in order to resolve this budget crisis and I, as well as most of my colleagues in the House, worked to find common ground on many of the items that the governor holds as conditions before working on a budget. He talked about freezing property taxes, so we went further and voted to cut property taxes. He insisted that we must make Illinois a better place to do business. House Democrats agree, which is why we worked to pass an economic reform package that will level the playing for our local small-businesses and put more money in the pockets of hard-working families.”

“There is still much more work to be done. The communities I represent need bold leadership to improve access to economic opportunity, health care, education, and to ensure that the rights of all people are protected. So I will be working throughout the summer to put an end to this impasse, but Governor Rauner must come back to the table and work with us on a responsible path forward. This has gone on long enough.”

State Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez is a member of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus and represents the 24th District, which includes Cicero, Little Village, Berwyn, Brookfield, Riverside, and Stickney.