Halpin: We Must Ensure that Schools Open on Time

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, issued the following statement after Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed education funding reform that would have provided more than $5 million in additional funding for local schools:

“For too long, Illinois has been too heavily reliant on local property taxes to fund our schools. As a result, we have seen a significant difference between the quality of schools in wealthy neighborhood and the quality of those that are not. It is plain wrong that wealthy students receive a better education than those that are in need, and this bill goes a long way to end this fundamental unfairness. The reforms the governor vetoed would have gone a long way to addressing this challenge, but the governor chose politics over our students.

“Parents, students and teachers deserve to know that their schools will open on time and stay open. The governor has acted recklessly in deciding to prioritize political rhetoric over our children.

“There is too much at stake to continuously create political crises instead of working to create compromise. I remain committed to working to bring Republicans and Democrats together to provide our schools with more resources and make sure their doors stay open.”