SPRINGFIELD, Ill – State Rep. Art Turner, D-Chicago, released the following statement in the moments following governor Rauner’s State of the State address:

“Over the past three years as Governor, Bruce Rauner has not only failed, but refused to help the hardworking men and women of our state, especially those living in minority communities. He said it best a few weeks ago when he admitted to the public: “I’m not in charge.’ This only highlights his sorry devotion to our state.”

“Instead of working cooperatively with the legislature to address the states outstanding financial challenges, the governor continues to dodge any responsibility relating to worsening conditions in certain areas of the state. Under his leadership, social services have struggled to provide support to those in need, educational facilities have suffered to the point of collapse, and access to healthcare has become increasingly challenging.”

“Our state needs a leader who will be a fierce advocate to represent the best interests of all Illinoisan’s, not just those with power and influence. In the legislature, I will continue to work with my colleagues to address the challenges facing our state – particularly those in our community.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Arthur Turner, D-Chicago, released the following statement after the final passage of a full-year, balanced budget for the state of Illinois:

“Since Governor Rauner took office, he has refused to enact a full-year, balanced budget. As a result we have seen social service agencies, violence prevention, and after-school programs close. He has refused to give any assistance to Chicago Public Schools, the largest school district in the state. He also cut funding for our colleges and universities by 60 percent. Through his inaction our credit rating was driven down to near junk status.

“To protect the families and businesses of the state, the General Assembly worked together to pass a bi-partisan, balanced budget for this fiscal year. This budget provides funding for our local schools, colleges and universities. It provides funding for vital social services, including domestic violence shelters, home care for seniors, services for people with disabilities, breast cancer screenings for women and early childhood education.

“I am disappointed that Governor Rauner refused to negotiate with legislators in the House of Representatives to try to find a way to end this impasse. We tried to compromise on school funding, workers’ compensation, property tax freeze, selling of the Thompson Center and more. Yet each time the governor rejected our attempts to work with him, even when he agreed with 90 percent of the legislation.

“This budget will help meet the needs in my district and I am hopeful that legislators in both parties can continue to work together to address issues affecting families and communities across the state.”

For more information, please contact Turner’s constituent service office at 773-277-4700 or arthurt@ilga.gov.

CHICAGO – To help protect individuals with student loans from predatory lenders, state Rep. Arthur Turner, D-Chicago, recently backed legislation that would create a Student Loan Bill of Rights in Illinois.

“The cost of a college degree continues to increase every year,” Turner said. “The average college graduate in Illinois has nearly $30,000 in student loan debt when they are finished with their degree. Like so many other groups, they face predatory lenders and bad business practices from lenders. The state has regulations in place to protect other consumers and this legislation will put similar policies in place to protect student loan borrowers.”

Turner backed the passage of Senate Bill 1351, which, in addition to establishing a Student Loan Bill of Rights, creates a Student Loan Ombudsman within the Office of the Attorney General to assist students with any questions or problems that they may run into. The legislation also allows the Attorney General to enforce provisions that prohibit student loan servicers from unfair business practices. Finally, the legislation requires that all student loan vendors be licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

“Right now, President Trump and politicians in Washington, D.C. are rolling back protections for student loan borrowers put in place by President Obama,” Turner said. “We cannot allow wealthy politicians to continue to get rid of policies that will help working people in our communities.”

For more information for this or other pieces of legislation Turner is working on, please contact his constituent service office at 312-277-4700 or arthurt@ilga.gov.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Arthur Turner, D-Chicago released the following statement on May 31, which was scheduled to be the close of the spring legislative session:

“I am disappointed that once again, we ended the legislative session without a compromise on the state budget. Over the past two years members of our community have lost access to important services, including home health care, Meals on Wheels, violence prevention programs, breast cancer screenings and services to people with disabilities. It is wrong for the governor to ignore the very real needs of people across the Illinois in order to pass an agenda that would help wealthy and well-connected politicians.

“My colleagues and I have repeatedly asked the Governor Rauner to negotiate with us on the budget and other non-budgetary items. Each time he has refused. To move forward, House Democrats have been working on items of the governor’s agenda to show him that we are ready and willing to negotiate. We have passed many items on his agenda, including cutting property taxes, reducing fees on businesses, enacting workers’ compensation reform and more.

“It is time to put aside political differences and game playing and do what for the people and communities we serve. I am ready and willing to negotiate with the governor at anytime, anywhere and that starts by working together to craft a budget.”

For more information for this or other pieces of legislation Turner is working on, please contact his constituent service office at 312-277-4700 or arthurt@ilga.gov.

CHICAGO – State Rep. Arthur Turner, D-Chicago, recently introduced legislation to provide much needed funding for violence prevention programs in Chicago and across the state.

“There are many factors that cause violence to increase,” Turner said. “However, we cannot overlook the fact that when we don’t invest in after-school, violence prevention and job programs it helps reduce violence by getting young people involved in the community. At a time when violence is increasing, Gov. Rauner has blocked attempts to fund these important programs.”

Turner recently introduced legislation with 27 of his colleagues to provide funding to community based organizations in their districts that have programs that can help reduce violence. House Bill 4008 would provide additional dollars to the 9^th district to fund programs including violence preventing programs, job training programs, youth sports, library workshops and more.

“I am calling on Gov. Rauner and all of my colleagues to set aside political differences and do what is in the best interest of the people we serve,” Turner. “These political games are hurting our communities and they deserve better. I am committed to crafting a budget that invests in our schools, universities, infrastructure and more. We need a budget that will lift up our communities and state.”

For more information for this or other pieces of legislation Turner is working on, please contact his constituent service office at 312-277-4700 or arthurt@ilga.gov.

CHICAGO – To help working men and women take care of themselves and their families when they fall ill, state Rep. Arthur Turner, D-Chicago, supported legislation requiring employers to provide minimum paid sick time for their employees.

“When you aren’t feeling well the last thing that you want to do is go to work and put yourself and others at risk of getting sick,” Turner said. “However, many members of our community do not have the ability to take time off if they are sick because they are afraid that they will lose their job or simply can’t afford not to work.”

Turner sponsored House Bill 2771, which requires all employers in Illinois to provide a minimum of five paid sick days a year for all of their employees. Workers would not begin to accrue sick time until they have worked a minimum of 180 days for the company. Employees would be paid their hourly rate for the time they are not able to work. If part of the employees pay relies on gratuity, then the employee would be paid the rate of Illinois’ minimum wage.

“Most often the employees who are not able to take time off to take of themselves or their family are people who work minimum wage jobs,” Turner said. “These individuals work every day to provide for their families the best they can and they should have the same ability to take time off if they are sick as other employees. We need to keep fighting to bring more equality into the workplace.”

For more information for this or other pieces of legislation Turner is working on, please contact his constituent service office at 312-277-4700 or arthurt@ilga.gov.