SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Yehiel “Mark” Kalish, D-Chicago, worked to enact a fair tax and provide relief for middle class families, demand equal pay for women, and ensure access to quality health care during the spring legislative session.

Kalish backed a Fair Tax system for Illinois, giving Illinois residents the opportunity to vote to provide relief for 97% of taxpayers. Under the state’s current flat tax, middle-class families bear too much of a burden. The Fair Tax Kalish passed ensures the state can balance budgets and hold the line on middle-class taxes by making the wealthiest pay a little more to fund critical services like schools, health care and senior services.

Additionally, Kalish backed a balanced budget that pays down over a billion dollars in old bills, invests $375 million in our local school, fully funds critical state services, meets our full pension obligation and hold the line on middle-class taxes.

“Our current structure helps the ultra-wealthy skirt paying their fair share, while putting the burden squarely on the backs of families in our community,” Kalish said. “A Fair Tax levels the playing field, fully funds our local schools and critical services, balances the budget, and pays down our state’s backlog of bills—while offering tax relief for those most in need.”

To fight against the prejudicial and unfair wages that women have faced in the past, Kalish sponsored and helped pass the Equal Pay Act, House Bill 834, which bars companies from requiring applicants to submit previous salary history and locking women into a lifetime of reduced pay by doubling-down on prejudicial and unfair wages in the past. Additionally, Kalish backed a measure that prohibits gender discrimination in the workplace, House Bill 252, and legislation that cracks down on sexual harassment in the workplace, Senate Bill 1588. Kalish was also the chief sponsor of a proposal, House Bill 92, which prohibits a police officer from arresting a victim of sexual assault who is seeking medical attention, and clarifies to victims of sexual assault that law enforcement prioritizes bringing sexual abusers to justice.

“As a father and husband, I fight each day to ensure that my daughter and wife have the same opportunities afforded to their male peers,” Kalish said. “Women who are doing the same work as men deserve to be paid at the same rate, and they should have the right to work in an environment free of harassment.”

While access to quality health care remains under attack by extreme Washington politicians, Kalish helped lead the fight to preserve access to affordable care for our families.  Kalish passed legislation, Senate Bill 2026, which protects health care for millions of Illinoisans with pre-existing conditions. To lower skyrocketing medical costs burdening working families, Kalish supported legislation, House Bill 471, to stop double-digit premiums and a measure, House Bill 156, to cut the cost of prescription drugs. 

 “As Washington politicians are fighting to take away our health care, it’s vital that we enact protections at the state level to preserve access to care for our families,” Kalish said. “No one should be denied care because they have a pre-existing condition or forego lifesaving medication because of skyrocketing costs. The well-being of our families should always come first.

“During my first session we passed real, progressive reforms that put Illinois on a better path. While these accomplishments are important, there is much more work to be done. I will continue my commitment to ensure that our families have access to quality healthcare, our children receive the educational opportunities they deserve, and to build an economy that puts middle-class families first.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, advanced significant progressive reforms during the spring legislative session, fighting for fair taxes on the middle class, higher wages for working families, and affordable health care for Illinois families.

“Building a stronger Illinois starts with building a stronger middle class, and that’s been my focus,” Lilly said. “That is why I have supported major legislative efforts to protecting health care, provide tax relief and create better paying jobs.”

Lilly supported Senate Bill 1, which raises the minimum wage to $15 per hour. This will give families extra income to invest in themselves and their communities. Lilly also supported House Bills 2093 and 1594, which will help Illinois offer high-wage jobs for people seeking employment through tax credits and vocational training.

Lilly supported the Fair Tax amendment, which will balance the scales to reduce taxes on middle-class families, make the wealthy pay their fair share and stabilizes Illinois’ finances. Her plan will offer relief for 97% of taxpayers in Illinois. She also supported the balanced budget plan that controls state spending, but honors commitments to human services and education. That budget includes an infusion of $375 million toward public education, commits more than $1 billion to paying old bills left to pile up by former Gov. Bruce Rauner, makes all required pension payments and protects health care services to local seniors and the most vulnerable.

“Families in my area have paid too much of their income to local taxes while the wealthy have paid half of what middle-income families pay,” Lilly said. “That is unfair, and it must stop. The Fair Tax will help bring better balance by reducing the burdens on middle-class families. And passing balanced budgets bring additional relief to all Illinoisans by properly funding our schools and bringing Illinois’ debt down. This budget is a step in the right direction to help the state recover from the devastation of the past four years with progressive solutions.”

Fighting to protect people’s health care, Lilly supported House Bills 471, 156 and Senate Bill 2026. All of these bills will protect access to health care by preventing Illinois from undermining pre-existing conditions coverage from the Affordable Care Act, empower the Illinois Department of Insurance to review massive rate increases on insurance policies and takes steps to rein in the high costs of prescription drugs.

“Health care is a basic human right and necessity, and if you don’t have your health, you don’t have much else,” Lilly said. “Extreme Washington politicians should not be attempting to demolish health care protections for people, when they should be focused on making health care more accessible and affordable.”

Lilly fought to bring tighter tobacco laws for Illinois by passing her House Bill 345. This law, commonly known as Tobacco 21, requires anyone who wants to buy tobacco products be at least 21 years old. She was also instrumental in passing legislation that will teach great civics education courses to middle-schoolers in Illinois’ public school. Lilly’s House Bill 2265 passed both Houses of the General Assembly and awaits approval from Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

She also fought for legislation that would increase fees on FOID applications to crack down on senseless gun violence. Her Senate Bill 1966 will help prevent dangerous firearms from falling into criminal hands while empowering local law enforcement to confiscate the weapons from those who lose their FOID privileges. She also supported House Resolution 433, which treats violent acts like gun crimes as a disease and public health crisis.

“Gun violence has plagued our communities for too long, and reform is not coming fast enough, said Lilly. “That is why I supported legislation to crack down on gun crimes with requiring finger-printing for new FOID applications, along with new fees supporting mental health services. Gun crime is a public health crisis, as lives are being taken, and it needs to be treated and addressed accordingly.”

Lilly sponsored legislation to help subcontractors be paid on time to prevent minority small business owners from closing. She sponsored Senate Bill 104 to expedite the timeframe when subcontractors can be paid, shortening it from 15 to seven days. She also introduced legislation, House Bill 2288, to free inmates in correctional facilities from paying exorbitant co-pay fees that they would normally pay after receiving reentry services.

Lilly also supported legislation that will bring more accountability to the Chicago School Board by making the board and elected one, rather than appointed. She supported House Bill 2267, which would establish a 21 elected member board whereby local residents would be able to choose who they want representing them.

“So much control has been given to the mayor when it should belong to the people, especially the families who I represent,” Lilly said. “My residents deserve to have their voices be heard so they can have fair and equal representation on this board, giving them more say on how their children’s education.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, issued the following statement after being sworn in as state representative of the 21st District for the 101st General Assembly:

“After four years of dysfunction under the Rauner administration, residents of our state emphatically rejected the failed status quo and are counting on fresh leadership and ideas to lift up Illinois.

“For too long, the needs of working families have been ignored to serve the interests of the ultra-wealthy, huge corporations and the politically connected—it’s time for a change. We have a unique opportunity to enact a bold progressive agenda that offers tax relief to the middle-class by making the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share, invests in our neighborhood schools, recognizes healthcare as a basic human right for all and ensures that any resident willing to put in an honest day’s work receives a living wage.

“We also must not lose sight of the hateful rhetoric and policies being pushed by President Trump in Washington. I will fight tirelessly to protect immigrant families from these unprecedented attacks and ensure equality and opportunity for every Illinois resident, regardless of what they look like, where they were born or what language they speak. 

“I am humbled and honored to serve the residents of the 21st District. Solving the challenges that lie ahead will require bold, progressive leadership, and I look forward to fighting for the changes that our families deserve.”