Dear Friends,

I am writing this letter to you as an apology for not being able to attend the events over the holiday weekend. I’ve always looked forward to the various summer events especially during this time of year, seeing old friends and making new ones.

Unfortunately, I’m stuck in Springfield still trying to get a balanced budget. I remain optimistic that we are nearing an agreement and I am committed to being part of a much-overdue solution to end this chaos.

I know people are frustrated and, trust me, I’m one of them. The Illinois Senate passed a balanced budget in May that cut more than $3 billion in government spending while providing stable funding for education and social services. I’ve been trying ever since to get the Illinois House and Governor Rauner sign on and make it the law.

I wish I could be there. But this is the job you elected me to do and I am doing everything I can to get it done. I wish you all the best Independence Day.

Sincerely,

State Senator Terry Link

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) had the following response to the governor’s address tonight:

“Forgive me for being skeptical that Governor Rauner actually wants to see unity. He had a chance back in May and instead of forging a bipartisan budget compromise, he started to film attack ads,” Link said. “He still has the opportunity to support a balanced budget and reforms that were negotiated by members of his party and passed the Senate. That plan is awaiting action in the House.”

SPRINGFIELD- The latest school funding reform numbers show that a fake news group linked to Gov. Bruce Rauner was indeed pedaling misinformation regarding public school funding in Illinois in the weeks leading up to approval of a historic education finance overhaul.

An analysis only recently made public by Rauner’s education agency shows that no school districts in Illinois would lose money under the plan lawmakers recently approved. In fact, schools in the 30th District are estimated to gain $17,109,571 in state funding under the Senate’s plan. Some examples include:

• Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 — $14.60 million
• Hawthorn CC School District 73 — $125,388

Supporters had said holding the line on funding was key to getting support for the overhaul that does away with the current, antiquated funding system and instead targets new state dollars to schools facing the toughest economic and educational challenges.

“A solid education could be the launching pad that allows  a child to achieve their dream,” State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) said.

The new plan seeks to maintain funding for schools that are doing well while bringing up those that are struggling. It’s a reform more than two decades in the works and one that still faces major political obstacles.

Gov. Rauner was already threatening to veto the historic education overhaul even before lawmakers had given it final approval. As a result, the Senate is delaying sending the paperwork to the governor’s desk in hope cooler heads will prevail and the governor will recognize he’s getting a win on a key policy he’s wanted.

Rauner promised to change the school funding system and put his hand-picked education secretary in charge of an elite taskforce. But that taskforce failed to deliver an actual plan. Lawmakers stepped in to finish the job of not just drafting the plan, but then approving it.

In the midst of this work, a fake news network began spreading erroneous numbers, saying schools across the state were going to lose money. These numbers appeared on fake news sites such as the Lake County Gazette.  

It was later revealed that the so-called latest numbers were actually pulled out of a different plan from more than a year ago. For whatever reason, Rauner and his education secretary did nothing to warn public school administrators and the taxpaying public of the misinformation or to set the record straight on public school funding.

Local school gains under SB 1. The approximate overall gain that some area school districts would experience under SB1 based on proposed funding levels:

• Adlai E Stevenson District 125- $5,029
• Aptakisic-Tripp CC School District 102- $2,658
• Gurnee School District 56- $64,492
• Hawthorn CC School District- $125,388
• Kildeer Countryside CC School District 96- $3,661
• Libertyville Community High School District 128- $4,214
• Lincolnshire-Prairieview School District 103- $1,902
• Mundelein Consolidated High School District 120- $57,826
• Mundelein Elementary School District 75- $110,781
• North Chicago School District 187- $2,141,524
• Waukegan Community School District 60- $14,591,879

To review the Funding Illinois’ Future analysis, visit fundingilfuture.org.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) issued the following statement in regards to the property tax freeze votes taken today:

“This is a reform that many throughout the state want and is one that can help real people,” Link said. “This is another step in the right direction towards achieving a balanced budget with some significant reforms to change the way Illinois does business.