Sangamon Sun

Senator Tom Bennett is calling on the community to help make Valentine's Day special for seniors. In an update, he urges residents to write heartfelt Valentine's Day cards for seniors to ensure they "don't feel forgotten." The cards can be dropped off or mailed to specific locations, with a deadline of February 5th.

In other news, Senate Republicans have successfully convinced the Illinois Department of Human Services to pause proposed budget cuts for the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled (I/DD) community. The cuts would have resulted in reduced services for group home residents with disabilities. Senator Bennett, along with other lawmakers, signed a letter urging the Pritzker administration to reconsider the cuts. The administration has confirmed that the cuts will not happen until the end of the fiscal year.

On the education front, the discontinuation of the Invest in Kids scholarship program is causing private schools to close their doors. Notre Dame Academy in Belleville, St. Odilo in Berwyn, St. Frances of Rome in Cicero, and St. Ann in Nashville are among the schools affected. The Invest in Kids scholarship program was designed to provide low-income families with the opportunity to choose schools that best fit their children's needs. Despite bipartisan support, Democratic leadership refused to extend the program, leading to its expiration at the end of 2023. Senator Bennett supported legislation to save the program and will continue to advocate for its restart.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is offering Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) grants to boost the middle sections of the food supply chain. These grants aim to support processing, manufacturing, storing, and transporting non-meat food. Smaller farms, beginning farmers, veterans, and underserved communities can apply for these grants, which will help create a better food system for Illinois.

In an effort to highlight the history of the Underground Railroad in Illinois, the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force was established. The task force, which includes members from various organizations, aims to create a cohesive statewide history of the Underground Railroad and develop educational and tourism opportunities. A progress report will be delivered to the Governor and General Assembly by July 1.

In financial news, the State of Illinois currently owes $883,931,693.78 to state vendors, including pending vouchers. This figure does not include estimated debts such as the unfunded pension liability. Last year, the state's accounts payable stood at a little less than $2 billion.

Lastly, the decline of local news in Illinois is a growing concern. A state task force found that more than a third of Illinois counties rely on a single news source, leading to news deserts. The task force presented lawmakers with policy recommendations to prevent further decline, including subscription, advertising, and payroll tax credits, as well as state-funded journalism scholarships.

Senator Bennett continues to work full-time to represent the 53rd District and address important issues affecting the community.

Sources:

- Senator Tom Bennett

- Illinois Department of Agriculture

- Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force

- State of Illinois Comptroller's Office

- Illinois Local Journalism Task Force