Over 100 gather to hear directly from elected officials
by Melanie Jongsma
LANSING, Ill. (July 25, 2019) – On Thursday evening, July 18, Illinois State Representative Marcus Evans hosted a Town Hall-style meeting in Lansing’s Fox Pointe pavilion. Lansing Mayor Patty Eidam and several Village Trustees were joined by mayors and other elected officials from surrounding communities to hear Evans’ report and to participate in questions and answers from constituents.
Evans provided a handout titled “101st General Assembly Session Highlights” that itemized the information he shared verbally. That handout is reproduced below:
Budget
- $375 million in new funding for schools
- $50 million more for early childhood education
- $30 million in more funding for childcare assistance
- $100 million increased funding for DCFS (300 additional caseworkers)
- Fully funds Meals on Wheels for seniors
Fair Tax
- Provides tax relief for 97% of taxpayers
- Wealthiest finally have to pay fair share
Capital Bill
- First Capital Bill in a decade
- Helps create 500,000 jobs statewide
- Will revitalize the state’s economy with $8.2 billion in economic activity
Capital Bill – Check
Each year our crumbling roads cost taxpayers billions of dollars. Instead of wasting this money, we should be investing in creating hundreds of thousands of jobs rebuilding our roads and bridges.
Capital Bill – Roadmap
Our Infrastructure Improvement Bill continues our efforts to build a stronger Illinois by investing in high-wage jobs and economic development projects.
Capital Bill – Saves City Money
Our bipartisan Infrastructure Investment Bill saves motorists $16.4 billion dollars in car damage and lost economic opportunity by repairing our crumbling roads.
Minimum Wage
- Raises the minimum wage to $15 per hour
- Increases wages for 1.4 million workers
- Provides up to $12,600 more per year for working families
- Lifts 200,000 workers out of poverty
Canabis Legalization
- Creates 24,000 new jobs
- Spurs $1 billion in economic activity
- Generates additional tax revenue
- Expunges past cannabis offenses, removing an obstacle for individuals seeking employment
- Safeguards to ensure new jobs and businesses are located in black communities
A representative from the Governor’s Office also spoke at the Town Hall meeting, describing the Fair Tax for Illinois, which imposes a graduated-rate income tax and new bracket structure. Implementing the Fair Tax would require voters to approve a constitutional amendment in 2020 that allows a switch from a flat tax.
Other speakers included the General Counsel and Legislative Liaison from the Lt. Governor’s Office, who provided an update of new initiatives and platforms.
In addition, resource tables were set up for people to get information on grants, housing, and legal assistance as well as free programs.
State Representative Evans affirmed his commitment to staying connected and engaged with constituents as he tours the district. The Lansing Town Hall meeting was the latest in a series that began on June 22, 2019, in Chicago.
Marcus Evans represents the 33rd District, which includes parts of Lansing, Burnham, Calumet City, Lynwood, Sauk Village, and the Burnside and Chatham neighborhoods of Chicago.
Thanks for the reproduced “101st General Assembly Sessions Highlights”, a Marcus Evans handout. It’s interesting that the handout doesn’t mention the so-called “Reproductive Health Act” that Mr. Evans co-sponsored. Many of us in Lansing & Calumet City opposed that legislation that we see as repealing several previously approved Illinois laws which protected unborn babies and their right to life.
John Bush, Lansing , Illinois