June 2016
Dear neighbor,

The House will be in session next Wednesday, June 29th.  Dialogue continues in working groups that are attempting to reach a final spending plan.  Here is a brief update, but please note all things are fluid as conversations are ongoing. 
 
The Governor filed his FY 2016 & FY 2017 stop-gap budget in the House and Senate. In his proposal some items would be funded for the entirety of FY 16 & 17, while other items would not. Several concerns with the Governor's proposal have emerged. 

K-12 Education - The Governor has proposed funding K-12 education for all of FY 17. The budget passed by the House included an additional $700 million in new money for K-12, which the Governor's proposal excludes. Many feel the proposed amount of funding is not enough to address the inequities in the funding formula. 

Higher Education - The Governor's proposal provides no additional FY 16 funding for higher education. For the majority of state universities, Rauner's proposal allocates less money than in year past. No funding is provided for MAP grants or other scholarship programs. 

Human Services  -  T he Governor's proposal adopts items included in the stop-gap human services proposal that passed the General Assembly with bipartisan support. The Governor's proposal includes funding for FY 17 and includes $180 million in discretionary lump sums to the departments of Human Services ($115 million), Aging ($40 million), and Public Health ($25 million). However, Rauner's proposal (and his public statements) indicate that he wants to prioritize funding agency operations over funding for direct services.  This is a major point of contention for many members of the working group who are concerned about the disabled, elderly and people living with mental illness. 
 
Agency Operations - For FY 16, the Governor's proposal provides $275 million for agency operations by using cash in the state's "rainy day fund." For FY 17, the proposal appropriates $454 million from General Revenue Fund for agency operations. Rauner's  proposal favors the payment of these vendors over community service providers; there is disagreement here. 

Capital - The only appropriations the Governor is proposing are for road and transit projects, water infrastructure projects, and projects where construction had been stopped due to lack of appropriations. There is general agreement on approving capital spending, but the House has requested lists of the specific projects that will be funded under the proposal. Many representatives question whether the Governor's plan will provide equitably capital spending throughout the state. 

Court-Ordered Spending - Generally, items being paid under court orders are excluded from the Governor's proposal. 

As always, if you need anything relating to state government, p lease do not hesitate to reach out to my office at 773-296-4141 or  sara@staterepsara.com. 

Yours truly,
  
Sara Feigenholtz
State Representative
12th District

COMMUNITY EVENTS
47th Annual Pride Parade
Sunday, June 26th, 2016 - 12 Noon - 3 P.M.
For more information and a list of local street  closures , please click here.

Sara (Center) participates in an earlier Pride Parade.
Sara speaks to Nettlehorst Elementary's graduating class of 2016. 
Sara (third from left) with Chicago Public School teachers during the April strike.

Lakeview Pantry Open House
Saturday, June 25th
12:00 noon - 3:00 p.m.
3945 N. Sheridan

12th District's very own Lakeview Pantry has moved! Stop by their house to see their improvements.


Center on Halsted's Proud to Run 10K
Saturday, June 25th
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Montrose & Simonds 

To register for the run/walk click here.


Stretch and Restore Yoga for 40+
Wednesday, June 29th
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Center on Halsted
3656 N. Halsted, Room 204

This class is suitable for the mature and aging crowd with all levels of yoga experience.


Movin' Up Cancer Exercise Program
Every Wednesday
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Lakeview YMCA 
3333 N. Marshfield

The fitness class aims to improve the quality of life of those in attendance by ensuring they are strong enough to take charge of their daily lives.

Keep in touch!

If we can ever be of any assistance to you on matters regarding the state of Illinois, please contact our constituent service office:

State Representative Sara Feigenholtz
3223 N. Sheffield Ave, Suite A
Chicago, Il 60657
(773) 296-4141 | www.staterepsara.com