Hastings votes to save town budgets and child care assistance

SPRINGFIELD – Child care centers on the verge of closing their doors would remain open and prison guards would be able to be paid under a state financial plan state Senator Michael Hastings (D-Tinley Park) supported Thursday. The plan designates money from this years budget to ensure that these and numerous other state funds remain funded through June 1.

“These are tough and trying times, and there are tough decisions that have to be made. But that is why voters in my district elected me, to fight for our area and make these decisions,” Hastings said. “I am glad that we could find a way to ensure working families have access to child care assistance and that the workers who head into our state prisons everyday will be paid.”

The budget fix provides funding for essential programs through June 1 without diminishing local governments’ share of revenue.

“This is extremely important to me, the south suburbs have been working within their budgets all year. We can not turn around and take money away from them because they were fiscally responsible,” Hastings said.

Furthermore, the plan ensures that the payroll for state correctional officers has enough funding to supply for their salaries.

“When I toured the Statesville prison facility the correctional officers voiced their concerns to me about staff safety. The very least we can do for these hard working men and women is to make sure that the funding is there for them to put food on the table for their families,” said Hastings.

The measure also restores funding to the Child Care Assistance Program, which was facing a major budget shortfall this year.

“There are 140 childcare providers in my district that rely on these funds in order to provide their services. Our area would be absolutely devastated if we did not find a way to fix their budget shortfall,” Hastings concluded.

The plan was voted on in the Senate on Thursday afternoon, and now heads to the governor’s desk.