VILLA PARK— Illinois may soon have new regulations and rules in place to prevent water-borne illnesses like Legionnaires’ disease.

A General Assembly rulemaking committee has given the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency the authority to more than double the minimum amount of chlorine required in public water supplies. This move is proposed to prevent the outbreak of heinous water-borne diseases such as Legionnaires’.

State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park), a fierce advocate for the Illinois Veterans Home at Quincy throughout the facilities legionnaire’s crisis, called the policy a major step toward preventing similar tragedies from occurring in Illinois homes.

“The Legionella crisis at the Quincy veterans’ home has emphasized the need for the state to be proactive in policies to ensure Illinois’ water supply is safe,” Cullerton said. “This step will empower the IEPA to protect homes and facilities throughout Illinois from these preventable illnesses. It is our duty to learn from the deaths of these brave heroes to ensure this never happens again, anywhere in our great state.”

Since 2015, 13 residents of the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy have died of complications caused by Legionnaires’ disease. Cullerton served in the Army from 1990 to 1993 as an infantryman and has been a staunch advocate for Illinois’ veterans, especially those at the Quincy home greatly affected by continuous cases of Legionnaires’ disease during the last governor’s watch.

During a rulemaking hearing, the Illinois Department of Public Health acknowledged that was the case in the 2015 Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at the veterans home in Quincy, but it also argued that “the minimal residual disinfectant found in the public water supply was found to be drastically ineffective.”

“Our nation’s heroes have survived foreign conflict zones – the greatest danger they face should not be living in a state facility,” Cullerton said. “I’m glad to see the committee work in a bipartisan manner to not only take care of our veterans but all residents of Illinois.”

Read more: Tom Cullerton applauds move to prevent Legionella outbreaks

VILLA PARK – Over the next five years, businesses will gradually cease to pay the archaic franchise tax under legislation championed by State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park).
 
“As a state it is our duty to adopt policies that encourage economic growth and development,” Cullerton said. “The elimination of this convoluted tax will encourage business owners to expand and grow in our communities.”
 
Created in 1872, the corporate franchise tax is a tax on “paid in capital” for the privilege of doing business in Illinois.  Last year, 346,000 companies paid about $172 million in taxes. After Illinois’ franchise tax is eliminated, only seven states in the nation will still impose a similar tax.
 
“Taxing businesses sends the wrong message,” Cullerton said. “Business owners should not be penalized for doing business in Illinois.”
 
Cullerton has also supported a new amnesty program for overdue franchise taxes and license fees. Under that program, penalties are waived for payment of any overdue taxes or fees for the period of March 15, 2008 to June 30, 2019.
 
In 2017, Cullerton also championed a law that dropped the filling fees for small businesses to register in Illinois from $500 to $150 and lowered the annual filing fee for LLCs from $250 to a much lower fee of $75.
 
“Cutting startup fees will help new businesses get off the ground and grow roots in Illinois,” Cullerton said. “We must continue to do whatever we can to encourage economic development in our state to create new jobs, increase the tax base and spur economic development.”

VILLA PARK – State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) is recruiting Illinois employers to participate in his seventh annual job fair.

Cullerton is partnering with local chambers of commerce and the Illinois Department of Employment Security to host the job fair from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at the Odeum in Villa Park.

“The goal of this annual event is to connect local employers who are looking to hire DuPage County residents,” Cullerton said. “A vital component to growing our economy is putting people to work. If you know someone looking for a job or a career change please urge them to take advantage of this free opportunity.”

Veterans seeking jobs will be admitted at 10 a.m. before the event begins for the general public.

The event is free and open to the public. First preference will be given to businesses that belong to local chambers of commerce.

Job Seekers and employer can visit www.SenatorTomCullerton.com to register. Cullerton urges residents and businesses with questions or concerns to call his Villa Park Office at (630) 903-6662.

DATE: Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019
TIME: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., doors open for veterans at 10 a.m.
LOCATION: The Odeum (1033 N. Villa Ave., Villa Park)

VILLA PARK— Schools across the 23rd State Senate District are set to receive record-level funding from the bipartisan budget passed by the Illinois State Senate.

State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) fought to ensure schools across Illinois received state funding as promised by the mandated education funding outlined in the new evidence-based funding formula.

“The most important investment we make as a state is in our children,” Cullerton said. “We upheld our commitment to our schools with a new funding formula that will ensure children have the opportunity to receive a superior education regardless of where they live.”

The budget allocates more than $544 million in dedicated funding to early childhood education to give Illinois kids a strong foundation before they enter kindergarten.

“Studies continue to emphasize the fact that the time and money we allocate in educating students at an early age pays dividends in the future,” Cullerton said.

To fight the high property taxes that continue to burden working families across Illinois, the budget commits $50 million to support property tax relief.

“Funding schools the right way will lead to lower property taxes,” Cullerton said. “As we work to funding our schools at full adequacy levels, it is essential that homeowners are given relief from high property tax bills.”

Since Cullerton has been in the Senate, DuPage County schools have seen significant increases in school funding amounts. He pledges to continue to work toward ensuring Illinois schools are properly funded.