Kane County Reporter

This week in Springfield, House members focused on committee meetings and addressing the deadline for reading Senate bills on the House Floor. A meeting took place with the Counsel General of Mongolia and House Leadership staff early in the week.

State Representative Joe Sosnowski and a colleague held a press conference to discuss issues related to education and costs in Illinois. They proposed solutions that they believe the majority party should consider for necessary reforms.

"The experiment with Evidence-Based Funding needs to end in Illinois," they stated. They highlighted that despite increased spending each year, desired student achievement results have not been met. They pointed to Mississippi's literacy-based program as an example of success, noting its effectiveness despite lower costs compared to Illinois' spending on Evidence-Based Funding (EBF). "We need to prioritize improving our students’ test scores and educational outcomes," they emphasized. "Illinois must change course and do better for our kids."

Looking ahead, next week marks the budget deadline. Concerns were raised about the lack of meetings between House Democrats and Republicans during this process. The expectation is for transparency, allowing lawmakers time for debate and public review. Anticipation builds for extended sessions as budget details emerge.