Press Releases

Greetings,

Honorable Members of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, thank you for allotting me an opportunity to speak about the potential closing of Tinley Park Mental Facility. Tinley Park has seemed to be a target of state government for years, and images of the facility in the media and amongst bureaucracies have been appalling at best. Have we forgotten what public policies that displace our most at-risk Illinoisans can do to the reputation of our State? This closing would be insensitive to the lives of the patients who use the facility and destructive to the employees survival.

Closing this facility will result in hundreds of lost jobs and hundreds of displaced patients. Illinois’ unemployment is a staggering 10 percent and continues to ascend to historic levels. By closing this facility, we are contradicting exactly what we are fighting to do, save jobs. During the first week of veto session we passed historic legislation to improve our energy infrastructure and also created over 2,000 jobs in the process. This closing would shirk our responsibility to provide a reasonable means for survival. Why would we do the exact opposite of what people need?

Governor Quinn signs Senator Jones’ Legislation Creates Roseland Medical District

Springfield, IL –Today, Governor Quinn signed State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) legislation that will create the Roseland Community Medical District.

Jones’ legislation, House Bill 1888, creates the Roseland Community Medical District Commission to coordinate efforts to develop and implement a master plan for the new district.

Governor Quinn Signed Senator Jones’ Legislation to End Recidivism 

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Today, Governor Quinn signed State Senator Emil Jones III legislation to assist discharged convicts and prisoners obtain employment become self sufficient.

House Bill 3360 provides that the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Department of Employment Security (IDES) to collaborate to find suitable employment opportunities for ex-offenders upon discharge. Recently IDES was found to be in noncompliance with a section of the Public Employment Office Act. This legislation is an effort to better align IDES with the act and promote self sufficiency through employment.