South Central Reporter

State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) expressed his frustration with the limited legislative progress made during the first week of the veto session in Illinois. 

He pointed out the urgency of addressing critical state matters but voiced concern that Democrats seemed to be stalling on important legislation.

"We should be addressing the major issues facing our state during this legislative veto session, instead, Democrats are dragging their feet. We hope that when the House returns in November our colleagues will be ready to move substantive legislation for the people of Illinois," Wilhour said on Facebook.

The first week of the veto session in Illinois concluded with limited legislative progress on major initiatives, as lawmakers head back to their districts before returning to Springfield on Nov. 7 for the second week of their annual two-week veto session, according to Capitol News Illinois. Advocates for the Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship Program, which has been a subject of partisan debate for several years, also made their voices heard inside the Capitol. They rallied in support of extending the program until 2028 with specific modifications, including a budget cap reduction from $75 million to $50 million and changes to individual tax credit percentages. 

Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar (D-Chicago), introduced House Bill 4194 to extend the program, but it has yet to move through committees. As the veto session resumes in November, the pressure is on lawmakers to address these and other pressing issues facing the state, with the hopes that substantive legislation will be put forward for the benefit of the people of Illinois. (Source)

Wilhour and the Illinois Freedom Caucus are urging comprehensive legislative support for the Invest in Kids tax scholarship program, emphasizing its importance in helping minority students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds access quality education, while teachers’ unions, including the Chicago Teachers Union, remain strong opponents of the initiative. 

“If the Governor and the Democrats are serious about this, they should be willing to move legislation I have sponsored including HB1642, HB3537, and HB4105 to give children across Illinois the opportunity to attend the schools that meet their needs by continuing this important program,” Wilhour said. 

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has indicated his intention to sign an extension for the Invest in Kids scholarship program, which provides educational opportunities for 9,600 underprivileged students in Illinois.

Wilhour recently extended a warm welcome to students from the Effingham County Area who are beneficiaries of the Invest in Kids Scholarship program. The Illinois Freedom Caucus, in a statement on Facebook, underscored their commitment to expanding and supporting this vital scholarship initiative, emphasizing their dedication to providing educational opportunities for underprivileged students in the state.

“We MUST expand and support this scholarship program!” the Illinois Freedom Caucus said on Facebook.