SPRINGFIELD – At a time when Springfield can’t pass a budget, State Senator Emil Jones III declared Illinois legislators should not receive a planned mileage reimbursements or per diem rates, voting to pass such a measure in the Illinois Senate on Wednesday.

“After 700 days without a budget, Illinoisans are feeling pain,” Jones said. “Human service providers, state universities and schools are wondering if they will be able to remain open. How can we take a pay increase in good conscience?”

House Bill 643 freezes the Illinois General Assembly's mileage reimbursement and per diem rates for the upcoming year. In addition, the initiative eliminates the planned cost of living adjustment in the upcoming budget year for the members of the legislature and other offices set by the Compensation Review Board. The comptroller's office states that the cost of living adjustment would be 2.1 percent without the passage of a freeze.

Having passed both chambers with bipartisan support, House Bill 643 awaits the governor’s signature to become law.

This morning, with the release of the newest  video of an young black male suspect being gunned down at the hands of a Chicago police officer, I cannot help but wonder when will it stop.

Time and time again, we see law enforcement overstep their boundaries and take the role of the judge, jury and executioner when other steps can be taken to deescalate a non  life threatening situations.

Earlier this year, I introduced Senate Bill 2207, ensuring every Chicago Police officer would be required to wear body cameras.  Instances like this only prove that we need to have an accurate account of police encounters, so law enforcement can be protected from false claims and citizens can be protected from rogue officers.

I plan to make a strong push to advance this legislation during veto session, with the additions of a key measure. This measure would be aimed at holding police officers who turn their video device(s) off during suspect pursuit more accountable by seeking disciplinary action.

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Springfield—Eligible voters throughout the state will now be automatically registered to vote under legislation advanced today with the full support of the Senate Black Caucus Chairman Emil Jones III (D-Chicago.

Senate Bill 250, sponsored by State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill), would allow for the Secretary of State’s office and similar state agencies to submit eligible voters’ information to the State Board of Elections when they visit their facilities for services.

Currently 42.2 percent of eligible, voting-age black citizens in Illinois aren’t registered to vote. Overall, more than 2 million Illinoisans who are eligible to vote aren’t registered. The measure now moves to the Illinois House of Representatives, where it will be debated.

“With the passing of this legislation, many eligible voters will now have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote. This is a major step forward,” Jones said.

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