SPRINGFIELD – In response to the governor’s State of the State address, State Senator Emil Jones III (D- Chicago) released the following statement:

“Our health care system is in a crisis right now. It is unfortunate that the governor did not mention the hospital assessment in his address. The reality for hospitals in my district and in surrounding areas is the dire need for additional revenue. We have had hospitals turn patients away because they do not have enough resources to aid the most vulnerable. It’s simple—access to quality health care is non-negotiable. We are demanding the governor to be fair and compassionate during budget talks. It is difficult to work in good faith with a governor that continues to propose cuts to essential health care services.”

Today, State Senator Emil Jones III (D - CHICAGO) joined elected officials at Roseland Community Hospital to discuss the financial future of Roseland and safety-net hospitals around the state.

“Safety-net hospitals provide quality health care to the poorest communities, which is something that all people in Illinois deserve, regardless of their race or income,” said Jones. “These hospitals also employ an estimated 25,000 people in Illinois and 23,000 people across the Chicagoland area.”

To remain at a sustainable funding level for the year, Roseland has laid off nearly seven percent of its staff and reduced the pay of all of its doctors and nurses. As of now, all “fixed payments” to hospitals will sunset on June 30, 2018. The hospital assessment program, a combination of state and federal funds that provides financial relief across the state, is up for negotiation, creating uncertainty among safety-net hospitals.

“Ensuring safety-net hospital funding for the next fiscal year has to be a top priority in Springfield,” Jones said. “Roseland, along with many other hospitals, is suffering tremendously—they cannot stand to lose any federal dollars.”

In the past, it has taken each hospital assessment 12-15 months for federal approval. It is estimated that taxed payments account for almost 50 percent of all payments to safety-net hospitals.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) issued the following statement after voting to override the governor’s amendatory veto of Senate Bill 1, an evidence-based school funding reform measure:

“Our governor’s attempt at holding our children’s education hostage is just another political ploy.”

The governor’s plan would strike close to $500 million away from in Chicago Public Schools.

“I voted in support of evening the playing field and delivering a quality education to youth throughout Chicago, as well as the rest of the state.”

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SPRINGFIELD – Barack Obama may be celebrating his birthday outside the White House this year, but State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) wants to make sure the former president is not forgotten.

Jones passed legislation during the legislative session that designates Aug. 4 of each year as Barack Obama Day in Illinois.

“President Obama is a man who has inspired millions with his decades of dedicated public service,” Jones said. “He deserves to be honored for his continuous hard work for the people of our nation, our state and our communities.”

Obama worked as a community organizer on the south side of Chicago after graduating from Columbia University and was elected to the Illinois State Senate to represent the 13^th District in 1996. As a state senator, he helped pass ethics reform, negotiated welfare reform and promoted increased subsidies for childcare.

The former president went on to be elected to represent Illinois in the United States Senate in 2004 before becoming the first African-American to be elected President of the United States in 2008.

Senate Bill 55 passed unanimously in both houses and Gov. Rauner signed it into law.