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.

State Senator Emil Jones III, (D-Chicago) recently introduced legislation that helps college students who are facing financial hardships. The measure, Senate Bill 2941, prohibits universities and community colleges from denying a student from registering for classes and prohibits them from refusing to issue a transcript to a student because of and outstanding debt owed to the university.

Senator Jones offered the following comments:

Springfield – Chicago State University recently announced that it will be unable to pay for operational costs after March 1 due to the unprecedented seven month-long budget impasse. Without a budget, university students across the state who are recipients of MAP grants and tuition assistance are increasingly concerned about the prospect of not graduating.

State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) introduced legislation that provides funding to ensure CSU can keep its doors open for the remainder of the semester.