CHICAGO – State Senator Emil Jones, III (D-Chicago) is issuing a response to misleading claims made by the governor during his Juneteenth remarks today.

Gov. Bruce Rauner touted helping the black community, especially black businesses. Rauner has actually largely ignored black-owned businesses during his term.

“I was disgusted by the governor’s claims that he’s been a pillar within the black community, when in reality, he’s done various things that have in fact hurt our people,” said Jones.

Some areas that have suffered under Gov. Rauner include:

• Chicago State University—Budget  stalemate caused 400 layoffs
• Safety-net hospitals—Rauner sought to reduce Medicaid spending and discontinue some projects
  • He also refused to issue federal dollars to hospitals even after a federal judge issued a ruling
  • Hospitals like Roseland Community Hospital were forced to sue to receive the funding
• Child Care Assistance Program—nearly gutted by cuts made by the Rauner administration
• Minority Procurement—state issuing fewer contracts to minority-owned contractors than its goals
• Food stamps—Aid cut to tens of thousands of households as a state agency transitioned to a new computer system                                                        

“The governor has had three years to take the lead on black issues,” said Jones. “Yet, he waits until an election year to acknowledge our community and problems. It’s disgraceful, and I will not stand by as he tries to take credit for progress within the black community.”