Senate President John Cullerton addressed the Chicago City Club today. Cullerton’s speech focused on education funding reform as a priority for legislature. State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) reacted to the speech with the following:

“Affording children a quality education has been one of my priorities since becoming a state senator. I applaud President Cullerton for focusing on the issue in his City Club speech today. I’m currently working with Senator Manar to produce legislation that would secure a fair, adequate and well-funded education for all children,” State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) said. “Our education funding formula doesn’t work, and it’s hurting the poorest kids in our state. We can’t continue to ignore this issue. Our state’s future is at stake.”

Govenor Rauner and Republican Leaders unveiled a plan for the state to take over management of CPS. State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) released the following statement in response:

“It’s irresponsible for the state to even think about managing CPS. We’re talking about children, poor children, who aren’t being afforded a quality education because they’re not being afforded enough resources,” State Senator Napoleon Harris said. “This would be a good time for the governor and Republican leaders to join the fight for education funding reform. But that’s not what they’re doing. Instead it’s a direct attack against the Chicago Teachers Union at the expense of Chicago children.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) announced Wednesday his intent to file legislation that will allow Illinois citizens to recall elected officials statewide.

“The purpose of this legislation is transparency and accountability,” said Harris. “We must hold our elected officials to a higher standard. If people decide they have lost trust in their elected officials, they should have the power to recall them.”

With the recent ill handling of the Laquan McDonald case and public outrage toward Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, Harris said he was disturbed by the way things unfolded.

More low-income families will now be eligible to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits thanks to a new law sponsored by Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) that went into effect on January 1.

Senate Bill 1847 increases the SNAP income limit from 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Level to 165 percent of FPL. The new limit allows struggling families with slightly higher income than the previous limit to qualify. The new law could allow 40,000 previously ineligible families to receive SNAP benefits.