SPRINGFIELD—State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) issued the following statement reflecting on President Barack Obama’s speech to the Illinois General Assembly on Tuesday:

“This was a great reminder of the importance of compromise. Real progress can only be achieved by working together, and we need that now more than ever in Springfield. I’m hopeful that this positive message can ease some of the tension in the Capitol so we can set aside this gridlock and actually govern.

“This is only the second time a president has spoken to lawmakers in Springfield—the last time was President Carter in 1978. Today carried so much added weight since President Obama actually served the people of Illinois here. I was honored and humbled to be part of this historic day.”

SPRINGFIELD- For many disabled veterans, the stress of rising property taxes simply adds to a long list of physical and mental ailments they face. Last summer, State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) co-sponsored a plan that would ease the property tax burden on them. Under the proposal, veterans can reduce their EAV by $2,500 to $5,000 off their property tax bill while some could even have their property exempted from property taxes.

Senate Bill 107 was signed into law in August of last year, and the Cook County Assessor’s office will have the application paperwork available on the Cook County website later this month. Senator Hastings will be hosting a town hall to help veterans complete and turn in the paperwork before the March 2 deadline.

The first town hall will be on Tuesday, February 9 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Rich South High School, 5000 Sauk Trail, Richton Park, IL 60471.

The second town hall will be on Monday, February 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Avenue, Orland Park, IL 60462.

“I want to bring all of the veterans in the area together with representatives from Cook County so that everyone who needs to fill out the proper paperwork does so on time,” Hastings said.

The proposal provides for the following property tax exemptions to be implemented:
• If a veteran has a service connected disability of 30-50 percent, their annual exemption is $2,500
• If a veteran has a service connected disability of 50-70 percent, their annual exemption is $5,000
• A veteran who has a service connected disability of 70 percent or more their property is exempt from taxing
• Prevents any accessibility improvements that are made to disabled individuals’ residential properties from increasing the assessed value of the property.

SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) issued the following statement after the governor delivered his State of the State address on Wednesday afternoon:

“Starting his speech by attacking hardworking union men and women in the south suburbs was inappropriate. I believe a leader should unite the people rather than divide them.

“Our state is struggling without a budget, our social service and higher education institutions are at the brink of collapse.

“However, I do applaud the governor on his initiatives to modernize the state IT infrastructure to save money and streamline the process. I also applaud him on increasing partnerships between high school and community colleges to increase student job training and allow them to step into better careers; this is an initiative I have been working on for three years.

“I am committed to working with anyone to improve Illinois, but more importantly I am committed to improving the south suburbs.”

SPRINGFIELD- With the state entering its seventh month without a budget in place, State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) is focused on ensuring that the state keeps its obligation to Illinois school districts. The former School District 230 Vice President reached out to the governor, comptroller and chairman of the State Board of Education to stress the importance of General State Aid to education funding, and asked that they make school funding payments a priority.

“During such a tumultuous time in Springfield, committing to our students is a bipartisan, common sense decision,” Hastings said. “Our schools need this money, and it should be a guarantee for them. That’s what I communicated in my correspondence with the governor.”

Some schools districts in the 19^th district and across Illinois have already had to enact cost saving measures in past months. The Lincoln Way School District 210 board voted in August to close Lincoln-Way North High School in an attempt to regulate the districts’ financial status.

“It was absolutely heartbreaking to see friends, families and classmates being pulled apart when Lincoln-Way North closed,” said Hastings.

“People in my district are sick of the quality of education constantly suffering. They want a guarantee as to the state’s commitment to them, and that’s what they deserve,” Hastings said.