State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) issued the statement below after the Senate failed to vote on the grand bargain bills after Governor Rauner interceded and derailed ongoing budget negotiations.

“After weeks of negotiation between the Senate president and the Republican leader, both of whom were negotiating in good faith, we were closer than ever before to a balanced budget that included significant reforms for taxpayers. Unfortunately, the governor interjected himself and threatened Republican members with political retribution if they supported the compromise.

“This package, while far from perfect, was a good first step toward a compromise that balances the budget, keeps colleges and universities open and provides vital services for seniors and those with disabilities.

“Democrats, including myself remain willing to negotiate a balanced budget that includes the reforms the governor has himself demanded, but the governor has once again failed to do his job.”

Currently, Illinois has the most local units of governments in the nation with over 7,000, running up an expensive tab for taxpayers.

Today, the Illinois Senate passed Senate Bill 3 to make it easier for local governments to consolidate or be eliminated completely and save taxpayers’ money. State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) supported the legislation.

The proposal passed the Senate with a vote of 43-14.

•    allows counties to dissolve local governments with governing boards appointed by the county (excluding water and fire protection districts)
•    allows townships to merge with adjacent townships
•    allows townships that share the same boundaries as a municipality to be dissolved by referendum
•    removes the current cap on square mileage of a township and other various barriers that prevent townships from consolidating  

“These thousands of layers of government duplicate services and cost taxpayers additional money every year,” Murphy said. “It’s past time for the state to remove these barriers and make it easier for local governments to consolidate. This legislation is the first step in that process.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy on Wednesday helped block a measure that would have made it more difficult for women to access reproductive health care services in Illinois.

Senate Bill 78 would have prevented state agencies from contracting with facilities that perform abortions. Murphy and five other Senate Democrats stopped the legislation from advancing out of the Senate’s Public Health committee.

“At a time when President Trump is attempting to strip away women’s access to health care, we must continue to fight to protect these rights,” said Murphy, a Des Plaines Democrat. “I will continue to stand up to overreaching proposals that set women’s rights back decades.”

The legislation was opposed by Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Men4Choice, Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force and other organizations that support women’s health.

Senate Bill 78 failed 3-6 in committee.

SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) issued the statement below following Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget address.

“For the third time in a row, the governor failed to live up to his constitutionally required duty to present a balanced budget to lead our state out of the current budget mess.

“While the governor sits on the sidelines, I look forward to continuing to work toward a balanced, bipartisan budget in the Senate that protects funding for higher education and services for the disabled, while including necessary reforms such as a property tax freeze and local government consolidation.”