With a June 30 deadline looming, the Illinois Department of Transportation has stated it will be unable to pay road contractors come July 1 without an approved state budget. State Sen. Pat McGuire said that means it is imperative a budget be passed before the deadline.

“The Joliet area accurately is called the crossroads of the Midwest. Everyone's safety depends on the safe passage of cars and trucks on I-55, I-80, Rt. 6 and other local roads. Badly-needed roadwork must continue without interruption,” McGuire said. “I come from a family that depended on road construction jobs. Long days of hot work put food on the table and enable mom and dad to take the family out for a root beer. A halt in road projects will mean hard times for many area families.”

Included in projects slated for the upcoming fiscal year in the Joliet area are safety improvements such as interchange improvements to U.S. 6, bridge repairs at Hickory Creek south of I-80 and at the Des Plaines River in Joliet, and millions of dollars in maintenance to I-55, among many others. To see a full listing of scheduled road construction projects in the 43rd Senate District, visit the Illinois Department of Transportation’s website here and select “Lists” to search by Senate District.

My fellow alum of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School, State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, and I welcomed our alma mater's 7th graders to our architecturally glorious state capitol on Friday, May 12. Go Giants!

McGuire: Rauner administration gives “No answer” on staffing shortages.

The Illinois Senate with State Sen. Pat McGuire’s strong support yesterday moved to fix dangerous staff shortages in group homes for the developmentally disabled caused by inadequate staffing pay of $9.35 per hour.

Speaking from the Senate floor, McGuire told of Joliet human services providers Cornerstone, Trinity Services and Easterseals losing “experienced, compassionate, skilled caregivers to local distribution centers which pay a starting wage of $15 per hour.” Senate Bill 955 would increase the state-supported starting pay of caregivers to $15 per hour.

Governor Bruce Rauner eight months ago vetoed a measure similar to the one passed today. McGuire told of repeated attempts since then to learn the Rauner administration’s plan to address “this truly life-and-death situation.” Noting “No answer” from top Rauner aides, McGuire declared: “Inaction increases risk.”

Senate Bill 955, of which McGuire is the chief co-sponsor, passed. The legislation passed the Senate 36-20 and now moves to the House. Should it pass there, the measure will await Gov. Rauner’s signature.

The Joliet Herald-News - May 9, 2017 | Original article

BOLINGBROOK – Illinois State Senator Pat McGuire visited Tibbott Elementary School in Bolingbrook Friday to observe and gather information on what it takes to run a successful school lunch program.

“I’m impressed with [VVSD Director of Nutrition Services] Meghan Gibbons and her colleagues because they know the importance of feeding our kids in a healthy way,” McGuire said in a news release. “They also understand state and federal budgets.”

McGuire toured Tibbott’s edible garden, examined the school’s hydroponic vegetable tower that produces lettuce for student lunches, utilized recyclable trays to go through the lunch line filled with nutritious food, and sat down with children to eat.

He called Tibbott “impressive.”

“Springfield can be a dispiriting place at times,” McGuire also said in the news release. “It’s when I visit places like this that my spirits rise.”

Read the original article at the Joliet Herald-News.