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Naperville
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Naperville’s Pulse in Springfield – The Season of Hope

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As I write this column, another month has passed without an agreement being reached on a state budget. Summer is turning to fall with Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly still at odds over how to put together a spending plan for the new fiscal year that began on July 1, and that has many discouraged.

But I am hopeful.

I am hopeful we will come together to reach agreement on a budget because I have seen many times this year what we can accomplish when we are determined to work together to solve a problem.

We began our spring legislative session facing a $1.6 billion budget shortfall because last year’s budget was out of balance. With several months left to go in the fiscal year, we were out of money to fund schools and services. Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly worked together with the Governor to find a solution that provided emergency funding without a tax increase.

With tensions flaring in other states between law enforcement and some members of communities they protect, House and Senate members here in Illinois worked across party lines to pass landmark legislation to increase trust and accountability. A key component of the legislation encourages police to wear body cameras so, if an accusation is made, there will be an accurate record of the encounter. By the way, we are the first state in the nation to pass such comprehensive, statewide accountability standards.

We also took bi-partisan action this spring to help stem the rising tide of heroin deaths here in the suburbs and across the state. Together, we passed legislation that will help prevent “doctor shopping” by addicts, and arm first responders with opioid antidote medications for quick treatment of overdose victims. This summer we came together again across party lines to override an amendatory veto that would have impacted treatment funding.

When spending abuses were uncovered at the College of DuPage, the Illinois House unanimously called for a thorough performance audit, and the General Assembly passed bi-partisan legislation ensuring that severance agreements involving taxpayer dollars can no longer be kept secret from the public.

Henry Ford said, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

I am hopeful about a budget resolution because our record proves that we can work together successfully to solve problems and make Illinois a better place. So let’s get back to Springfield and get it done.

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Grant Wehrli
Grant Wehrli
Grant Wehrli is a lifelong Naperville Resident and former Representative in the Illinois House of Representatives and Naperville City Councilman.

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