States, Cities and Counties
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents covering state government, cities and counties.
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Texas Gov. Abbott Appoints John Scott As Interim Attorney General Of Texas
AUSTIN, Texas, June 1 (TNSper) -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release on May 31, 2023:
Governor Greg Abbott today appointed John Scott as the short-term interim Attorney General of Texas, under Article 15, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution.
"John Scott has the background and experience needed to step in as a short-term interim Attorney General during the time the Attorney General has been suspended from duty," said Governor Abbott. "He served under me in the Texas Attorney General's Office and knows how the Office of the Attorney General operates. Scott was the Deputy
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AUSTIN, Texas, June 1 (TNSper) -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release on May 31, 2023:
Governor Greg Abbott today appointed John Scott as the short-term interim Attorney General of Texas, under Article 15, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution.
"John Scott has the background and experience needed to step in as a short-term interim Attorney General during the time the Attorney General has been suspended from duty," said Governor Abbott. "He served under me in the Texas Attorney General's Office and knows how the Office of the Attorney General operates. Scott was the DeputyAttorney General for Civil Litigation and has handled cases at all levels of the justice system. His decades of experience and expertise in litigation will help guide him while serving as the state's top law enforcement officer. I appoint John Scott for this role based on the Texas Constitution to serve for a temporary period during the Texas Senate's resolution of the impeachment proceedings."
JOHN SCOTT of Fort Worth is an attorney with over 34 years of experience. Scott most recently served as Texas Secretary of State for Governor Abbott. Previously, he served as Texas Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation for then-Attorney General Greg Abbott, where he aided then-Attorney General Abbott's efforts to hold the Obama Administration accountable and sue President Obama more than any other state Attorney General. Scott oversaw all civil litigation, including over 22,000 lawsuits involving Texas. Subsequently, Scott was appointed the first Chief Operating Officer of the Health and Human Services Commission. He oversaw the successful overhaul of the agency, its 56,000 employees, and its over $50 billion biannual budget. After returning to private practice, Governor Abbott appointed Scott as the Chair of the Board for the Department of Information Resources (DIR). At DIR, Scott developed the strategic plan for technology and security at Texas executive branch agencies and boards.
Scott has successfully tried over 100 lawsuits and has experience handling cases at the United States Supreme Court, Supreme Court of Texas, United States Court of Appeals for the Second, Fifth, Seventh, and Tenth Circuits, almost all Texas Courts of Appeals, United States District Court for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western District Courts of Texas, Texas state courts, and the State Office of Administrative Hearings. The courtroom victories include the successful defense of a health maintenance organization (HMO), which the National Law Journal declared the U.S. Healthcare Victory of the Year. Scott lives in Fort Worth and has offices in Austin. He has been married to his wife, Talley, for 35 years and has two sons, a daughter, and two grandsons.
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Original text here: https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-appoints-john-scott-as-interim-attorney-general-of-texas
N.Y. PSC Issues Notice of Suspension Involving Liberty Utilities
ALBANY, New York, June 1 -- The New York State Public Service Commission issued the following notice of suspension (Case No. 23-W-0235) on May 31, 2023:
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TO: Liberty Utilities (New York Water) Corp.
FROM: Secretary to the Commission
SUBJECT: Proceeding on Motion of the Commission as to the Rates, Charges, Rules and Regulations of Liberty Utilities (New York Water) Corp. for Water Service.
RECOMMENDATION: Initial Suspension of the Effective Date of the Major Rate Change and Initiation of a Proceeding.
On May 4, 2023, Liberty Utilities (New York Water) Corp. (Liberty NYW or the Company)
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ALBANY, New York, June 1 -- The New York State Public Service Commission issued the following notice of suspension (Case No. 23-W-0235) on May 31, 2023:
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TO: Liberty Utilities (New York Water) Corp.
FROM: Secretary to the Commission
SUBJECT: Proceeding on Motion of the Commission as to the Rates, Charges, Rules and Regulations of Liberty Utilities (New York Water) Corp. for Water Service.
RECOMMENDATION: Initial Suspension of the Effective Date of the Major Rate Change and Initiation of a Proceeding.
On May 4, 2023, Liberty Utilities (New York Water) Corp. (Liberty NYW or the Company)filed amendments to its tariff schedule, P.S.C. No. 1 - Water, to increase its annual water revenues for the rate year ending March 31, 2025. Liberty NYW is requesting an increase in annual water revenues of approximately $39.75 million, an increase of 34.2 percent to total revenues. The Company estimates that the requested increase in revenues will result in a total monthly bill increase for an average residential customer in Service Area 1 of approximately $18.32 (39 percent), $15.74 (42 percent) for Merrick customers, and $7.37 (13 percent) for Sea Cliff customers./1
Liberty NYW states that the primary drivers of the proposed rate increase are capital investments that have been made since the Company's base rates were last set and proposed capital investments, including main replacements, treatment facilities, well upgrades, and advanced metering infrastructure installations. In addition, the increase in capital investments would increase both depreciation expense and property taxes.
The Company also describes several initiatives that are intended to improve the service provided to customers, including but not limited to, the establishment of a low-income program and an arrearage management program, investments in information technology, elimination of separate credit card fees, and expanded water conservation program.
Liberty NYW's proposed tariff amendments have an effective date of June 3, 2023, and require a hearing. The Public Service Commission delegated to the Secretary to the Commission its authority to suspend the effective date of amendments to tariff schedules and to institute a proceeding.
Without answer or other formal pleading, a proceeding is instituted concerning the propriety of the rates, charges, rules, and regulations contained in the amendments to Liberty NYW's Schedule P.S.C. No. 1 - Water, listed in the Appendix to this Notice.
Pending the proceeding and decision on the proposed changes, the operation of these amendments is suspended, and the use of the rates, charges, rules, and regulations are deferred through September 30, 2023, unless otherwise ordered by the Commission. The rates, charges, rules, and regulations altered by the suspended amendments shall continue to be in effect until this proceeding is concluded or until the period of initial suspension and any extended suspension expires, unless otherwise ordered by the Commission.
Liberty NYW is directed to file with the Commission not later than June 1, 2023, a consecutively numbered supplement announcing suspension of the amendments.
(SIGNED)
MICHELLE L. PHILLIPS, Secretary
Issued and Effective May 31, 2023
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Footnotes:
1/ For rate purposes, the Company's service territory is divided into Service Area 1 and Service Area 2. Service Area 1 is presently comprised of the Company's upstate New York customers, Mill Neck Estates in Northeast Nassau County, and Southwest Nassau County. Merrick and Sea Cliff customers are part of Service Area 2.
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Original text here: https://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/Common/ViewDoc.aspx?DocRefId={D0497288-0000-C217-80B2-200ED583A369}
Mo. House: Twelve Year Push Gets Increased Penalties for 'celebratory Gunfire' to Governor's Desk for First Time
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, June 1 -- The Missouri House issued the following news:
Nearly 12 years after the tragic death of an 11 year-old Independence girl, the Missouri legislature has voted for a bill bearing her name. "Blair's Law" would increase the penalty for recklessly firing guns into the air and, backers hope, raise awareness about how dangerous that practice is.
The House had voted in two previous years to pass Blair's law and this year the Senate concurred, sending it for the first time to the governor's desk. The proposal was added to Senate Bill 189, which was passed out of the
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JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, June 1 -- The Missouri House issued the following news:
Nearly 12 years after the tragic death of an 11 year-old Independence girl, the Missouri legislature has voted for a bill bearing her name. "Blair's Law" would increase the penalty for recklessly firing guns into the air and, backers hope, raise awareness about how dangerous that practice is.
The House had voted in two previous years to pass Blair's law and this year the Senate concurred, sending it for the first time to the governor's desk. The proposal was added to Senate Bill 189, which was passed out of theHouse 109-11 and now awaits the action of Governor Mike Parson (R).
It was news Michele Shanahan DeMoss, the mother of Blair Shanahan Lane, had been working toward and awaiting for more than a decade.
"It started as overwhelming," DeMoss told House Communications. "Just really quietly thinking like, 'wow, we're not going to have to do this again.'"
What DeMoss was realizing she might not have to do again is come to Jefferson City and testify before legislators as she has done multiple times each year since her daughter's death, each time recounting and reliving the events of July 4, 2011. That was when, while outside celebrating the holiday, Blair was truck in the neck by a bullet fired by someone more than half a mile away who had fired their gun into the air. She died the next day.
"[Testifying on Blair's Law legislation] has become a pattern of living, and nothing, by any means, that I'm not going to be happy not having to do anymore," said DeMoss, who quickly adds that a lot of good has come and continues to come out of that effort. "I was reminded by somebody [in the Capitol] when I went to tell them goodbye and they said, 'No, no, no, you can come back and visit us. You don't have to come back just because of that. With that being said, just because it's done doesn't mean the good things that have happened because of what we've been doing for the past 12 years can't remain."
Some of that good has come in the form of increased awareness.
"There's no doubt our conversation and consistent work has definitely made a difference," said DeMoss.
Police believe firearms are still being discharged into the air, however, especially around holidays like New Year's Eve. The SoundSpotter system, sound capturing technology that the Kansas City Police Department uses to identify potential gunshots, identified more than 2,300 rounds fired between 6 p.m. December 31, 2022, and 6 a.m. the following morning. That was more than double the total from the previous year.
Representative Mark Sharp (D-Kansas City) said a desire to increase awareness that firing guns into the air is not safe was one of his biggest motivations for carrying Blair's Law.
"The governor signing it, different legislators in their respective districts and cities creating an awareness about it will help, the media will play a real big role in this," said Sharp.
Sharp is optimistic that the governor will sign Blair's Law into law, partly based on conversations he's had with Parson's staff.
This was Sharp's fourth year sponsoring the legislation, joining several other current and former legislators who have carried that proposal since 2011. This year's version would specify that a person is guilty of unlawful discharge of a firearm if they, with criminal negligence, discharge a firearm in or into the limits of a municipality. A first offense would be a class "A" misdemeanor which carries up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000; a second time would be a class "E" felony carrying up to four years in prison; and third and any subsequent offense would be a class "D" felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison.
No state law directly addresses "celebratory gunfire." In Kansas City it is a violation of city ordinance. The man who fired the bullet that killed Blair pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and served 18 months in prison. Had Blair's Law been in effect, the above penalties could have been applied in addition to that sentence.
Penalties are one thing, but as Sharp and DeMoss said, as much as anything, Blair's Law has been about awareness.
"Obviously we've done press conferences in the past and that's on the local news too, but I think if it's talked about on a more regular basis and not just once or twice a year we'll start to see some more awareness with it," said Sharp.
Blair's Law has consistently had broad, bipartisan support, yet it still took 11 legislative sessions before it passed. In spite of that, DeMoss didn't get frustrated and didn't give up. She said in many of the past years when the bill didn't pass, she wondered whether it was because of some oversight on her part, "[before] realizing it was a course of time and, as in a lot of things, it wasn't for me to have control over. As the years turned, the education and the understanding and the relationships are what were supposed to happen, and it continues happening."
Sharp said it is because DeMoss persevered that this legislation finally made it to the governor.
"She's a joy. She is a real joy," said Sharp, who notes that he knows what it's like to be around a parent who has lost a daughter, as his own sister died in a domestic violence incident when he was eight.
"The grace that Blair's mom carries herself with is just first class, top notch, and she could easily be coming to Jefferson City angry that it hasn't been passed yet. She could easily have been that kind of person but she wasn't. I think that speaks to her character."
While waiting to see what Governor Parson will do, DeMoss is taking this latest, farthest progress as a victory.
"The list is very long of thanking people for their support and thanking everybody for continually raising awareness. I think people finally realize it is a tragedy that continues to happen," she said.
The passage of a law bearing Blair's name isn't the only way she is being remembered. Blair has also been honored for being an organ donor, with six of her organs having gone to five people, and DeMoss still runs a charity in her daughter's name: Blair's Foster Socks gives socks and other items to children in need.
"We continue to grow and restructure but definitely socks are still coming in and good things are still happening. We just hosted a small group of boy scouts and look forward to distributing some socks. Earlier in the year we had a group that we got together with and made sock puppets ... and deliver them to some nursing homes. The socks are just something simple that help us to empower, to uplift, and to give back."
DeMoss has found it difficult when asked to sum up how she feels with this bill passage, but she recalls a message someone else sent to her, "'I really wanna say congratulations but the gravity of the reason this law is needed keeps me from celebrating, but we can now be thankful that Missouri now is a safer place to be for future celebrations.'"
Governor Parson has until July 14 to either sign SB 189 into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature. If it becomes law, Blair's Law would become effective August 28.
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Original text here: https://newsroom.house.mo.gov/news/1663
Ky. PSC Issues Order Involving Hardin County Water District No. 1
FRANKFORT, Kentucky, June 1 -- The Kentucky Public Service Commission issued the following order (Case No. xx):
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In the Matter of: Electronic Application Of Hardin County Water District No. 1 For Transfer And Acquisition
COMMISSION STAFF'S FIRST REQUEST FOR INFORMATION TO HARDIN COUNTY WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 AND CITY OF WESTPOINT
Hardin County Water District No. 1 (Hardin District No. 1) and the city of Westpoint (Westpoint) (collectively, Joint Applicants), pursuant to 807 KAR 5:001E, shall file with the Commission an electronic version of the following information. The information requested
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FRANKFORT, Kentucky, June 1 -- The Kentucky Public Service Commission issued the following order (Case No. xx):
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In the Matter of: Electronic Application Of Hardin County Water District No. 1 For Transfer And Acquisition
COMMISSION STAFF'S FIRST REQUEST FOR INFORMATION TO HARDIN COUNTY WATER DISTRICT NO. 1 AND CITY OF WESTPOINT
Hardin County Water District No. 1 (Hardin District No. 1) and the city of Westpoint (Westpoint) (collectively, Joint Applicants), pursuant to 807 KAR 5:001E, shall file with the Commission an electronic version of the following information. The information requestedis due on June 12, 2023. The Commission directs Joint Applicants to the Commission's July 22, 2021 Order in Case No. 2020-00085/1 regarding filings with the Commission. Electronic documents shall be in portable document format (PDF), shall be searchable, and shall be appropriately bookmarked.
Each response shall include the question to which the response is made and shall include the name of the witness responsible for responding to the questions related to the information provided. Each response shall be answered under oath or, for representatives of a public or private corporation or a partnership or association or a governmental agency, be accompanied by a signed certification of the preparer or the person supervising the preparation of the response on behalf of the entity that the response is true and accurate to the best of that person's knowledge, information, and belief formed after a reasonable inquiry.
Joint Applicants shall make timely amendment to any prior response if Joint Applicants obtain information that indicates the response was incorrect or incomplete when made or, though correct or complete when made, is now incorrect or incomplete in any material respect.
For any request to which Joint Applicants fail or refuse to furnish all or part of the requested information, Joint Applicants shall provide a written explanation of the specific grounds for their failure to completely and precisely respond.
Careful attention shall be given to copied and scanned material to ensure that it is legible. When the requested information has been previously provided in this proceeding in the requested format, reference may be made to the specific location of that information in responding to this request. When applicable, the requested information shall be separately provided for total company operations and jurisdictional operations. When filing a paper containing personal information, Joint Applicants shall, in accordance with 807 KAR 5:001E, Section 4(10), encrypt or redact the paper so that personal information cannot be read.
1. Provide minutes from the Westpoint City Council meeting during which the proposed merger was confirmed by the city council.
2. Explain the basis for Westpoint's decision to allow another utility to assume control of Westpoint's water and wastewater systems.
3. For the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 to the present day, list any notices of violation from the Kentucky Division of Water for Westpoint's water and wastewater systems.
4. For the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 to the present day, list any agreed orders with the Kentucky Division of Water that Westpoint's water or wastewater systems are working under.
5. Explain whether Hardin District No. 1 will absorb Westpoint's current employees, or if Hardin District No. 1 will hire any new employees as a result of the proposed merger. If neither, provide an explanation and documentation to support that Hardin District No. 1 can absorb Westpoint's water and wastewater service without hiring any new employees.
6. KRS 278.020(6) requires the Commission to find that the person acquiring a utility that is subject to its jurisdiction possesses the financial, technical, and managerial abilities to provide reasonable service.
a. Identity the employees who will manage and operate Westpoint's water and wastewater systems and describe each employee's qualifications to operate and manage a water distribution and wastewater systems.
b. Describe Hardin District No. 1's financial ability and resources to manage and operate Westpoint's water distribution and wastewater systems, including, but not limited to, available funds, lines of credit, loans, grants, or other financial support.
c. Describe in detail Hardin District No. 1's management ability and resources to manage and operate Westpoint's water distribution and wastewater systems.
7. KRS 278.020(7) states that, in order to approve the transfer, the Commission must find that the proposed transaction "is to be made in accordance with law, for a proper purpose and is consistent with the public interest." Explain in detail how the proposed transaction to transfer Westpoint's water distribution and wastewater systems to Hardin District No. 1 is in accordance with the law, for a proper purpose, and benefits the public.
8. Provide the proposed journal entry that Hardin District No. 1 will use to record the transfer.
9. Provide a copy of Hardin District No. 1's balance sheet, income statement, and statement of retained earnings for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
10. Describe the internal standards and policies of Hardin District No. 1 regarding service reliability and quality of its water utility operations.
11. Provide all of Hardin District No. 1's written standards or policies related to service quality and reliability of water utility operations.
12. Provide in table format an analysis of the number and type of consumer complaints that Hardin District No. 1 received during the period from 2017 to 2022 and how such complaints were resolved.
Linda C. Bridwell, PE
Executive Director
Public Service Commission
P.O. Box 615
Frankfort, KY 40602
DATED May 31, 2023
cc: Parties of Record
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Footnotes:
1/ Case No. 2020-00085, Electronic Emergency Docket Related to the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 (Ky. PSC July 22, 2021), Order (in which the Commission ordered that for case filings made on and after March 16, 2020, filers are NOT required to file the original physical copies of the filings required by 807 KAR 5:001, Section 8).
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Original text here: https://psc.ky.gov/order_vault/Orders_2023/202300143_05312023.pdf
Iowa Gov. Reynolds Announces $5M Investment to Help Boost Food Bank Capacity
DES MOINES, Iowa, June 1 -- Gov. Kim Reynolds, R-Iowa, issued the following news release on May 31, 2023:
Gov. Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority announced a $5 million investment in food banks and food pantry networks to help more Iowans in need get access to fresh, nutritious food.
"Access to fresh foods is a challenge for those facing food insecurity and soaring inflation has made it even harder," said Gov. Reynolds. "Iowa is making long-term investments to reduce food insecurity in our communities - supporting food banks and their networks to better serve those in need.
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DES MOINES, Iowa, June 1 -- Gov. Kim Reynolds, R-Iowa, issued the following news release on May 31, 2023:
Gov. Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority announced a $5 million investment in food banks and food pantry networks to help more Iowans in need get access to fresh, nutritious food.
"Access to fresh foods is a challenge for those facing food insecurity and soaring inflation has made it even harder," said Gov. Reynolds. "Iowa is making long-term investments to reduce food insecurity in our communities - supporting food banks and their networks to better serve those in need.This one-time infrastructure investment will help improve capacity and distribution at Iowa's food banks, and ensure more Iowans have access to the food they need."
The new Iowa Food Insecurity Infrastructure Fund will help eligible nonprofits that have experienced economic hardship build, expand, or remodel facilities to enable them to increase the amount of food, especially fresh food, distributed to local food pantries throughout Iowa. Eligible nonprofits include food banks that are bulk food aggregators or distributors that replenish food pantries across Iowa, as well as nonprofit food pantry networks that serve as primary distribution points.
IEDA will begin accepting applications on June 1 and will continue to review applications as they arrive through July 1 or until funding runs out. Funded projects must be completed by June 30, 2026. For more information, visit https://www.iowaeda.com/infrastructure/food-infrastructure/.
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Original text here: https://governor.iowa.gov/press-release/2023-05-31/gov-reynolds-announces-5m-investment-help-boost-food-bank-capacity
Ill. State Rep. Hernandez Issues Statement Following End of House Spring Legislative Session
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, June 1 -- Illinois State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, issued the following statement on May 31, 2023, after the end of the state House's spring legislative session:
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"As we close out the spring session of the Illinois legislature, I can tally up many victories for Aurora. Hardly the least of those successes is the most recent state budget, which supports our schools and our teachers with substantial funding increases; fights poverty using affordable housing and urban grocery initiatives; promotes economic development with expanded workforce development programs;
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SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, June 1 -- Illinois State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, issued the following statement on May 31, 2023, after the end of the state House's spring legislative session:
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"As we close out the spring session of the Illinois legislature, I can tally up many victories for Aurora. Hardly the least of those successes is the most recent state budget, which supports our schools and our teachers with substantial funding increases; fights poverty using affordable housing and urban grocery initiatives; promotes economic development with expanded workforce development programs;and continues reinforcing public safety with gun violence prevention and youth employment programs.
"Easy access to emergency contraception plays an essential role in reproductive rights and public health, and my measure to ensure it is available on college campuses is going to be law. At a time in which the right to choose is under attack, emergency contraception needs to be available at an affordable price. I will continue to promote this vital resource in coming years.
"The gun violence epidemic is taking an enormous toll on communities across Illinois. In recent months, we pushed back by taking steps to get weapons of war off our streets and prevent gun manufacturers from reckless advertising. Our bill enforcing a civil liability for advertising guns as tools to maim and murder discourages practices that likely contribute to mass shootings, such as last July's tragic attack in Highland Park."
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Original text here: https://ilhousedems.com/2023/05/31/rep-barbara-hernandez-issues-statement-following-end-of-house-spring-legislative-session/
Ill. State Rep. Buckner Issues Statement Following End of House Spring Legislative Session
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, June 1 -- Illinois State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, issued the following statement on May 31, 2023, after the end of the state House's spring legislative session:
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"The past several months have seen major legislative victories that will help build a better future for our community. Illinois' balanced budget will fund significant childcare expansions and bring millions of dollars to historically excluded communities so we can make healthcare more accessible, end food deserts, and create opportunities for our youth.
"In addition to the budget, I was proud to stand
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SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, June 1 -- Illinois State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, issued the following statement on May 31, 2023, after the end of the state House's spring legislative session:
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"The past several months have seen major legislative victories that will help build a better future for our community. Illinois' balanced budget will fund significant childcare expansions and bring millions of dollars to historically excluded communities so we can make healthcare more accessible, end food deserts, and create opportunities for our youth.
"In addition to the budget, I was proud to standwith measures to preserve reproductive rights. Bodily autonomy is under attack from extreme partisan interest groups and an activist Supreme Court. However, we are doing everything in our power to keep Illinois a haven for human rights by cracking down on deceitful crisis pregnancy centers, making reproductive health medications more accessible and expanding access to emergency contraception.
"We have also taken substantial steps to combat the epidemic of gun violence that has hurt so many Illinoisans. While there is much work still to do, bills we passed to get weapons of war off our streets and hold gun manufacturers for the outcomes of hyperviolent advertising represent enormous strides will, simply put, make people safer.
"I passed legislation streamlining our property tax system by targeting gaps and closing loopholes in the property tax code that drive properties into long-term vacancy and abandonment. Instead of living up to their possibility for development, countless vacant homes in our community have been stuck in years-long cycles of foreclosure and tax sales. I'm pleased to play a part in ending those pointless and destructive cycles.
"As Illinois increasingly shifts towards alternative methods of transport, such as bikes and motorized scooters, it's important we provide for the safety of people who aren't commuting in cars. I passed a measure to ensure the Illinois Department of Transportation constructs improvements to our infrastructure that make riders of alternative vehicles and pedestrians safer. The safety of our community will always be a priority for me, and our approaches to keeping people safe have to change with changing times."
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Original text here: https://ilhousedems.com/2023/05/31/buckner-issues-statement-following-end-of-house-spring-legislative-session/