Even by Springfield standards, known for its political intrigue, theatrical maneuvering and last-minute surprise twists, the finishing flourish of the last day of Illinois’ legislative session was a dramatic nail-biter. More importantly, however, were the budget wins notched by Agudath Israel of Illinois (AIOI). For the first time in nearly a decade, AIOI’s school transportation grant was increased, and not insignificantly. The appropriation was nearly doubled from $1.173 million to $2.273 million to accommodate Chicago’s explosive growth in Jewish day school enrollment.
The budget also included millions of dollars reappropriated for Jewish organizations’ capital projects.
“With Illinois’ precarious financial state and a projected $3 billion deficit, we knew this was an uphill battle,” said Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, AIOI’s director of government affairs. “We are grateful for the community’s engagement and support from key legislators.”
The budget victory followed other successful efforts in the waning days of the legislative session to exempt private schools from new curriculum mandates, prevent a new bureaucratic and problematic system of Covid-19 health protocols oversight and compliance, and adjust the new legislative district boundaries to ensure the voice of the Orthodox Jewish community remained strong. Lastly, the “Invest in Kids Act,” Illinois’ tax credit scholarship program, was spared cuts proposed by the Governor and was also extended by a year. The program was previously scheduled to sunset in 2023.
There were many elected officials who understood the vital importance of the transportation grant and advocated for the increase on behalf of the Jewish community. Agudath Israel thanks State Representatives Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie), Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview), Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston), Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield), John D’Amico (D-Chicago), State Senators Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago), and Laura Fine (D-Glenview), as well as House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Senate President Don Harmon.