A win for young builders and school management in Pekin

SPRINGFIELD – Each year, students at Pekin Community High School participate in a building trade program, where students learn construction skills and build a home, after which, the school district sells the new home and uses the revenue to fund the program the next year.

Legislation sponsored by State Senator Dave Koehler (D – Peoria) that just passed in the Senate will make the selling process much easier for the district by allowing it to use a real estate agent without first going through an auction or bid process.

“This program is a great example of self-sustainability and goes a long way in showing students the value of hard work in an important trade,” Sen. Koehler said. “By making it easier for the district to sell the homes its students build, we show support for a valuable program that engages and builds up the community in a financially independent way.”

Under current law, building trade houses must be sold the same way as other state-owned real estate is sold – a sometimes convoluted process that leaves Pekin Community High School District 303 jumping through time-consuming hoops.

The district’s ability to engage a real estate agent is contingent upon the property being publicly listed for at least two weeks.

The legislation, Senate Bill 2823, now goes to the House of Representatives.

Money for Amtrak, other critical services passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – Students and workers rely on public transportation every day. Senator Dave Koehler (D - Peoria) and his colleagues voted to make sure these people can get to and from work, class and wherever else they need to go.

After months of tension surrounding the issue of Amtrak funding, Governor Rauner entered into a contract to keep AMTRAK operations running across Illinois. This legislation gives him the spending authority to honor this contract.

“I hope that the governor will agree to keep the state moving forward,” said Sen. Koehler. “Many students and workers across the district rely on Amtrak to live their daily lives. This legislation is a crucial step in ensuring this transportation option for years to come.”

The legislation, SB 2059, also contains funding for higher education, as well as social service agencies that have contracts with the state but weren’t covered by continuing appropriations or court orders. Now, the governor will have the power to honor these agreed upon contracts as well.

The legislation is the Senate’s latest effort to pass funds for budget items not yet dealt with during the budget impasse. The legislation is similar to House budget legislation passed earlier this month (HB 2990), but with spending authority for Amtrak and other critical services added.

The legislation now goes to the House of Representative for further action.

Senator Koehler meets with Bradley University students

Today, Senator Koehler met with a wonderful group of young scholars from Bradley University to discuss the crucial issue of MAP grants in Illinois, and how we are going to protect the futures of our students.

Freed MAP grant dollars a huge win for Peoria-area students

SPRINGFIELD – The hard work of Peoria-area college students from Spoon River College and Illinois Central College to Bradley University may finally be rewarded as it should be thanks to nearly $400 million in MAP grant being freed by the legislature today.

Passing through the House and Senate this morning, the legislation now only has the final hurdle of the governor’s desk to jump through before students can finally feel the financial relief of these crucial dollars. It is unclear whether the governor will sign the legislation into law.

“Low-income students should be able to pursue higher education without the burden of extreme debts or the fear that they might not be able to afford it,” said state Senator Dave Koehler (D – Peoria), co-sponsor of the legislation.

The $32 million increase in funding over last year’s allocation could stand to benefit an additional 15,000 students across the state, including many in the Peoria area.

Community colleges, without the benefit of a higher influx of tuition dollars, have been hit by the budget impasse particularly hard. Therefore, SB 2043 also provides over $260 million for operational costs at community colleges throughout the state.