State Senator Dave Koehler joined Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis at a Senate committee hearing to support extending a successful economic development program that has benefited the Peoria community.

At issue is the River Edge Historic Tax Credit, which was created in 2012 to help riverfront communities restore historically significant waterfront properties. The program is scheduled to end next year, so river’s edge communities throughout Illinois are trying to convince the General Assembly of its value.

“Illinois’ cities grew up along rivers,” Koehler said. “That means waterfront properties are often historically significant. It also means that they often need a lot of work. This economic development program has helped us create jobs in our local communities, protect landmarks and revitalize waterfront neighborhoods.”

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State Senator Dave Koehler visited Lewistown Community High School to meet with the principal and teachers to discuss some of the school's challenges and successes. Koehler's conversations focused on the school district's financial challenges and innovative vocational programs. To learn more, read this Canton Daily Ledger article.

The Lewistown High School's woodshop program, one of the classes Koehler visited, is looking for lumber donations to stretch the school's resources. If you would like to help, you can drop off unwanted lumber at the school.

State Senator Dave Koehler issued the following response to Governor Bruce Rauner's first budget proposal. Rauner's plan provides a slight increase to preschool-12th grade education and prisons, while reducing – in some cases greatly – most other state spending.

"I realize that the governor had a huge task in developing this budget plan, and I am still trying to find something I can support. So many of the cuts he proposes will devastate middle-class and working families, so my concern is where is the shared sacrifice?

"If this proposal became law, we would see higher property taxes, higher tuition costs, fewer education programs that prepare our citizens for careers and college, and the end of programs that literally save people's lives. The one thing I can agree with is that we need to stop reeling from budget crisis to budget crisis year after year. I just don't agree that this is the right path.

"I hope we can work with the governor to craft a budget that makes Illinois competitive without losing all compassion for working and middle-class families."

SPRINGFIELD – To help ensure that Illinois' state government reflects the will of the people, State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) voted in support of legislation to create a special election whenever a statewide office is going to be vacant for more than two years.

"One of the core principles of our democracy is letting the people decide who will represent them and manage their government," Koehler said. "We have a responsibility to allow voters to choose who represents them as their attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and comptroller, if one of those offices becomes vacant."

Any vacancy in any of those offices that occurs with more than 28 months remaining in the term would cause a special election at the next general election. Because the special election would coincide with the general election, it would come at no additional cost to taxpayers.

The legislation is House Bill 4567. It now goes to the governor for his approval.