SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate passed a budget this week that will fully fund an Illinois Central College training program that prepares young people to enter into industrial manufacturing, information technology and healthcare apprenticeship programs which represent regional workforce gaps.

The program, called Apprentice Ready, is a pre-apprenticeship program that prepares individuals for eligibility and success in an industry-recognized and -supported apprenticeship. Students that successfully complete the eight-week program will be fully prepared to enter into apprenticeships and related workforce programs.

State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) says the program is crucial for training future generations of workers.

“The best way to create jobs is to invest in programs that prepare our workforce for the jobs that are in need of workers,” Koehler said. “This program will help our students enter into their apprenticeship programs with the skills needed to succeed.”

State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria) says she hopes that the program will help young people looking to get ahead in life.

“Young people and career changers need to be given the tools to forge their own career path, Gordon-Booth said. “This program will prepare our students for successful careers I growing industries.”

Illinois Central College would receive $265,000 to run the program. Illinois Central College President Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey says the program will help ICC continue to prepare students for the jobs of the future

“We are incredibly grateful for Rep. Gordon-Booth’s leadership on this issue, and for fighting to secure funding for this program in the budget,” said Dr. Sheila Quirk Bailey, President of ICC. “We designed this program to help people in the most need of good-paying jobs get the education they need to find them and better provide for their families. Having allies like Rep. Gordon-Booth and the entire Peoria legislative delegation helped make this a reality”.

Candidates for the program must be 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. Those selected will then participate in a 300-hour program over eight weeks and be paid $10 per hour.

SPRINGFIELD – Disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich could receive a commutation from President Trump according to reports on Thursday. State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) issued the following statement:

“In 2009, the Illinois Senate, in a unanimous vote of 59 to 0, voted to remove Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office. I was one of those 59 Senators. After I heard testimony from an FBI source about his shakedown of a children’s hospital for a political donation before he would sign an important piece of legislation, it was pretty clear that we had a corrupt governor.

“He was ultimately convicted of numerous crimes and sent to prison. Had he ever come clean with the public about what he had done in a humble and sincere way, I could feel sorry for him. But to this day his arrogance pervades.

“President Trump's consideration of giving him a commutation confirms for me that the common bonds between the pair are arrogance and ego-centricity. “

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate passed a balanced budget with bipartisan support today.

The bipartisan budget, which was worked on by lawmakers from Chicago to downstate, includes $350 million for the new school funding formula, a 2 percent increase in funding for community colleges and nearly $600 million in cuts and savings.

State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) said the budget is a testament to what happens when rank-and-file legislators are able to work together to find common ground.

“When we tried to pass the ‘Grand Bargain’ last year, we were stopped at every step by the governor,” Koehler said. “This budget represents an opportunity for the governor to finally do the right thing, I think he should sign it the day it reaches his desk.”

The budget now goes to the House of Representatives for approval.