PEORIA – Legislation extending a tax credit for historic river communities was signed into law today. State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) was a chief co-sponsor of the legislation and issued the following statement:

“This tax credit is an example of what happens when lawmakers put aside their differences to do what is best for their communities and the entire state. In this era of hyper-partisan tension, it is reassuring to see overwhelming bipartisan support for a measure that spurs economic growth in places like Peoria’s Warehouse District.”  

SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Illinois Senate voted to override the governor’s veto a new school funding formula today. State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) voted to override the governor’s veto and issued the following statement:

“The governor’s veto could have cost our local schools millions of dollars in state aid and destroyed years of progress. It is time for Illinois to adopt a new school funding formula that fairly funds schools all across the state. Senate bill 1 is the best possible solution to fixing the formula and I believe it should be the law of Illinois.”

PEORIA – Governor Bruce Rauner has vetoed landmark legislation that would rewrite Illinois’ unfair school funding formula. State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) issued the following statement:

“I am profoundly disappointed that the governor has vetoed this new formula that would guarantee all schools are fairly funded. Despite the governor’s veto, I believe that negotiations should continue in order to fix the formula. Should those talks fail, I support overriding the governor’s veto.”

"It is time to stop pitting one part of the state against the other for political purposes.” - State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria)

PEORIA – Governor Bruce Rauner has once again called for a special session of the Illinois General Assembly. The governor has said he will veto a school funding reform measure supported by over one hundred school superintendents and dozens of school districts.

State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) issued the following statement:

“Governor Rauner has demonstrated once again that he favors campaigning over governing. Rather than focusing on how he could work constructively with the General Assembly, he calls Blagojevich-style special sessions that only waste taxpayers’ dollars.

“I am calling on the governor to sign a bill that his own administration says he supports 90% of. It is time to stop pitting one part of the state against the other for political purposes.”