As lawmakers in Springfield raced the clock to pass a state budget before the end of the spring legislative session, Dawn Abernathy of Mundelein, the Republican candidate for Illinois House District 59, called legislators out for focusing on providing state-funded assistance to undocumented students when they can't provide for the state's own legal residents.
"The politicians in Springfield can’t pass a balanced budget, and they can’t keep the promises they’ve already made," Abernathy said. "Instead of tackling the problems we face, they want to create new benefits for persons here illegally. This is just another example of why people are so frustrated by politicians who are protecting the systems they put in place instead of working to improve the quality of life for Illinois families."
Abernathy was among a number of Republicans who railed against Senate Bill 2196, which will provide state-funded financial assistance to undocumented students. The bill passed the Senate in April and is now being considered in the House.
Illinois has the highest property taxes in the nation, and Abernathy pointed out that families can't afford to send their children to Illinois universities. Instead of focusing on that issue, Abernathy said legislators would rather focus on providing educational benefits to students who lack legal status in the U.S.
"Every child should have access to a world-class education, but that is not happening in Illinois," Abernathy said. "Today, two-thirds of fourth graders can’t read or write at the fourth-grade level. If we aren't teaching kids to read and write, they won't be able to attend and graduate from college. Rather than fixing our failing institutions, the politicians are set on expanding benefits for their own political gain."
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