Aquino moves to prevent driver's license suspensions for unpaid fines

SPRINGFIELD – Drivers would no longer lose their licenses over unpaid tickets and other non-moving violations under a bill introduced by State Senator Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) that was unanimously approved by the Senate Transportation Committee today.

“For years the City of Chicago has preyed on low-income black and Hispanic communities by coercing them with the threat of having their license suspended,” said Aquino. “In 2016, the city made $264 million by taking what little money that our low-income residents have. I cannot stand by while my city balances its budget on the backs of black and brown communities.”

According to data analysis done by ProPublica Illinois, 44 percent of license suspensions issued were to residents in black communities and 54 percent of license suspensions issued were to residents in low-income communities.

Senate Bill 1786 would remove the Secretary of State’s authority to suspend or revoke licenses for failure to pay certain fees including parking tickets and non-moving violations.

“Without reliable public transportation, you can’t realistically expect someone who has accrued fees to pay them if you take away their ability to drive,” said Aquino. “That just threatens the livelihood of those who live in rural areas without public transportation. The current practice is just another way to punish people for being poor.”

Senate Bill 1786 is scheduled for consideration before the full Senate.

Aquino condemns decision to build ICE detention facility in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) is condemning a decision by Dwight, Illinois village trustees to annex 88 acres of land to host a potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immigrant detention facility.

“It is disgusting that the village trustees value construction jobs over the human rights of immigrants,” said Aquino. “ICE has consistently violated human rights to carry out the president’s racist agenda of deporting immigrants of color, and they are not welcome to carry out that agenda in my state.”

ICE is looking to build a $20 million detention facility near Illinois 17 and Interstate 55. Village trustees voted 5-2 to annex the property there and have been in talks with ICE to facilitate the construction of the site.

Several hundred individuals in Central Illinois protested the consideration of the facility and the Dwight Village Board meeting erupted with anger as village trustees voted in favor of construction.

Read more: Aquino condemns decision to build ICE detention facility in Illinois

Aquino: Social service funding top priority in new budget

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) commended Gov. JB Pritzker’s focus on social service funding during his first budget address.

“Social services in my district and across the state are still reeling from the previous administration’s manufactured budget crisis,” said Aquino. “A budget is a moral document, and I am thrilled that moving forward we will exercise morality by serving the most vulnerable of our citizens.”

During the 2015-2017 budget impasse essential social service agencies that rely on state funding went unpaid, forcing most to limit services and some to close their doors indefinitely. These services include homeless shelters, addiction treatment centers, domestic violence shelters and others.

“Not only is there a financial cost from the impasse, but a significant human cost as well,” said Aquino. “People could not access the services and help they needed and I am glad that this administration is going to make that a top priority. We are going to bring stability and dignity back to peoples’ lives.”

Read more: Aquino: Social service funding top priority in new budget

Aquino: minimum wage increase is long overdue

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) is praising legislation signed into law today that will give working families a raise by increasing the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025.

“Paying people in Illinois what their labor is worth is long overdue,” said Aquino. “For years, people have been underpaid to the point to where, even if they work more than 60 hours a week, they still live in poverty. That is immoral, and we can do better.”

The minimum wage will raise to $10 per hour by the end of 2020, and increase by $1 each year until it reaches $15 in 2025. The law also provides a payroll withholding refund to small businesses to assist them in the transition to a higher minimum wage.

“At a time when there is massive wealth inequality, raising the minimum wage will help bring power and dignity back to the lives of working people – regardless of where they live in our state,” said Aquino.

Senator Aquino looks forward to working with Gov. JB Pritzker to pass more progressive legislation to help poor and working families in Illinois.