SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) issued the following statement in response to the governor’s budget address today:

“I applaud Governor Pritzker for including a child tax credit in his budget proposal. I believe we should go bolder and more ambitious to ensure the child tax credit puts a sizable dent in child poverty across Illinois. As I wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times this week, and have championed for three years since taking office, it is important for us to enact a permanent and refundable child tax credit for households in every part of Illinois who are scrimping to get by and deserve economic relief and financial security. This is a day long coming, and now we have to fight for a more robust child tax credit that will have a broader impact.

“I’m also pleased to see clear commitments from the Governor that support healthy communities, including additional investments in early childhood, higher education, funding for K-12 schools, health care and eliminating food insecurity. I also appreciate that the Governor has proposed $10M in funds that will help erase medical debt for more than a quarter million people.”

“I look forward to being a leading voice in budget negotiations on the child tax credit and other critical priorities to address the needs of children, working families and low-income households across our state. That will be my north star in the weeks ahead.”