Senate President Don Harmon statement on clean energy economy plan

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois Senate President Don Harmon issued the following statement in response to Climate Jobs Illinois’ plan for clean energy jobs:

“I welcome Climate Jobs Illinois and organized labor as key allies in the fight to create a 100 percent clean energy economy—an economy that will not only protect our environment but also generate thousands of good-paying jobs.

Organized labor understands the importance of providing a trained workforce to support middle-class and working families and help close the growing income gap.

I look forward to continuing the conversation on this proposal.”

Census count impacts our daily lives

It is difficult to appreciate how much something as expansive as the U.S. Census can truly impact one’s daily life. It is easy to fall into the trap of viewing it as a large, strange concept rather than a necessary step to determining whether vital programs continue.

So, if you will, join me in imagining how much an undercount could affect a day in the (pre-COVID) life of an average Illinoisan. Let’s call her Mary.

Mary’s alarm goes off at least an hour before the sun comes up. Her 12-hour shift as a registered nurse starts early three days a week. Mornings are a rush, and she’s thankful that her son’s school offers a hot breakfast so she knows he’s had something nutritious to last him until lunch.

She smiles for a second after dropping him off. He’s really been thriving this year, and she believes that’s thanks to the early intervention services he was able to receive during preschool.

The road she takes to work used to be filled with potholes, but the city recently repaved it, and she’s hopeful she won’t have to replace another tire for a while.

On her day off tomorrow, she’s going to visit her mother, who is recovering from a hip replacement surgery. Medicare is covering the cost of in-home services, but she likes to stop in and visit to see how her mother is progressing.

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"The Black Caucus is showing us the path to a better Illinois" -- Senate President Don Harmon

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois Senate President Don Harmon's statement regarding the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus' unveiling of its plan to confront racial and economic injustice.

"The Black Caucus is showing us the path to a better Illinois. I look forward to being an ally and helping win approval of needed reforms."

Harmon to explore options for keeping nuclear plants open, workers employed

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Senate President Don Harmon will look into legislative options requiring power plants be put up for sale to see if someone else can successful run them before they can be mothballed.

Harmon offered the following statement regarding Exelon’s announcement that it intends to close two of the nuclear power plants it owns in Illinois.

“Independent market monitors believe these plants can be profitable. I intend to look into legislative options including requiring these plants be put up for sale before they can be shuttered. We owe it to these workers and communities to see if someone else can successfully run these assets.”