Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement in response to the governor’s 2016 State of the State speech:

“Gov. Rauner’s focus on economic development in Illinois is odd given that the budget impasse under his leadership is harming businesses and stifling economic growth faster than anything or anyone else ever could. Passing a state budget must be the governor’s top priority. Without a budget, businesses will continue to view Illinois as a risky place to invest.”

Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) today called on Republican leaders in the General Assembly to focus on solutions to the state’s budget crisis rather than proposing such ill-conceived ideas as a state takeover of the finances of the City of Chicago and Chicago Public Schools.

“Illinois’ own well-documented fiscal problems deserve the full, undivided attention of GOP leaders and Gov. Bruce Rauner right now,” Harmon said. “If Illinois under Gov. Rauner’s leadership can’t find a way to fund basic human services and grants promised to needy college students, it’s certainly in no position to take over Chicago Public Schools.”

SPRINGFIELD — A proposal to bring automatic voter registration to Illinois is another step toward modernizing the state’s voting process and producing an engaged and informed electorate, Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) said Wednesday.

“In recent years, we have made Illinois much friendlier to voters, and we have made access to registration and voting much easier,” Harmon said. “Automatic voter registration is the obvious next step. Illinois has been a leader in this. We don’t want to fall behind other states that are moving more quickly. We need to remain a leader across the country.”

Harmon was among a group of Illinois senators who called for passage of an automatic voter registration law during a press conference Wednesday. They were joined by representatives of Just Democracy Illinois, a coalition that works to expand voter access.

OAK PARK — State Sen. Don Harmon issued the following statement regarding Monday’s Senate vote to release $3.1 billion in local money that has been held up by the budget impasse in Springfield.

“Mayors and village leaders representing the communities in my district can no longer afford to wait for the release of money that the state collects but rightfully belongs to local communities – especially motor fuel tax dollars that are used to buy road salt and pay for snow removal,” Harmon said. “This money never should have been held up by the state in the first place.”

Gov. Bruce Rauner signed the legislation – Senate Bill 2039 – Monday afternoon.

Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement about Tuesday's meeting between legislative leaders and Gov. Bruce Rauner regarding Illinois' budget impasse:

"Senate President John Cullerton was correct to urge more meetings going forward. There can’t be compromise on the budget if the state’s leaders aren’t talking,” Harmon said.

"The prolonged budget impasse has created a horribly unfriendly business climate for Illinois. I hope the governor is ready to acknowledge that his approach to leadership has not been working and that it’s time to end this stalemate, which has done nothing but harm the state’s most vulnerable residents and worsen Illinois’ bleak financial picture.”