Press Releases

“This plan helps our state fill the skills gap in our workforce. It comes at no cost to tax payers and helps produce jobs that average annual salaries of $50,000 or more.” - Sen. Melinda Bush

SPRINGFIELD - Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) intensified her efforts to improve the Illinois economy today by shepherding a workforce-training program through the Senate designed to have long-term benefits for employers and employees.

The Illinois State Training and Employment Program – otherwise known as I-STEP – would allow community colleges to provide free job training for new hires at companies that are adding to the Illinois workforce.

“This plan helps our state fill the skills gap in our workforce,” Bush said. “It comes at no cost to tax payers and helps produce jobs that average annual salaries of $50,000 or more.”

Read more ...

ZION – Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) will be holding recurring, full-service satellite office hours in Zion over the course of the next few months. Her first stop for the year will be this Thursday. 

“Opening additional offices helps me be accessible and responsive to communities across the 31st District,” Sen. Bush said.  “Providing assistance to constituents is an important part of my role as your Senator.”

The Zion satellite office event will be held Thursday, April 10 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 1632 23rd St., Zion, IL (formerly Zion Benton Township High School’s Pearce Campus).

Read more ...

I recently joined my colleagues on the Education Funding Advisory Committee in announcing the School Funding Reform Act of 2014, which is a proposal to streamline the current funding structure for public education into one funding formula.

This proposal would provide a more equitable funding stream for public education in Illinois and offer more transparency in how education dollars are spent.

Click here to read more about today's announcement. 

“This proposal will allow children and adults who experience severe epileptic seizures to experience the best quality of life possible.” - Senator Melinda Bush

SPRINGFIELD - For some children, everyday is a struggle. For children with myostatic-astatic epilepsy, struggle would be a welcomed pause from the more than 1,500 epileptic seizures they experience every day.

Senator Bush (D-Grayslake) believes that the exploration of medical marijuana as a seizure inhibitor should be expanded to Illinois. That’s why she is cosponsoring a proposal that would add seizures and epilepsy to the list of debilitating medical conditions that qualifies an individual for the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act.

“We’ve heard testimony that medicinally prescribed marijuana lessens the frequency, pain and deterioration that stems from catastrophic seizures,” Bush said. “If this option helps just one person in Illinois, I will consider it a success.” 

Read more ...