Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanual and Chicago Department of Family and Support Services Comissioner Evelyn Diaz have announced that the City of Chicago will facilitate more then 18,000 job opportunities for young adults 18-24. To learn more about these job opportunities click here.

State Senator Patricia Van Pelt’s tax credit for businesses hiring ex-offenders passed out of the General Assembly today with bipartisan support. This legislation, SB 1659, will expand the maximum tax credit for businesses who hire qualified ex-offenders from $600 to $1,500.

“This legislation will offer an increased incentive for businesses to assist in the reintegration of ex-offenders into the community,” Van Pelt said. “This policy will ensure employment opportunities for all residents of Illinois and will help us rehabilitate ex-offenders.”

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Senator Patricia Van Pelt voted against Senate Bill 1 today. The pension plan failed by a vote of 16-42, Van Pelt released the following statement:

“There are no easy answers to a problem as large as the Illinois pension problem. We voted for fair, negotiated legislation earlier this month when the Senate passed Senate Bill 2404. We are talking about the livelihoods and pension futures of hardworking employees, and the drastic, non-negotiated cuts proposed in Senate Bill 1 are unacceptable.

“This proposed legislation violates the Illinois Constitution and could very well end up struck by the Illinois Supreme Court. In that case, this plan would save the state no money and we would be right back where we started. We already passed a fair, constitutional plan out of the Senate and that plan should be called for a vote in the House. ”

Recently, Illinois has been featured in films and television programs such as “The Dark Knight,” “Barbershop,” and “Chicago Fire.” State Senator Patricia Van Pelt’s (D-Chicago 5th) plan to expand the state’s film tax credit to keep Illinois on film passed the Senate today with bipartisan support.

Last week, the senator was joined in Executive Committee by actor Billy Zane and producer Bob Teitel. Zane, a Chicago native known for his roles in “Titanic” and “The Phantom,” and Teitel, producer of “Barbershop,” were in the Capitol to support Senate Bill 1816.

“This bill is about Illinois jobs and competitiveness. This bill is about labor,” Zane said. “It benefits film producers and actors, but it also creates many blue-collar jobs. This will stop the drain of talent from Illinois to the coasts, keeping actors in Illinois to raise their families.”

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