Senator Chesney Files Resolution Urging Pritzker to Opt-In to Federal School Choice Tax Credit Program
Back in 2023, I was a vocal advocate for the continuation and expansion of the Illinois Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship Program. The program was a lifeline for tens of thousands of Illinois families that were seeking a better educational setting for their kids who, for whatever reason, were struggling to succeed in their current schools.
Despite pleas from parents whose kids were thriving thanks to the scholarships that allowed them to move to a private school, and an organized effort by Republicans to save the program, Democrats shamefully dismantled Invest in kids at the end of 2023.
Now these families have a second chance to secure a better education for their kids. Included in President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” is a federal tax credit program very similar to Invest in Kids. The only catch is that the governor of each state must opt-in to the federal program. Even though the federal tax credit scholarship program would not cost the State of Illinois one dime, Governor Pritzker has expressed an unwillingness to opt-in.
Last week I filed a Senate Resolution that calls on the Governor to stop playing politics with children’s futures and immediately opt Illinois into the new federal school choice tax credit scholarship program. You can read my Senate Resolution 383 here.
As you may recall, I wrote about this new federal tax credit program in my last guest column. The new program allows individuals to receive a 100% federal tax credit for donations to certified Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). These SGOs help families pay for private school tuition, homeschooling expenses, tutoring, and more. It offers real options to working- and middle-class parents who want something better for their children.
There is absolutely no downside to this program. The only obstacle is the Governor’s stubborn loyalty to union bosses and his refusal to embrace true educational freedom. Illinois families deserve better.
Still Time to Participate in Senator Chesney’s Summer Reading Program
Summer reading keeps kids’ minds sharp and gives them a head start on their next year of school. I have already received several dozen completed summer reading forms, but there’s still time for students to participate in my 2025 Summer Reading Program.
Students entering first through sixth grade in the fall of this year are challenged to read eight books over the course of the summer. Books over 200 pages may count as two books. Once a student has completed the readings, a summer reading form should be filled out and signed by a parent or guardian. The form can be accessed here.
Completed forms should be returned by August 13, 2025, to the following address:
State Senator Andrew Chesney
50 West Douglas Street, Suite 1001
Freeport, IL 61032
Participants who complete the program will receive an official certificate of recognition from the Illinois Senate and an invitation to a special ice cream party to celebrate their achievement.
For additional information, please contact my district office at (815) 232-0774.
Illinois Ranks Last for Financial Transparency
In a recently released report, Illinois was dead last in the country concerning financial transparency when compared to all 50 states. Researchers with Truth in Accounting, who put out the report, claim Illinois’ ranking can be highlighted by the state’s delay in publishing its fiscal year 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports. That report was meant to be published by June 30, 2024, but the Illinois Comptroller’s Office has only released an “interim” version.
The Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports are meant to be one of the most accurate ways to view the state’s financial outlook. While the 2023 report remains incomplete, the state’s 2022 report included a disclaimer of opinion, meaning auditors were unable to ensure the financial statements were free of material misstatements. This raises further questions about the state’s fiscal accountability.
This report is yet another reminder of Illinois Democrats’ inability to provide basic transparency to taxpayers. Timely and accurate financial reporting is essential for building trust with the public and for making sound budgetary decisions, and I believe Illinois will continue to struggle with credibility and fiscal stability until Illinois Democrats take financial responsibility seriously.
