Senator Mattie Hunter News

State Senator Mattie Hunter attended a public hearing today on unemployment and job creation in front of the Illinois House Small Business Empowerment and Workforce Development Committee at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago. The hearing was sponsored by Committee Chair Representative La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) and attended by legislators, representatives from State agencies, and city and council officials to discuss legislation and laws enacted to address the unemployment crisis in Chicago. The hearing consisted of panels speaking on job creation initiatives, and the impacts of unemployment to the youth, aging, minorities, disabled, and formerly incarcerated.

Read more: Hunter attends a public hearing today on unemployment and job creation

Springfield, IL – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) issued a statement of support following the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the capital plan that was passed by the General Assembly in 2009, Public Act 96-34. The measure created a substantial part of the $31 billion Capital Construction Bill’s revenue stream, including legalizing video poker, raising the tax on alcoholic beverages, raising the sales tax on candy and hygiene products, and privatizing the lottery. Earlier this year, Rockwell Wirtz, owner of Wirtz Beverage and the Chicago Blackhawks, initiated the lawsuit believing that the measure violated the Illinois Constitution’s "Single Subject Rule."

Read more: Hunter applauds Supreme Court ruling to uphold State capital funding

Springfield, IL – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) extending the Ticket for the Cure lottery game was signed into law today by Governor Pat Quinn. In addition, the measure renames the lottery ticket as Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure and the fund as Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure Grant Fund, and reorganizes the advisory board. Money in the Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure Grant Fund is distributed to the Department of Public Health to provide grants to fund research promoting education and awareness of breast cancer and services for breast cancer victims.

Read more: Hunter legislation extending Ticket for the Cure lottery ticket signed into law

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter (D–Chicago) recently passed legislation creating a tax credit for live theater productions in an attempt to attract pre-Broadway and traveling productions to perform in Illinois.