CHICAGO – Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) held a Senior Fraud Seminar with the Office of Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Tuesday to bring information and resources to seniors, a population often targeted by scams.

“Our seniors are one of the most vulnerable populations when it comes to being defrauded,” Munoz said. “I’m glad to partner with Attorney General Raoul to bring this important information to our community.”

The event was held at Our Lady of Good Counsel in McKinley Park with more than 75 seniors in attendance.

A presenter from the Attorney General’s Office covered a range of topics like identity theft, health care fraud and abuse, home repair fraud, robo calls and more.

To learn more about how to protect yourself from fraud, visit Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s website at http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/secc.html#silverbeat or call the senior fraud helpline at 1-800-243-5377.

View photos from the event here: http://senatortonymunoz.com/multimedia/photos/category/31-senior-fraud-seminar

CHICAGO – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that the Trump Administration may not ask about citizenship on the 2020 Census. Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) reacted to the ruling with the following statement:

“The Supreme Court has delivered a decision that encourages a complete and accurate count on the 2020 Census. The idea of adding the citizenship question to the census was nothing short of an attack on our democracy, and a fearmongering tactic against undocumented people and communities of color.

“I’m proud to stand with a governor and colleagues who are committed to counting every last person in our state, and I look forward to the representation and resource that effort will bring to Illinois.”

CHICAGO – Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) commended the governor’s signing of three measures that will provide security and support for undocumented immigrants across Illinois.

“Illinois has always been a refuge for people from all over the world,” Munoz said. “For that reason, we are proudly one of the most culturally diverse states in the country. These measures ensure that our immigrant families feel safe and will remain here at home.”

The following legislation was signed into law today:

• House Bill 2691, which provides access to financial aid for undocumented students and other groups of students who have limited access to aid.
• House Bill 2040, which bars the state and local communities from entering into contracts for private immigration detention centers.
• House Bill 1637, which bars law enforcement agreements that deputize police to act as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

House Bills 2040 and 1637 are now under effect, while HB 2691 goes into effect on Jan. 1.

CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker signed the state budget and fair tax legislation on Wednesday. Assistant Majority Leader Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) reacted with the following:

“This year’s budget is a representation of the principles and goals of the people in my district. I’m proud to bring a balanced and functioning spending plan that invests in our schools, communities and workforce.

“Additionally, voters will get to decide to implement the tax rates approved by the governor today when the fair tax is put on the ballot in 2020.”

This year’s budget continues Illinois’ path toward stability by meeting the state’s pension obligation for the seventh year in a row while investing in our future by funding programs to benefit middle-class and working families.

The budget appropriates $375 million in additional funding for K-12 education, $25 million more than required by the evidence-based school funding formula. It also includes $50 million in new funding for early childhood education programs and expands eligibility for the Child Care Assistance Program.

Human service providers that are still struggling to recover from the previous governor’s budget crisis will receive millions in funding, from domestic violence shelters to early intervention programs.

Home health care workers will also get a long-awaited and much-needed raise. Those who care for seniors and individuals with disabilities are set to receive an increase of approximately $3.50 per hour.