Exclusive: Taxpayers Polled On Andy Manar And SB16

We were just shared this  set of in-person reactions to a poll that was taken outside of a Dunkin' Donuts in suburban Naperville.

These voters were just informed that State Senator Andy Manar - the architect behind SB16 which would gut school funding - was surprisingly named a "Friend" of Education.  

They reacted as you'd expect:  disbelief and surprise that a guy who sponsored and is trumpeting a bill that diverts MILLIONS of dollars in funding away from suburban schools and funnels it to other districts thereby not solving anything, just making more 'winners and losers' would/could possibly be seen as a 'friend' by education.  

Check out the three most pointed reactions below.  Senator Andy Manar has likely see these same reactions about his re-election effort:

That's a *VERY* Unusual Use Of The Word "Friend"

We saw this post over on State Senator Andy Manar's Facebook Wall.  You might remember Senator Andy Manar from such terrible pieces of legislation as SB16 which would gut school funding in the suburbs.

And...we had to break out the paper towels and screen our laptop screen.

Because...our reaction to reading his post looked like this:

Friend?  Seriously?

Let's get real folks.  Andy Manar is no 'friend' of education.  At least for folks in the Suburbs.  Andy Manar's SB16 does not fix problems with the current funding formula for school aid; it simply redistributes money and creates a new list of “winners” and “losers.”

Go over here to learn more about how you can join your fellow taxpayers in Illinois and sign a petition to help stop SB16.

Say "No" To SB 16 And To Cuts To Suburban School Funding

State Representative Ron Sandack and the House Republicans down in Springfield have launched a petition that urges taxpayers all across Illinois to stand up and join them in fighting back against Senator Andy Manar's SB16 and the devastating cuts it would make to schools in the suburbs.

You can sign the petition here.

In May of 2014 the Illinois Senate approved a bill that would divert millions in General State Aid for Education away from hundreds of Illinois school districts and toward other districts. SB16 does not fix problems with the current funding formula for school aid; it simply redistributes money and creates a new list of “winners” and “losers.” 

We think education funding reform should be comprehensive, thoughtful, bipartisan and done with all stakeholders at the table. We also think that all Illinois children deserve an opportunity for optimal success post high school. 

If you agree, please add your name to the petition below, and take the added step of sharing it with your friends.

 Let’s get SB16 off the table and have a true and meaningful discussion for how state education dollars should be spent.

Sandack Stands Up For Suburbs On Education Funding Bill

State Representative Ron Sandack again finds himself on the front lines of a battle down in Springfield.  This time, it is about education funding - specifically SB16 - and he's fighting to make sure folks don't short-change the suburbs.  Good on him.

“During his remarks, Senator Manar himself admitted that SB16 still needs work. Why would any legislator knowingly approve a bad bill? This ‘pass it now and we’ll fix it later’ mentality is dangerous and it’s how bad bills end up becoming bad laws in our state. 

“The Senator certainly looked agitated and bothered as he was taking his personal shots at me and my House Resolution this morning. But we suburban legislators are taking all of this very personally. He is taking aim at our schools and defunding them. 

“Had he read HR1276, Senator Manar would have seen clear language promoting a thoughtful and thorough process for complete education funding reform. My public statements regarding the dangers of SB16 have always included references to the need for comprehensive reforms so that all students across the state can be college and career ready. 

“The Senator spoke at length about the bipartisan process that led to the creation of the Education Funding Advisory Committee’s report. But activity over the summer has been completely partisan. Republicans only learned of the SB16 meetings from education advocacy groups who alerted us to the fact that the meetings were taking place. Senator Manar’s claims that the process remains bipartisan are completely false. 

“During his remarks, Senator Manar, a Democrat, said that school funding proration has been devastating to Illinois schools, yet he takes no responsibility for the fact that the Democrats are the ones who have created budgets that have cut education spending by more than $600 million since 2009. Simply making wise financial decisions that start with funding education at 100% would go far in addressing many schools’ struggles. 

“I invite Senator Manar to dispense with the angry partisan bickering and secret Democrats-only meetings and engage in a full and open discussion about education funding reform. We need to bring all stakeholders to the table and talk outside of the parameters of SB 16, which directly threatens suburban schools.”

Tonight: Ron Sandack Hosting Tele-Town Hall On Proposed Education Funding Cuts

Those of you who live in and around the suburbs and have school-aged kids have probably heard murmurs and whispers about something called "Senate Bill 16".

Senate Bill 16 would significantly rewrite the school funding formula in a manner that would devastate schools in much of the suburbs of Chicago.

State Representative Ron Sandack has taken on the bill and is working to actively 'sink' it (as the Illinois Observer put it) and that's good news for those of you who live in DuPage, Will, Kendall, Lake Counties.  

“In its current form, SB16 strips the districts in this area of most of their general state aid dollars and channels most of the money to the Chicago Public School System,” Sandack said. “While I support full, fair, comprehensive reforms to the school funding formula, I cannot and will not support an initiative that would cripple the school districts in DuPage and other suburban counties.” 

According to Sandack, SB16 would redirect $140 million in general state aid dollars away from DuPage County. “That’s $140 million in hard-earned taxpayer dollars taken from people who live in District 81 and the other DuPage County legislative districts,” said Sandack. “It is an unfair reallocation of limited state aid, and it is an unacceptable short-cut solution to Illinois’ school funding issue.” 

SB16 passed in the Illinois Senate during the final days of the Spring legislative session but was not called for a vote in the House of Representatives. It is possible that a revised version of the bill will emerge during the General Assembly’s November veto session.  

And...State Representative Ron Sandack isn't doing this alone.  He wants you - the voter - to get involved.

That's why he's hosting a Tele-town Hall meeting TONIGHT from 7:15 to 8:15 on SB 16.

You can join by calling 888-987-3602 at 7:15 or email him at Ron4Illinois@gmail.com with questions ahead of time.