Enroll in a health care plan today!

With the new year approaching, I wanted to remind you that the health insurance marketplace is currently open for enrollment though Dec. 15.

There will be certified Enrollment Navigators available in person this Saturday, Dec. 15 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Spring Wood Middle School, located at 5540 Arlington Dr. in Hanover Park. AMITA Health will also be in attendance and will be offering blood pressure and stroke risk screenings.

To enroll, re-enroll or shop for a health care plan that is right for you, visit www.healthcare.gov or go to www.getcovered.illinois.gov to get coverage. Financial help may be available for those who qualify. The last day to enroll is Dec. 15, so don't wait until it is too late.

Castro to help new governor create jobs

ELGIN – State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) was named to governor-elect JB Pritzker’s Job Creation & Economic Opportunity committee today at the 1871, which is a non-profit small business incubator that has created over 7,000 jobs.

Castro currently sits on the Senate Commerce and Economic Development Committee and is excited to lend her expertise and practical experience to the new administration.

“Our state’s economy is vulnerable right now. We need to prioritize economic growth and job creation so people can feel confident in the future and make Illinois their home,” Castro said. “I am excited to be a part of this vital committee and I can’t wait to get started.”

The 37-member committee will have its first meeting one week from today where members will focus on opportunities across the state, diversity and ensuring small businesses have the tools to grow and thrive.

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Castro: “President Trump cannot singlehandedly change the Constitution to exercise his will”

• Immigration
• Federal

ELGIN— State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) is tired of President Donald Trump’s unconstitutional ploys. This week, Trump announced his plans to end birthright citizenship for babies born to noncitizens changing a Constitutional right that was established by the nation’s founding fathers.

“Once again, President Trump is abusing his office to attract support from right wing extremists,” Castro said. “We need to work together as a society to embrace the contributions diversity brings to our nation, state and society instead of pitting people against each other. Plain and simple, the president’s actions are illegal.”   

Trump is attempting to make changes to the fourteenth amendment which was adopted on July 9, 1868 as one of the Reconstruction Amendments to address citizenship rights and equal protections of the law.  U.S. Presidents cannot change the Constitution by issuing an executive order.

“Despite his complete and utter ignorance, President Trump cannot singlehandedly change the Constitution to exercise his will,” Castro said. “In times like this we need to come together as a community and spread kindness and generosity whenever possible.”

Castro urges override of gender wage gap bill veto

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Cristina Castro met with colleagues today urging for an override of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a bill she sponsored to address Illinois’ gender wage gap in Illinois and protect working women.

Had it become law, House Bill 4163 would have banned employers from asking prospective new employees about their salary history. This would ensure wages were based on experience rather than the employee’s history.

“It’s a vicious cycle,” said Castro, an Elgin Democrat. “If a woman is unfairly paid a lower wage at one job, and that unfair wage can be used to determine her wage at her next job, then she might never be able to earn the wage she is duly deserved.”

Despite making up nearly half the work force in Illinois, women on average are paid only 79 cents for every dollar earned by men in similar occupational roles. The disparity is even larger among women of color, with black women earning 63 cents to the dollar and Hispanic and Latina women earning only 48.

“Working class families in Illinois are already struggling,” said Castro. “It only makes matters worse when women are denied wages they deserve. All this bill does is help protect working class women in this state from undue financial hardship, so I’m having a hard time understanding why Gov. Rauner opposed it.”

The bill would also have given victims of unfair or gender-based wage discrepancies a method to seek compensation, including the recovery of lost wages, punitive damages and reimbursement of legal fees.

“Similar measures have been proposed, but none of them give women the ability to seek justice for unfair practices used against them,” said Castro. “That makes those laws unenforceable. This bill would have been an enforceable law meant to ensure that women in Illinois are paid what they ought to be fairly paid.”

Castro intends to file a motion to override during the fall Veto Session.