Castro: Rauner prioritized big banks over local consumers

• Consumer Protection
• Veto

ELGIN– Gov. Bruce Rauner prioritized big banks over Illinois consumers Friday, vetoing consumer protection legislation championed by State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin).

On Friday, Rauner did not approve Castro’s House Bill 4922, which would have prohibited rebate cards from charging inactivity fees. The legislation would have expanded existing gift card regulations to rebate cards.

“Gov. Bruce Rauner prioritized big banks over local consumers,” Castro said. “This measure would hold big banks accountable and help prevent them from deceiving Illinois residents with unnecessary and burdensome fees.”

The vetoed measure was an initiative of the Illinois State Treasurer to prevent banks from taking unclaimed property on rebate cards.

Under current law, companies can issue a rebate in the form of a check to a consumer, and if the check is not cashed within three years, the company is required to turn the amount of the check over to the Treasurer's Office as unclaimed property.

Castro pledges to continue to work with the State Treasurer and Attorney General to protect Illinois consumers who have money owed to them from rebates. 

“If a consumer is owed money from a rebate, they shouldn’t be hindered by dormancy fees,” Castro said. “It is unfair and should be unlawful. Consumers shouldn’t be at risk of being charged for getting a rebate. It’s their money.”

Castro’s new law gives children access to their medicine on school grounds

• Schools
• Ashley's Law

ELGIN – Illinois children who are qualified medical cannabis patients will now have access to their medicine on school grounds thanks to Elgin Democrat, State Senator Cristina Castro.

Castro’s bipartisan initiative creates "Ashley's Law” which allows for the administration of medical cannabis-infused products on school premises. It was signed into law Wednesday.

“Children shouldn’t have to choose between their medication and their education,” Castro said. Qualified patients have the right to have access to their medicine no matter where they are. I’m happy to see this measure signed into law.”

This measure was in response to a recent case of an 11-year-old student being denied use of medical cannabis prescribed to her to alleviate symptoms of leukemia treatment. Although she is a qualified medical cannabis patient, previous state law prohibited her use of medicinal cannabis on school grounds.

“With support from the House, Senate and governor’s office, we are grateful that Ashley’s Law will help many children dependent on medical cannabis attend school in Illinois,” Ashley’s family said. “We want to send a huge heartfelt thank you from our family to Senator Castro, Governor Rauner, Representative Lang, our attorney Steve Glink and our doctors for changing our lives. It’s a miracle.”

House Bill 4870 passed the Senate and House with unanimous support and goes into effect immediately.

Castro calls on DCFS to investigate Chicago immigration shelter

ELGIN – After hearing about the accusations of abuse at a Chicago shelter housing immigrant children, Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) is calling on DCFS for an investigation.

“These allegations are disgusting,” Castro said. “Not only are migrant children being ripped apart from their families, but now we hear about them being poorly treated and threatened in a place where they are supposed to be cared for.”

Children placed in Casa Guadalupe, run by Heartland Alliance, spoke to The Washington Post about the horrors they faced while away from their families. Now, after being released to their mothers, reports say these children still have altered behavior and nightmares.

“If state funds were used to support these efforts, DCFS needs to investigate,” Castro said.” I want to ensure that this behavior is stopped immediately and to know what they have done to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Castro reacts to tragic ruling to reverse organized labor rights

ELGIN – Millions of American workers will now be vulnerable to decreases in their wages and benefits due to the Janus v. AFSCME U.S. Supreme Court ruling today that dealt a massive blow to unions across the country, garnering disapproval from State Senator Cristina Castro.

“Today’s ruling is an attack on organized labor, the same organized labor that marched the streets, boycotted and fought to ensure equality, fair wages and safety in the workplace,” said Castro, an Elgin Democrat.

SCOTUS’s decision will drastically harm the right for teachers, firefighters, police officers, child welfare workers and millions of other hard-working Americans to bargain for a dignified middle-class living.

“This is a step back for our country,” said Castro. “Illinois rejected Rauner’s scheme to remove organized labor, but thanks to his buddy Trump’s Supreme Court, he got what he wanted. I hope he is happy with this blow to working and middle-class families. I stand with organized labor today, and I will continue to fight for laws that will protect voices in the workplace.”