ELGIN – After hearing concerns from local residents about rising utility rates, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) is hosting a free utility bill clinic with the Citizens Utility Board to help community members spot unnecessary charges and avoid scams.

“People are getting sticker shock every month when they get their utility bill,” Castro said. “Making sure our residents have access to the resources they need to decode their utility bill will hopefully save families more money.”

The clinic will be hosted by Sen. Castro on Wednesday, March 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin. It will be free to the public and no registration is required. CUB recommends residents bring copies of recent utility bills for review.

“Winter weather will always cause a spike in people’s bills, but more and more I am hearing from residents that their costs are skyrocketing,” Castro said. “I hope this clinic will help residents learn ways to advocate for themselves as they look for ways to lower their bills.”

For any questions or more information, contact Sen. Castro’s office at 847-214-8864 or reach out on her website at www.senatorcristinacastro.com/contact-us. 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) supported a bill to remove a sales tax on breast pumps and related supplies to help new mothers access the products they need more affordably.

“Breast pumps are a basic necessity for nursing parents, especially ones who need to return to work and can’t breast feed regularly,” said Castro, a longtime advocate for new mothers. “A sales tax on these products is just one more financial barrier for mothers to try to overcome.”

Senate Bill 3634 would exempt breast pumps, breast pump collection and storage supplies and breast pump kits from sales tax, which is currently 6.25% of the cost. These supplies are necessary for mothers who choose to breastfeed, and many insurance companies do not cover the cost of these products.

Eight other states, including New York, Minnesota and Pennsylvania, already exempt breast pump and related supplies from state sales tax.

“Over 84% of mothers in Illinois choose to breastfeed at some point, and over 42% do so exclusively for the first three months,” Castro said. “Making sure mothers can afford what they need to make a healthy choice for themselves and their baby is essential.”

SB 3634, which Castro is a co-sponsor of, passed the Senate Friday and now moves to the floor for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – Following the selection of the new Legislative Inspector General Wednesday, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) issued the following statement:

“We need to make sure the General Assembly has the proper ethical oversight, and it’s about time we select someone who understands the importance of this job.

“The Hon. Michael P. McCuskey’ commitment to public service through his work as a public defender and a judge makes him an outstanding person for the job. 

“We’ve waited too long to fill the Legislative Inspector General position, and I am glad to see it finally happening. Selecting someone who will ensure ethics are upheld to the highest extent has always been a top priority, and I believe Judge McCuskey is up to the job.”