SPRINGFIELD – A ruling by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission could result in Illinois residents paying nearly $1 billion more in electricity bills. In a 2-1 vote split along party lines, the Trump-appointed majority imposed new rules that could prevent clean energy sources from competing in the energy market.

Upon hearing about the ruling, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), a sponsor of the Clean Energy Jobs Act, issued the following statement:

“If the Trump administration is going to continue its attack on clean energy, then it is imperative we act with urgency. We must work on the Clean Energy Jobs Act and ensure it passes through the General Assembly during the upcoming session, allowing us to take matters into our own hands and prevent utility bills from skyrocketing.”

SPRINGFIELD – A plan sponsored by State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) aimed at mitigating the threat of the state’s pension crisis was signed into law Wednesday.

“The number one budget issue legislators have been dealing with for decades is the pension crisis,” Castro said. “We got a victory today with this consolidation plan, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.”

The new law will enact many changes to pension statute, chief among them the ability to consolidate. Under the law, the roughly 650 separate pension funds for downstate police officers and firefighters will be consolidated into two individual and separate funds over a 30-month transition period in January. The consolidation process is estimated to save $160 million annually, while not affecting individual pension amounts.

Senate Bill 1300 takes effect Jan. 1, 2020.

SPRINGFIELD – Just days after passing a resolution through the Senate creating it, State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) was named to the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform by Senate President John J. Cullerton.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Castro said. “It’s time to get started.”

The commission was established by House Joint Resolution 93, which Castro sponsored during the second week of veto session. The commission will consist of members appointed by the four legislative leaders, the governor, the attorney general and the secretary of state, and will review various state ethics laws and make recommendations to the General Assembly.

“This commission will lay the groundwork for ethics reform in Illinois,” Castro said. “When we see allegations like the ones in recent months, they call into question the integrity of our Democracy. To act quickly to restore that trust, I sponsored the legislation that created this commission and I am proud to serve on it.”

State Senator Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) was also named to the commission.