After making a series of stops in the 93rd district, State Representative Norine Hammond announced her re-election campaign today outside the Knox County Courthouse.
Following the announcement, Hammond took a moment to talk about issues, including the Illinois budget and education.
“I am very disturbed by the fact that with the four years that the tax increase was in place, we took in over the four years $31 billion,” Hammond says. “At no time did we fully fund K through 12 education. That would have required an additional $500 million a year. When you’re taking in that kind of money and that’s not a priority, that’s disturbing and irresponsible.”
Speaking on the Galesburg school district’s $2.6 million deficit, the Macomb Republican says Illinois should be able to play a role in alleviating such plights.
“I think that we as a state could certainly help with those types of deficits by backing off and doing away with some of the mandates that we continue to put on school districts.”
She further says District 205 is in good hands with Superintendent Ralph Grimm, adding that he has worked in other financially strapped school districts during his career.
