DeWitte Honors Area Veterans at St. Charles Veterans Day Ceremony
I hope everyone had an enjoyable Veterans Day yesterday. We must always remember that Veterans Day is more than just a day off or a day of remembrance. It is a time to truly reflect on the level of sacrifice our veterans made for us. They answered a call to serve and left their families and other loved ones to protect freedom. Each Veterans Day I look forward to attending events throughout the 33rd District.
I have always appreciated the City of St Charles ensuring that our local vets are recognized, thanked, and acknowledged for their selfless service and dedication to Country. Col Mark Powell and John DePauw were great MC’s again, and my good friend Lt Col Jake Wyatt gave a great speech about the need to continue to thank our vets now and in the future.
Thanks to all our vets for your selfless service!!!
Illinois Report Projects Budget Deficits and Lagging Revenues
A yearly report by the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) projects troubling news for Illinois’ economy – a $3.16 billion state budget deficit for the upcoming Fiscal Year leading some to question if another tax hike could be on the horizon.
State government spending has increased by 32 percent since Governor JB Pritzker took office, which is why Democrat leaders earlier this year forced through a record-breaking $53 billion budget that includes nearly $1 billion in higher taxes. That record-breaking $53 billion budget also provides more than $1 billion in benefits for noncitizens.
Years of such record spending pose a serious risk to Illinois’ fiscal stability and the financial security of its residents. Senate Republicans will continue to support the kind of business and government reforms needed to boost Illinois’ economy and jobs.
ISAC Offers Help With College and Financial Aid Applications
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is offering free college application and financial aid application completion workshops statewide.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will launch in December.
The FAFSA is the key to unlocking federal, state, and some institutional student financial aid to help pay for college, vocational school, or graduate school. The FAFSA is not just an application for student loans, but also for aid that students don’t have to pay back. That includes scholarships as well as federal grants such as the Pell Grant, and state grants like the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant, which is the state’s largest need-based grant program for low-income college students.
Students should complete the 2025-26 FAFSA as soon as possible when it becomes available in December 2024. For information, click https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.