A Democrat representing Central Illinois in Washington said a Justice Department investigation targeting several Illinois school districts is merely a distraction.
The Department of Justice [DOJ] named District 87 and Ridgeview schools along with 34 others in an investigation accusing them of teaching content about sexual orientation and gender ideology.
“They’re going to try to give us anything to look at other than the gas approaching $5 a gallon,” Eric Sorensen said during a visit to Normal this week announcing plans to pursue funding for flood mitigation in Uptown.
During his stop in Bloomington-Normal on Tuesday, Sorensen also visited Fairview Elementary, whose federal community schools funding expires June 30. Community Schools provide services and support to neighborhoods. The Baby Fold leads community schools programs at Fairview and Cedar Ridge Elementary.
“Educators are going to lose their jobs,” he said. “So, am I surprised he sends the DOJ to a blue state like Illinois to try to make waves, to try to get us to look away from the fact that he’s cutting the education of our students? I’m not gonna look away.”
Some Illinois lawmakers were looking for ways to fill the gap with state money, but the governor has since proposed cuts to state community school funding.
Year-round E-15
Sorensen said he’s going to continue pushing for year-round sale of an ethanol blend of fuel called E-15 that got stripped from a version of the Farm Bill recently passed in the House.
Sorensen didn’t vote for it, and said he was “dismayed” by Republican colleagues from the Midwest who voted in favor. Those included Darin LaHood from the nearby 16th Congressional District, who said “yes” to the Farm Bill in its current form despite also expressing support for E-15. U.S. Sen. Dick Durban recently told WGLT he thinks E-15 could make it into the Senate's version.
The fuel alternative has been proposed as one way to bring gas prices down as the oil market continues to be squeezed by the ongoing war between the U.S. and Iran. It would also stimulate corn markets for Midwest farmers.
“The most important thing that I hear from farmers, those ag[riculture] stakeholders in Central Illinois, is E-15 sold year-round.”
The gas and oil industry has successfully lobbied to restrict summer sales of the gas alternative, saying its emissions are more harmful in the year’s warmest months.
“And look, that goes right to what I’m hearing not just from those in ag, but our neighbors all across the district,” Sorensen said. “They can’t afford to pay their health insurance, or their prescription drugs, or their grocery costs — and now gas is nearing $5 a gallon because of a war they didn’t ask for.”
Sorensen said he’ll support Iowa Republican Zach Nunn’s proposed legislation on E-15 after his E-15 provision was stripped from the Farm Bill.
“It is the Eric Sorensen amendment that I put forth in the House Agriculture Committee,” he said. “It became the Zach Nunn amendment of Iowa in the Farm Bill. I was still going to vote for it, because I’m still voting for my constituents. I don’t care whose name is on it.”
Data centers
Sorensen also visited with two dozen trades union members in Bloomington on Tuesday to discuss data centers with the people who’d be most likely to build them.
He said he’s aligned with the Democratic lawmakers representing Bloomington-Normal in Springfield, state Rep. Sharon Chung and state Sen. Dave Koehler in supporting data centers in his Central Illinois district — with conditions and oversight.
Sorensen said he doesn’t want to see Illinois lose out to another state or country, provided data centers keep noise levels, water use and utility cost bleed in check.
“But let’s also understand that most data centers aren’t taking more water than a brand-new Club Car Wash on Veterans Parkway,” he said. “And people don’t really think twice about going to get the unlimited wash every month.”
