Governor Pat Quinn: A Good Friend to the Jewish Community of Illinois
Listed in: Israel, Other Domestic Policy, Fact Sheets
Over the years, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn (D-IL) has placed Jewish communal priorities at the top of his agenda. This year he faces ideologically-driven opposition intent on slashing the budget that funds many of the Jewish’s community’s robust social services. Quinn is also an ardent supporter of Israel and has used his elected positions in Illinois to strengthen relations between Illinois and Israel.
This fact sheet can be downloaded as a pdf.
As Governor, Quinn has:
- Preserved funding for school transportation grants to Jewish day schools, early childhood development for the JCC preschools, tuition grants for Keshet, and autism programs at Jewish Child and Family Services
- Awarded over $8 million to CJE Senior Life for programs such as Community Cares, a program that allows senior citizens to stay in their own homes, attend their own synagogues, and participate in community functions
- Provided over $3 million in funding to Jewish Child and Family Services for group homes to provide services to individuals with disabilities
- Signed legislation creating the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission, and revived the state’s annual Yom HaShoah commemoration at the Old State Capitol in Springfield by hosting the memorial each year he has been Governor
- Continued funding to Jewish Vocational Services for vocational training, rent subsidies, and English language education
- Has worked to strengthen Illinois’ relations with the State of Israel
Before becoming Governor, Quinn worked to ensure that the Illinois state pension system invested in Israel bonds
He traveled to Israel with members of the Chicago Jewish community to visit schools in Sderot, entrepreneurs in Tel Aviv, and holy sites in Jerusalem
Quinn believes that the State’s foreign trade office in Jerusalem is an economic incubator for green jobs, energy independence, and alternative energy projects in Illinois.
