SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael Frerichs (D-Champaign) issued the following statement after voting for Senate Bill 2404, the comprehensive pension reform measure the Senate passed today:

I am proud today to stand in support of legislation done the right way – at the negotiating table with representatives of the hard-working public employees who will be affected.

There is no perfect solution to Illinois' pension crisis. Teachers and state employees held up their end of the bargain even when the state failed to keep its promises. But public workers and retirees understand we need them to share in the sacrifices now required to sustain our retirement systems and core state functions. Today we asked them to make these sacrifices, but in a way that respects both the constitution and these employees' indispensible contributions to the state of Illinois.

I'm excited about the momentum behind this legislation, which proves that meaningful reform can be achieved without bypassing or strong-arming the people who have given their working lives to the public good. I'm confident that our state's fiscal health will improve if this plan becomes law. We stand or fall together; sound finances mean a brighter future for public employees, private sector workers, senior citizens and the next generation.

Details of SB 2404 can be found at the Illinois Senate Democrats' website.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael Frerichs (D-Champaign) was honored Saturday by the Independent Voters of Illinois – Independent Precinct Organization. The nonpartisan good-government group presented him with its Best Legislative Voting Record Award for the previous General Assembly.

"This is a group that understands that the public good should be the driving force behind political action, so I'm pleased to receive their recognition of my work for the 52nd District and the state," Frerichs said. "I'm proud of my record of making government work better for ordinary people fed up with partisanship."

Other award recipients included Senators Kwame Raoul (D-13th), Heather Steans (D-7th) and Michael Noland (D-Elgin) and Representatives Naomi Jakobsson (D-Champaign), Barbara Flynn Currie (D-25th), Elaine Nekritz (D-Buffalo Grove) and Robyn Gabel (D-18th).

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael Frerichs (D – Champaign) announced that a number of road construction and public transit projects will be completed in the 52nd District as part of the six-year transportation infrastructure plan Gov. Pat Quinn unveiled today.

"This is the next phase in the push for sound infrastructure and good construction jobs in Illinois," Frerichs said. "During the next six years, more than $68 million in state and federal funds will go toward repairing bridges, resurfacing roads and improving public transit right here in Champaign and Vermilion Counties."

The area projects announced today include the following: