By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Child care on the campaign trail?

State Rep. Anne Stava-Murray (D-Naperville) began her first campaign in 2018 as a mother of two small children, got pregnant with her third, and then took on three more kids because of her campaign manager’s illness. The result, she said, was a debt that was only paid off this past year.

She’s now sponsoring a bill which would make child care a legitimate campaign expense.

“We shouldn’t be limiting people’s opportunities to be government representatives because we’re not allowing for simple expenses that are incurred because of running for office,” Stava-Murray told a committee. “Prior to that, I had been a stay-at-home parent, so these child care expenses. 100 percent due to me running for office for my election.”

Stava-Murray said some states already do this. While there has been no vote on her bill, committee members seemed to like the idea, and the committee chair suggested she consult the Illinois State Board of Elections as she works on the bill further.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].