State Senator Martin Sandoval (D-11) joined Maggie Poteau, News Anchor for WICS TV Channel 20 in Springfield, by ‘Going Red' for Women and Heart Disease at the State Capitol.

“There’s a lot of talk about inequality between men and women, but one area in particular where women are leading in record numbers: heart disease,” said Sandoval. “It’s the No. 1 killer of women and is more deadly than all forms of cancer.”

Senator Sandoval is asking everyone to celebrate National Wear Red Day with Go Red For Women on Friday, Feb. 7, 2014 to help fight women’s No. 1 killer, heart disease. For more information on this nationwide movement and to learn how you can honor women on this important day visit: www.goredforwomen.org

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) reacted to the State of the State address by bringing attention to the state’s appallingly high unemployment rate.   One year ago, Illinois had a 10.1 percent unemployment rate and today it is 8.6 percent. However, Sandoval states this number is still too high. The national average is 6.5 percent and the state of Illinois needs to focus on investing in jobs to get people back to work.

“Illinois’ efforts to lower unemployment are insufficient. I propose a three-point plan. One: another major investment in our public infrastructure. Two: modernize our byzantine job training programs under one consolidated agency. Three: commit additional state funds to moving people from getting an unemployment check to a paycheck.”

The Senator is co-sponsoring Senate Bill 68 with Senator Kim Lightford to convert Illinois’ minimum wage into a living wage of $10 an hour by 2016. Sandoval believes that people who are working a 40-hour workweek should be able to provide food, shelter and child care for their family and $8.25 an hour simply isn’t enough.

Sandoval also argues the state’s economic development policy needs to get back to the basics of training Illinois residents to fill jobs rather than sending large tax breaks to a few large companies.

“I agree with Speaker Madigan that we need to stop giving special tax breaks to corporations who continue to look to the General Assembly for handouts. Instead, we need to focus on the mom and pop small businesses that are the backbone of the Illinois economy,” said Sandoval.

“The people of Illinois deserve action. Hoy! No manana!” said Sandoval.

State Senator Martin Sandoval recently met with Reverend Jesse Jackson on the eve of Martin Luther King’s Day to honor the civil rights leader. Both agreed there is civil rights work left undone from Dr. King’s dream, such as immigration reform.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson has openly criticized the immigration law as "disgraceful and unnecessary,"

Rev. Jackson also has voiced his support for the DREAM Act.

"Democracy is a path to citizenship, not deportation,” Rev. Jacksonsaid. “Democracy is the path of the DREAM Act, not the nightmare act of race-profiling, violence and family separation.”

“It's significant that African Americans join in the fight for immigration reform,” said Sen. Sandoval. “The civil rights battles of the past were not won alone and support from diverse communities was vital in that struggle.”

Cicero, Illinois – State Senator Martin Sandoval (D-11) met with Gerardo Salinas to discuss policy for people with disabilities in the State of Illinois. Salinas lost his vision when he was 12 and since then has worked to succeed in many ways, including moving to the United States from Mexico and recently graduating with honors from Daley Community College.

“I applaud Gerardo for his determination to succeed and his willingness to give back,” said Senator Sandoval.

"I refuse to let my disability hold me back,” said Salinas. “I want to work with my senator to help create laws that would facilitate living with a disability."

Salinas plans on continuing his education, working towards a bachelors degree in political science before attending law school.