* House Speaker Michael Madigan…
“Two years ago at this time, Illinois stood on the edge of a cliff. Billions of dollars in debt had piled up over a 700-day budget crisis. Domestic violence shelters, Meals on Wheels, and lifesaving breast cancer screenings faced severe cuts and those who depend on these essential services faced an uncertain future.
“Today, while Democrats and Republicans have used some additional time to build a stronger compromise, the people of Illinois can see the first signs of a state beginning to move in the right direction.
“We have now passed a bipartisan, balanced budget that invests $375 million more in education, and protects critical services for seniors, women’s health, and families in need. It meets our full pension obligation, and pays down more than $1 billion in old bills.
“Our budget has created a path to fairer taxes for the middle class. Our Fair Tax package will result in tax relief for 97% of Illinois taxpayers, and makes the wealthy pay their fair share so we can continue to hold the line on middle-class taxes, balance budgets, invest in critical services, and take necessary steps toward reducing property taxes.
“We have taken steps to make our economy stronger: higher wages for working families and equal pay for women; career training to prepare workers for high-wage jobs; and tax credits that invest in businesses that invest in Illinois.
“We have passed reforms that will make health care more affordable and accessible: Protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions; legislation to cap skyrocketing premiums and rein in prescription drug costs; and critical assurances that women’s health will always be a fundamental right.
“While there remains more work to be done to put Illinois fully back on track, in these steps we see what Illinois can be when our leaders stand up for our middle-class families while still seeking common ground; when we use our time to build compromises; when we have a governor who encourages Illinois to think big again; and when we all commit ourselves to working together to build a stronger Illinois.”
* House Republican Leader Jim Durkin…
“The end of this legislative was another historic moment for the House Republicans. Not only did we pass a bipartisan, balanced budget without any tax increases, but we also achieved significant business reforms for our communities that will boost the economy across our state. As I’ve said before, we can get great things done for Illinois families as long as we respect the principles and priorities of each caucus. In doing so, we have passed historic education reform, two bipartisan, balanced budgets and now important reforms that will grow jobs. I am proud to have worked with the legislative leaders and the Governor to finally do what’s right for Illinois families and businesses.”
Reforms include:
· Creation of the Blue Collar Jobs Act – which will attract large scale construction projects.
· Creation of a Data Center Tax Incentive – which will enhance the state’s ability to locate data centers in Illinois by providing tax incentives.
· Reinstatement of the Manufacturer’s Purchase Credit – to encourage further investments in manufacturing in Illinois.
· Elimination of the antiquated Illinois Franchise Tax.
· Elimination of cap on the Retailer’s Discount.
· Tabling of Senate Bill 1407 – a bill that aimed to impose wage and regulatory requirements on refineries, ethanol plants, and chemical facilities.
- wordslinger - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 8:42 pm:
Durkin and Brady deserve a lot of credit for working with Pritzker and the Dems and not just attempting to be obstructionists.
They’re going to take a lot of grief from the Usual Suspect kiddie korps columnists, edit boards and radio yakkers, not to mention some members of their own caucuses.
Pritzker and the Dems deserve a lot of credit for not just using their superior numbers to stick it to Republicans.
- Linus - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 8:43 pm:
Sincere congratulations to the Governor and General Assembly for getting some great work done, with the help of Illinois’ better angels: compromise and bipartisanship.
- golface18 - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 8:46 pm:
Word X10.
Good work by all. Nice to see compromise.
- Ginhouse Tommy - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 8:46 pm:
I’m probably off base on this but isn’t that kind of long winded for MJM. He’s probably just throwing it in Bruce’s face. After all the abuse he went thru during the last 4 years I guess he has right to crow a little.
- Just Me - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 8:46 pm:
The challenge being in the minority is you can either (1) vote no all the time and complain about how the majority party is wrong, or (2) acknowledge that the majority party can roll over you and try to negotiate some wins.
Good politics is the first, good governing is the second.
- JoanP - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 8:48 pm:
=seeking common ground . . . build compromises=
=respect the principles and priorities of each caucus=
The grown-ups are back in the room.
- Perrid - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 8:59 pm:
All well and good, but Durkin’s bit about no new tax increases confuses me. The motor fuel tax, the $1 cigarette tax, and the MCO assessment passed, right? I know they managed to kill the bag tax and the streaming tax. Any way, good deal all around.
- Nieva - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 9:12 pm:
Perrid those were not in the budget.
- Fax Machine - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 9:20 pm:
We’ll see what happens but “we reinstated the Manufacturer’s Purchase Credit” probably won’t sound like a strong defense when Proft & Uihlein primary HGOP incumbents running TV ads about the MFT increase.
- Yep - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 9:30 pm:
Citizens pay more at the pump and double the license registration fee and legislators get a pay raise.
Historic, yep.
- DuPage Saint - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 9:34 pm:
Perhaps this might be the beginning of freedom from Raunweism and Uhlein. Let them form their own party
- Person 8 - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 9:35 pm:
=legislators get a pay raise.=
The Senate took up an amendment at the very end of the night last night to nix a pay raise. Not sure if the house called it, or what the number was, as it was one of the last bills passed.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 10:04 pm:
I almost forgot what functioning state government looks like. Add a bit of actual leadership from the second floor, and - voila - big things done. Not everyone is going to like it, but you have to admit that the GA hasn’t been this productive since George Ryan was governor.
- Grandson of Man - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 10:16 pm:
What a joy it is to watch happen, these big deals where both parties and different groups and people are happy. How great it is to have a governor who is putting the state’s interests first and isn’t engaged in a personal war.
- Not a Billionaire - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 11:04 pm:
That is 6 pro business items. Other than his Scotus win how many did Rauner get.
- Anon - Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 11:30 pm:
It’s beautiful, what a state can do when it’s liberated from GOP control.
- Jibba - Sunday, Jun 2, 19 @ 6:16 am:
Can someone help me follow the money on these data centers they like so much? They produce almost no permanent jobs, so it seems like they are not worth subsidizing. Who is making money on them?
- Snapper - Sunday, Jun 2, 19 @ 8:22 am:
A lot of feeling good going on right now, which I think based on some big things being passed is well deserved. Everything fiscally still hinges on the Constitution being amended which I think is far from a slam dunk. I’m just glad we don’t live in a presidential swing state as the ads would alternate between fair tax and president ads for every commercial.
- Snicarte Slim - Sunday, Jun 2, 19 @ 10:01 am:
Wordslinger - well said.
- Pelonski - Sunday, Jun 2, 19 @ 10:15 am:
The best thing about this session was the lack of coercion. I’m sure there was a bit of arm-twisting, but it appears both sides were allowed to vote their districts without threat of retaliation. That’s the way democracy is supposed to work.
- FFS - Sunday, Jun 2, 19 @ 11:23 am:
==without any tax increases==
I suppose that all depends on what you call a tax. There were certainly a number of things called taxes that were raised, but maybe they don’t fall into Durkin’s definition?