Leaders respond to budget address
Wednesday, Feb 15, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Senate GOP Leader Christine Radogno…
I am heartened by the Governor’s speech today –and his very public demonstration once again of his willingness to work with Republicans and Democrats to bring Illinois out of this crisis.
I share his sense of urgency – the time is now. Illinois goes $11 million further into debt each and every day we continue to spend without a budget in place. Today the Governor also acknowledged the great deal of groundwork that has gone into negotiating a package that can pass in a Democrat-controlled Senate and encouraged us to keep working. We can now consider the Governor’s advice in our discussions as we move forward.
We want what the Governor wants – a bipartisan compromise that is a good deal for the taxpayers.
Notice that she pointedly did not embrace the governor’s advice.
* Senate President John Cullerton…
“Right now the Senate is working on this year’s budget because there isn’t one. We need to restore stability and sanity to Illinois’ finances. That begins with a budget for the here and now. That’s what the Senate is trying to do.”
Nothing whatsoever about the governor’s advice, which isn’t going down so well, to say the least.
* Speaker Madigan…
Madigan: Democrats are Proposing a New Way Forward on Budget, Economic Reforms
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, D-Chicago, issued the following statement Wednesday after Gov. Bruce Rauner’s Budget Address:
“Throughout my time in state government, legislators and governors from both parties have agreed that the state budget must be a priority. While the House has passed a number of budget bills to fund critical services for seniors, children and public safety, it appears that for the third straight year Governor Rauner has failed to introduce a balanced budget.
“As the governor told a newspaper recently, his plan is to ‘stay the course.’ That means continuing to use the disabled, the elderly, school children, victims of abuse, and many others as negotiating tools in his effort to increase profits of big corporations at the expense of middle class and struggling families. ‘Staying the course’, as the Governor wishes, means billions of dollars in new debt, and lost services for tens of thousands of Illinois’ most vulnerable children, seniors and families.
“Unlike the governor’s ‘stay the course’ plan, Democrats are proposing a new way forward. We want to work cooperatively with the governor to pass a full-year balanced budget and improve our economy, but we don’t accept that the only way to create jobs is by cutting wages and stripping away protections for workers in an effort to increase profits for businesses – all at the expense of middle-class families. We will pass reforms that lift up the middle class and provide good jobs for working families while also helping businesses grow and expanding our economy.
“We want solutions that address the challenges Illinois is facing right now. We continue to urge the governor to join us and pass a full-year budget that provides for the needs of middle class and struggling families, cares for the elderly, invests in our schools, and keeps our communities safe.”
Nothing new there.
And nothing yet from the House Republican Leader. Check back.
…Adding… Leader Durkin…
The Governor fulfilled his constitutional obligation with today’s budget address. It is now time for the legislature to fulfill its constitutional obligation by working jointly to pass appropriations that do not exceed funds estimated by the General Assembly during the year, or otherwise, pass a balanced budget. Again, this will only be accomplished when both parties respect the priorities of each. Our caucus is prepared to negotiate a fair compromise and break this unprecedented impasse on behalf of all Illinoisans.
