Governor Rauner Should Submit Budget Proposal: Rep. Fine

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Laura Fine, of Glenview, a Democrat representing the 17th District, released the following statement in response to Gov. Rauner’s Wednesday afternoon Budget address:

“For the third year in a row Governor Rauner failed to submit a balanced budget to the General Assembly. Instead, he talked in abstract terms of the non-budgetary reforms he supports.

“While I am open to some of the reforms, they cannot take precedent over implementing a state budget. We need to focus on the real people in our state who rely on services, including persons with disabilities, seniors, victims of domestic abuse, students and veterans, who have seen life-saving programs cut or eliminated while the governor focuses on his demands.

“Since taking office, the Rauner administration has cut funding for higher education by nearly 60 percent. This is unconscionable. Universities prepare our state for the future. As a result of the lack of support for higher education, we have lost many young adults who chose to go out of state for college, and they may never come back and help grow Illinois’ economy. This can be stopped right now, if we work together and pass a budget.

“I want to see reforms that help our families, businesses and communities, but I am not willing to pass these reforms on the backs of the middle-class and our most vulnerable residents. That is why I support cutting corporate taxes on small businesses that create jobs. I also support making companies pay back any tax incentives they receive from the state if they move jobs overseas. These are important reforms I support and want to see enacted, but they are not more important than getting a budget. A budget would provide the economic stability that so many businesses in Illinois are seeking.

“It’s time for the governor and legislators to work together and do what is right for the people of Illinois.”