North Suburban State Lawmakers Respond To Pritkzer Budget Address

ILLINOIS — North suburban state representatives issued statements of support for Gov. JB Pritzker's $39 billion Fiscal Year 2020 budget proposal following his address to a joint session of the Illinois House and Senate Wednesday.

Here are their responses, which have been arranged in ascending order of district, staring with state senators. Statements from party leaders follow.

Sen. Laura Fine, a Glenview Democrat, recently begun her first term in the Illinois Senate representing the 9th District following two terms as a state representative.

"It was refreshing to hear a budget address from a governor who is willing to work with the General Assembly to pass a balanced budget. After four years of budget addresses that seemed hostile to cooperation and functioning government, this return to stability is a nice change.

“I’m encouraged by Gov. Pritzker’s pledge to search for new revenue sources. Any way that we can increase the state’s revenue stream without having to increase taxes on working families is step in the right direction.

“I was also pleased to hear the governor lay out his legislative and budgetary priorities for this General Assembly. It’s much easier to work with a governor who makes their intentions clear. That allows us in the legislature to set our own agenda in a way that is complementary to the executive so that we can coexist in the way we ought to: as separate but equal branches.

“Overall, I was pleased with the address, and I look forward to working with the governor along with my Senate colleagues to ensure that the budgets we pass in the future are all fair, balanced and beneficial to everyone in Illinois.”

Sen. Julie Morrison, a Deerfield Democrat recently elected to her second term representing the 29th District in the Illinois Senate:

“For the past few years, Illinois has careened from crisis to crisis without a stable budget plan in place. Today’s speech by Gov. Pritzker shows Illinois has a leader who is up to the task of bringing stability and certainty back to Illinois.

“I am pleased to see the governor address our human service network and specifically detail his plan to ensure individuals with disabilities don’t languish waiting for state services and programs. His proposal to reduce plastic bag waste and decrease cigarette access are also both worthwhile policy proposals that I look forward to discussing.

“In the weeks and months ahead, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to develop a responsible spending plan for the nearly 13 million residents that call Illinois home.”

Sen. Terry Link, the Assistant Senate Majority leader representing the 30th District, expressed interest in taking up some of Pritzker's revenue proposals:

“For too long in Illinois, governors have offered budget gimmicks and short-term band aids without addressing the real fiscal challenges we face. I commend the governor for crafting a budget plan that offers a realistic approach to solving the issues facing Illinois.

“The governor’s plan to encourage reusable bag use by instituting a plastic bag tax as well as his inclusion of sports betting in his budget package are two key issues that I have worked on in the Senate that I look forward to discussing further with my colleagues in the coming weeks and months.”

Rep. Mark Kalish, a lobbyist from Chicago's West Ridge neighborhood appointed to represent the 16th District after its former Democratic occupant quit to become a lobbyist shortly before being sworn in to a new term:

“The last four years have caused serious fiscal damage to our state, our backlog of bills nearly tripled, while the state racked up over a billion dollars in late payment fees as a result of Bruce Rauner’s budget crisis.

“Today Governor Pritzker outlined his plans for a fresh start for Illinois. Addressing the serious challenges Illinois faces will require bipartisan and good-faith negotiations. While righting our state’s fiscal house, we must balance working to repair the damage caused to social service programs that provide a lifeline to our most vulnerable residents.

“I have faith that by working together we can put our state on a new path that creates a brighter future for every resident in Illinois.”

Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, the Glenview lawyer who was elected in November after edging out a crowded primary field last spring with the help of backing from state Democratic Party leadership:

“As the costs of healthcare, college, and everyday expenses continue to rise, we cannot continue to balance our budget and blindly cut funding on the backs of the middle class. With the beginning of a new chapter, we have the opportunity to correct many of the reckless mistakes of the past. Hardworking families in our communities have suffered due to the instability of the state, but I am hopeful with a new administration that we can finally begin to repair the damage caused over the last four years and move Illinois forward.

“As the financial stewards of our state, we must craft a responsible and sensible budget that aims to modernize our government, seeks efficient solutions and controls costs. It is our fiduciary responsibility that we provide services our communities rely on by prioritizing investment in our schools and vital programs to help our most vulnerable. Our taxpayers deserve to know that their dollars are being spent responsibly.

“When we invest in people, the state of the state is bright. We need smart investments in our families to grow our economy and create an equal playing field for those who wish to do their part. I look forward to working with Governor Pritzker and my colleagues in the House and Senate on finding comprehensive solutions to our budgetary problems while advocating for progressive values in our negotiations to rebuild the state to truly have equal opportunity.”

Rep. Mary Edly-Allen, the Libertyville Democrat who won her seat in 51st District by 323 votes, said she wanted to find bipartisan solutions to shared concerns:

“After listening to Governor Pritzker’s address, it is clear that the path to put Illinois back on track will require tough choices and bipartisan solutions. Our state faces numerous challenges as we seek to move beyond the past four years of partisanship and gridlock that drove our state further into debt, blocked comprehensive reforms and wasted taxpayer dollars.

“As we work to put our state back on track, I look forward to working with Republicans and Democrats to find solutions to the issues we all care about: property tax relief; economic growth and job creation; and protecting funding for critical programs and services, including lifesaving breast cancer screenings, domestic violence shelters and our children’s education. Together, we can build a better, brighter future for Illinois.”

Rep. Mark Walker, an Arlington Heights Democrat who won back his former 53rd District state house seat last November:

“Today in his budget address, Governor Pritzker gave a speech that is entirely square with the reality of our state. We have accrued billions in unpaid bills and over 100 billion in long-term obligations the state has to pay in the years to come.

“Decades of mismanagement and poor judgement from both parties have placed us where we find ourselves today. Solving Illinois’ budget crisis is going to require reasonable cooperation to control spending and account for the needs of the middle class.

“It is time for the wealthy to begin paying their fair share. We cannot stand by and allow the status quo to solve these difficult challenges for us. I look forward to working with both Republicans and Democrats to solve the state’s most pressing financial issues.

Rep. Jonathan Carroll, the Northbrook Democrat who was recently elected unopposed after he was appointed to represent the 57th District in 2017:

“Billions of dollars in unpaid bills, a massive deficit and eight credit downgrades in just four years demonstrate that Illinois cannot continue to muddle from crisis to crisis. Governor Pritzker presented a clear assessment of the challenges we face. Now it’s up to legislators and the governor to come to the table, negotiate, and make the tough decisions we need to put Illinois back on a path to fiscal stability.”

Rep. Robyn Gabel, the Evanston Democrat representing the 18th District, released a joint statement with fellow chairs of the Illinois House appropriation committee:

“Governor Pritzker’s budget address was a sobering reflection of the real challenges facing our state after four years of Bruce Rauner’s neglect and mismanagement. The Rauner crisis has left us with a $3.2 billion structural deficit, and $14 billion in unpaid bills. Eight credit downgrades in just four years leave us on the verge of junk bond status. And the consequences are falling on those who can least afford it, from seniors, to children in need, to elderly veterans.

“House Democrats will continue to prioritize funding for essential services, and ensure that our most vulnerable residents receive the resources they need. This is the first of many steps as we work to restore Illinois’ fiscal house over several years, and with that will come many tough but necessary decisions. We will continue reaching across the aisle and working with our Republican colleagues to craft bipartisan budgets that set Illinois on a path to financial stability.

“Governor Pritzker’s straightforward assessment of the challenges Illinois faces is a welcome departure from Rauner’s years of neglect. While a lot of negotiation remains to be done, the governor’s proposal shares our commitment to funding our most critical services and lifting up our local communities by creating good-paying jobs and rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure. This is a starting point in a discussion of how we invest in education, repair our human services network, and ultimately create a better Illinois.

“As we begin the process of making a new budget and addressing these challenges, we come to the table prepared to work with the governor and legislators on both sides of the aisle with the goal of passing a responsible, balanced budget on time.”

As for senior party leadership, Illinois Democratic Party chair and House Speaker Mike Madigan released the following statement:

“After four years of unprecedented crisis, we are still uncovering the extent of the damage to our state’s budget. Bruce Rauner’s budget crisis has left us with billions of dollars in unpaid bills, frayed our social service infrastructure, and squandered $1 billion on late payment penalties instead of funding our schools, health care and critical human services. Without the efforts of House Democrats and some rank-and-file Republicans who worked together to make tough decisions and end Rauner’s crisis, the damage would have been even worse.

“Amid the challenges we heard spelled out today, we also heard that we now have a governor who recognizes the magnitude of these challenges and will work with us to address them. House Democrats stand ready to work with Governor Pritzker and our Republican colleagues, bring all options to the table for honest negotiation, make the tough decisions, continue to stand strong and protect critical human services and quality schools, and move Illinois forward.”

The Illinois Republican Party issued a statement calling Pritkzer's budget unbalanced and warning that the governor was advocating the a repeat of failed budget practices that brought about the state's current fiscal crisis.

The most irresponsible proposal in Pritkzer's budget, it said, was the recommendation to reduce required pension payments. It also points out Pritkzer's plan allocates revenue that the state has not received — and may not ever receive — such as tax money from a theoreteical graduated income tax that would require an amendment to the state constitution that could not be presented to voters until next November at the earliest.

Illinois Republican Park Chair Tim Schneider said Pritzker failed his campaign promise to deliver a balanced budget and went against his own recommendation to increase annual pension contributions rather than reducing them:

“Skipping pension payments, borrowing new debt, raising taxes, increasing spending - it’s clear that J.B. Pritzker is the new Rod Blagojevich. Pritzker’s unbalanced budget proposal is more of the same, failed policies that got our state into the mess it’s currently in. Illinois taxpayers cannot afford to return to the budget deficits and failed policies of the Blagojevich era. Pritzker pledged to deliver a balanced budget, and he failed.”

Related:

• Marijuana Tax, Gambling Expansion Are Big Parts Of Pritzker's $39 Billion Budget
  
• Full Text: Gov. JB Pritkzer 2019 State Of The State Address