Press Release from Governor Bruce Rauner

SPRINGFIELD – Governor Bruce Rauner today issued the following statement following the House of Representative’s passage of a 32 percent income tax hike without any reforms to grow the economy, create jobs, or provide property tax relief:

Governor Bruce Rauner with State Representative Dave Severin, (R-Benton), touring Herrin Middle School back in February. Severin, along with Jerry Costello II, (D-Smithton), where the only two deep south legislators that voted down Senate Bill 0009 for the income tax increase, that Governor Rauner plans to veto. (Photo from Rep. Severin press release.)

“When I took office, I promised the taxpayers of Illinois that I would fight every day to take this state in a new direction after decades of failed leadership from both parties. Today, Springfield has decided to give the people of Illinois the largest tax hike in history and continue out of balance budgets with no real reform.

“Under Speaker Madigan’s direction, legislators chose to double down on higher taxes while protecting the special interests and refusing to reform the status quo. It’s a repeat of the failed policies that created this financial crisis and caused jobs and taxpayers to flee. “I will veto Mike Madigan’s permanent 32 percent tax hike. Illinois families don’t deserve to have more of the hard-earned money taken from them when the legislature has done little to restore confidence in government or grow jobs. Illinois families deserve more jobs, property tax relief and term limits. But tonight they got more of the same.

“For two and a half years we have been working to find common ground on a balanced budget.  As recently as two days ago we believed that was possible.

“The legislature could have passed a no reform budget like this one two years ago. Instead, they allowed Mike Madigan to play his political games, passed phony budgets, racked up our debt and inflicted pain on the most vulnerable. All of this to force a permanent, 32 percent tax increase on Illinois families

“Moving forward, this vote shows that if the legislature is willing to pass the largest tax hike in state history with no reforms, then we must engage citizens and redouble our efforts to change the state. “​

https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/durkin-budget-negotiations-hit-new-snag-as-spending-bill-changes/article_f323fe36-5f52-11e7-87bf-97f3a51bc251.html

SPRINGFIELD, IL – (Greg Bishop, Illinois News Network.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Senate Minority Leader, Jim Durkin (Blue Room Stream photo)

Budget negotiations at the state Capitol hit another snag Sunday as House Minority Leader Jim Durkin accused Democrats of making changes to legislation at the last minute.

Emerging from a Republican caucus meeting Sunday afternoon, Durkin said Democrats added a new amendment to their $36.5 billion spending bill.

Late Saturday, Speaker Michael Madigan announced a vote on a tax increase package would be held Sunday. But Durkin said that Republicans couldn’t put votes behind tax increases without knowing what’s in the spending plan.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – (Greg Bishop and Dan McCaleb, Illinois News Network.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Illinoisans very well could learn Sunday whether their taxes are going up and, if so, by how much. Based on legislation passed by Senate Democrats in May and ongoing discussions through June’s special session, the tax increase is expected to total at least $5 billion and include a 32 percent income tax hike on Illinois workers.

House Speaker Michael Madigan, after being accused of stalling budget negotiations earlier in the day, issued a statement late Saturday afternoon saying that the House would vote Sunday on a tax increase package he claims is supported by Republicans.

There is no agreement on a comprehensive budget package that includes reforms and revenue,” according to Senate Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Naperville, said. “This impasse can only be resolved in a negotiated manner. It is our hope that Democrats will remain at the negotiating table.”