Statement from Senate President John Cullerton on the State of the State

From Illinois Senate President John Cullerton

Last year this state faced historic challenges. We had impeachment trial of the former Governor, a historic drop in revenues, record deficits, and significant job loss in the state. But last year was also a year of tremendous accomplishment in ethics, bipartisanship and capital.

I pledged to do everything I could to pass a comprehensive jobs bill for Illinois. Senate Democrats led the way on stabilizing the economy by drafting and passing the first capital construction bill in a decade. This session we will continue the effort to stabilize the economy by creating jobs and growing businesses.

During the past several months, my caucus has met with frontline economic development professionals to create a proactive economic agenda for Illinois. In the next 30 days, Senate Democrats will unveil a comprehensive set of initiatives to invest in the people of Illinois, build upon our economic strengths, and protect the pocketbooks of taxpayers.

We are going to invest in the people of Illinois

• Illinois must help small businesses through tax incentives to keeping and creating jobs.
• We will invest in Community Colleges to help Illinois workers gain new skills and training.
• Illinois must find innovative ways to help families pay their bills and stay in their homes.

We are going to build upon our economic strengths

• We must modernize job creation tools for Illinois communities.
• Illinois should reduce fees so businesses can keep and create jobs.
• We must promote key industries to grown our economy and create jobs.

We are going to protect the pocketbooks of taxpayers

• We must stop government fraud through greater oversight.
• We need greater budget transparency and accountability.
• Illinois must ensure that banks invest in small businesses to help keep and create jobs.

This session we face many of the same challenges that we did last year. In order to move forward with plans to stabilize the budget and our economy, we are going to need bipartisan support for increased revenue and budget reforms. I look forward to working with the Governor and both parties to improve Illinois’ economic outlook.

Statement from Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady on Gov. Quinn’s State of the State Address

From the Illinois Republican Party

"Governor Quinn’s State of the State address today exemplifies the Illinois Democratic Party’s disconnect from reality. We are a state on the verge of financial collapse. A laundry list of government created jobs, government programs and a bail-out from the Federal Government is not a serious approach to economic and fiscal recovery. We can’t wish away a $90 billion unfunded pension liability."

"The People of the State of Illinois will have a clear choice in November between the failed policies of the Quinn/Blagojevich/Madigan single-party rule Democrats and the fiscally responsible approach to running this state articulated by each of our Republican Gubernatorial candidates."

Statement From Illinois Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Andy McKenna on State of the State Address

From the Campaign Office of Andy McKenna for Governor

“Nearly one year after Governor Quinn took office we are still facing the same problems on a much larger scale; a state on the brink of bankruptcy, fewer jobs, the prospect of higher taxes, and no substantive ethics reform.

“Governor Quinn’s speech today only reinforces how out of touch he is with the Illinois families and how we are in desperate need of new leadership.

“Matt Murphy and I have a plan to solve this budget crisis without a tax increase and bring more good-paying jobs to Illinois.”

Illinois Policy Institute Statement on Governor Quinn's State of the State Address

From the Illinois Policy Institute

CHICAGO - The Illinois Policy Institute, a non-partisan public policy organization, has issued the following statement regarding Governor Pat Quinn's State of the State Address:

"Governor Quinn had an opportunity to offer meaningful spending cuts and tax relief to revitalize our struggling economy and balance our budget," said John Tillman CEO, Illinois Policy Institute. "Unfortunately, he chose to embrace the failed policies of the past such as more government spending and higher taxes. Illinois politicians have tried these "remedies" previously, but they've resulted in Illinois having one of the worst economies in the nation. Springfield needs to live within its means, limit the growth of government spending and support policies that attract businesses and create jobs."

The Illinois Policy Institute recently released a report outlining fifteen (15) missed opportunities by Governor Quinn and the legislature that would have put Illinois' budget on firmer footing. Examples include adopting efficiency savings measures, pursuing Medicaid reform and reining in wasteful spending. The full report can be found at: http://illinoispolicy.org/news/article.asp?ArticleSource=1894

About the Illinois Policy Institute

The Illinois Policy Institute is a nonpartisan research and education organization dedicated to making our state a beacon for liberty and prosperity for all citizens. As a leading voice for economic liberty and government accountability, we engage policy makers, opinion leaders, and citizens on the state and local level by promoting free market principles and liberty-based public policy initiatives for a better Illinois. To learn more about our organization or review our policy briefs, please visit our website at www.illinoispolicyinstitute.org