Springfield….State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) offered a hopeful tone following the Governor’s State of the State address on Wednesday.
“The Governor struck a really positive tone today,” Severin said. “We have enormous challenges in Illinois, but there have been some successes. There is obviously a lot of work to do, but I think the Governor was honest and up front about that. Even though we have a major budget mess to clean up, we’ve got the opportunity to work together in the 100th General Assembly to move the state forward. Working together will be the key.”
Severin was also encouraged that Governor Rauner has been able to secure record funding for Pre-K through 12thgrade public education during first two years of his first-term in office.
“I’m a former long-time school board member, so I have a passion for education and improving our schools,” Severin said. “The Governor has made Pre-K through 12th grade education funding a top priority. Despite the budget impasse, schools in Illinois have received more funding than ever before. I want to keep that going.”
Severin says he was also heartened to hear the Governor reiterate the need for term limits and redistricting reform. The freshman Republican says that entrenched special interests and career politicians have served as a detriment to renewed growth and economic development
“I totally support term limits, so hearing the Governor express his support for that today was encouraging,” Severin said. “I also support the Governor’s effort to enact redistricting reform as well. It’s going to take Constitutional Amendments to get these things done, but I believe we can do it. Term limits and redistricting reform will send a signal that we’re working to fix our broken political system.”
For his part, Severin says the Governor’s overall optimistic tone is hopefully a sign of things to come in the 100th General Assembly.
“I think the Governor is committed to breaking the budget impasse, and I was heartened by his calls to work together and find common ground to fix the issues facing our state,” Severin said. “It will take some effort, but in a bipartisan way we have to find a way to make our state a job creation machine again. We have to start growing, and I believe that I share that goal with our Governor.”
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