Rep. Severin: Governor’s Budget Proposal Important Starting Point

Rep. Severin questioning school superintendents recently on the new school
aid formula at an Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education hearing.

State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) issued the following statement in reaction to the Governor’s budget address today.

“I believe the Governor laid out a realistic look at the State of Illinois’ financial picture in his budget address today. We’ve suffered under the rule of Mike Madigan and the Chicago tax-and spend politicians for decades. Changes need to be made. Long term financial health will only happen in Illinois if we enact conservative fiscal policies, and economic growth is the only way we will ever get a handle on our debt and deficits.

Illinois ranks at the bottom of most lists when compared to other states when it comes to economic indicators and job growth. Our workers’ compensation costs are too high and the regulations on job creators are too burdensome. Today, the Governor stated his desire to ensure that Illinois’ economy grows faster than government spending. I couldn’t agree more.

Another major key to energizing our economy is to unleash the power of the untapped natural resources that sit right below our feet in Southern Illinois. We must get the government off the backs of job creators and entrepreneurs. Our working families can’t take more taxes and our businesses can’t take more regulations. I think the message from today’s budget address was clear. Illinois needs to grow good paying jobs for working families if we are going to survive our long-term financial challenges.”