Jacksonville State Senator Sam McCann is offering his thoughts on Governor Bruce Rauner’s State of the State speech from yesterday.
McCann says he agrees with the governor about restoring the faith of the people in government.
“Right now, the people of Illinois, they don’t have any faith in Republicans or Democrats, the executive branch, the legislative branch, and I understand why they don’t. That’s why we can’t just focus on talking the talk,” McCann says.
“We gotta walk out of here today and walk that walk, walk a straight line of public service, to show the people that we are being good stewards of not only their money, but good stewards of the faith and confidence they put in us when they sent us here.”
Meanwhile, Senate President John Cullerton says the state is spending upwards to $6.5-billion more than its bringing in because of court orders and consent decrees in the absence of the budget. He says the amount of any tax increase is going to be up to the governor.
“We’re not going to have any tax increase unless Bruce Rauner agrees to it, and if he agrees to it, the amount of the increase is up to him. So, that requires compromise,” stated Cullerton.
Rauner said majority Democrats are afraid to look taxpayers in the eye and ask for more money because taxpayers are “fed up”.
“They know our taxpayers are angry. They’re fed up. Our taxpayers know they’re not getting value for our dollars. They know we’re losing jobs. They know the bureaucracy is wasting money, and they want change,” Rauner told reporters.
Rauner has said he’s willing to go along with a tax increase to plug the budget hole but only if there are structural economic and political reforms.
The Illinois News Network contributed to this story.