Reaction was quick to pour in following Governor JB Pritzker’s budget address on Wednesday. State Senator Scott Bennett liked what he heard…
{‘’There was just a general sense in the capitol today that things are starting to move in the right direction. We don’t have everything fixed. A lot of these problems are inherited over 20, 30 years…but we have a governor who understands what the problems are, is committed to fixing them, and is putting the resources to accomplish just that,’’ said Senator Bennett.}
(State Representative Mike Marron, on left, is with Senator Scott Bennett when the two men were guests earlier on WDAN Radio’s ‘Newsmakers’ program.)
Representative Mike Marron, a Republican from Fithian, said he appreciates the way Governor Pritzker’s budget message prioritized education….
{‘’You know, if there’s a list of things we should be spending money on – education’s it,’’ said Marron. ‘’What troubles me is the dramatic increase in social spending at a time when there’s a lot of uncertainty. We’re far from fixing the fiscal problems of the state and he’s asking the taxpayer to share a larger portion of the burden. And I think it’s irresponsible to ask for that level of spending at this time,’’ added Marron.]
Senator Chapin Rose, a Republican from Mahomet, had mixed feelings about the governor’s budget address….
{‘’You know, I like the Governor. I agreed with a lot of the things he said. There are certainly worthy causes in this budget, but at the end of the day I am very concerned that it’s never enough,’’ said Senator Rose. ‘’And I realize he’s a new governor and he wasn’t here when the last tax increase went into effect – but, you know, my goodness it’s only two years in, and they need more money,’’ added Rose.}
State Senator Jason Barickman of Bloomington said he was pleased to see the governor’s proposed budget includes important priorities – such as meeting the minimum requirements for school funding. However, Barrickman added an overall $1.6 billion dollar increase in spending is not realistic. And Senator Barrickman adds holding schools and others hostage while voters consider the governor’s tax hike is irresponsible.
