On May 31, the scheduled adjournment date for the Illinois Legislature, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton walked away from the negotiating table instead of compromising to fix the problems facing Illinois. That means the legislature will go into overtime, with a rare summer session in Springfield.
“In hockey, overtime means high stakes and a clear winner, especially in summer,” said Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont). “In Illinois, Republicans are fighting for reform and Democrats are fighting for a tax hike. And overtime means that the taxpayers lose if the Democrats win.”
According to Radogno, Republicans have spent the session fighting every day for fundamental change in a state that’s losing jobs, residents, and hope for a better future. Gov. Rauner and Senate Republicans have pushed a pro-jobs reform agenda, which includes a property tax freeze, pro-jobs reforms, term limits, and redistricting reform.
"Sadly, there’s been a lot of noise and distraction from Democrat Legislators," Radogno said, “but as a state, we still have the 3rd-worst jobs climate, the 2nd-highest property taxes, and the single biggest budget deficit. All the noise and distraction in the world can’t cover up that record.”
Democrat lawmakers voted to pass a spending plan that’s over $3 billion short of the constitutional requirement for a balanced budget, consistently calling for “additional revenue” as the only solution and refusing to compromise on Republican reforms.
At a Sunday press conference, Radogno said, “Illinois is ranking near the bottom in absolutely everything, and yet the only thing the Democrats want to talk about is another tax increase. Their demand for another tax increase is not going to happen without reform.”
Click here to watch the full remarks from Radogno’s Springfield office.