On Jan. 25, Governor Bruce Rauner addressed the 100^th General Assembly, delivering his annual State of the State Address before members of both houses of the state legislature.

State Sen. Tom Rooney (R-Rolling Meadows) issued the following statement after the address:

“Today the Governor delivered his annual State of the State address before a joint session of the General Assembly, bringing Illinois’ ongoing challenges into sharp focus and reaffirming the need for state leaders to take action, get Illinois’ fiscal house in order and give the people of this state the stability and security they’ve been denied for almost two years,” said Rooney. “Illinois’ facing a difficult reality—one that the people of this state don’t deserve, nor can they afford. However, Illinois’ current reality doesn’t have to be Illinois’ future. Moreover, the past two years do not have to define the years to come. I know Illinois is a great state—one that has so much to offer and so much potential—it just needs the opportunity to thrive. That opportunity has to start here, today, in this building and in these chambers. That opportunity begins with a comprehensive budget that incorporates necessary structural reforms and a General Assembly willing to work together—with our Governor—to put the needs of our state before political agendas. The work starts now.”