SPRINGFIELD - Governor Quinn's State of the State address Wednesday sparked lively responses still coming in - from State Senator Christine Radogno, State Rep. Mike Connelly, GOP Senate candidates Jim Oberweis and John Bambenek as well as GOP House candidates Chris Hage, Bob Kalnicky and Danielle Rowe ...
Minority Senate Leader Christine Radogno issued the following comments in response to Governor Quinn's address -
Springfield, Ill. – Following the annual State of the State address on Feb. 1, Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and House Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) addressed the Capitol media corps from Cross’ Statehouse office.
Both Leaders expressed concern over the lack of details in Gov. Pat Quinn’s address, noting the Governor spent little time on what many consider Illinois’ most pressing issue: the state’s financial issues. Despite the state’s well-documented budget woes, Quinn proposed a number of costly “incentive” programs, yet provided no insight into how the proposals would be funded.
Radogno said she is ready and willing to participate in the process of fixing Illinois’ budget problems, and looks forward to more details about the Governor’s plan.
Connelly Responds to Governor’s State of the State Address
Springfield, IL… State Representative Michael Connelly (R-Naperville) expressed disappointment at Governor Quinn’s State of the State Address Wednesday finding that it offered no solutions to the state’s growing financial issues.
“Medicaid costs are spiraling out of control and are a major cause of the state's budgetary problems,” Rep. Connelly said. “Our state’s fiscal problems must be dealt with as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
Additionally, Rep. Connelly was frustrated upon hearing the Governor propose numerous new state programs.
“We simply do not have the money for any new programs,” Rep. Connelly said. “The focus should be on paying our current bills.”
GOP Candidate Jim Oberweis' statement on Quinn's State of the State Address -
(SUGAR GROVE, IL) – 25th District GOP state Senate candidate Jim Oberweis – who turned a family-owned, one-store dairy into a local small business powerhouse that has created more than 1,000 jobs right here in Illinois – today responded to Governor Pat Quinn’s State of the State address by issuing the following statement:
“Pat Quinn has been in Springfield for most of the last two decades, and that’s a large part of his problem. Clearly, spending too much time in Springfield clouds the mind and fogs one’s logic. That’s why I support term limits on our elected leaders, and that’s why I’ve pledged that if elected, I’ll serve no more than two terms in the state Senate.
“Think about it – in what world, other than Springfield, could a leader look at the depressed and depressing state of our state and conclude that we’re ‘moving forward?’ Only in a land where special interests cut deals with career politicians could that make sense.
“Governor Quinn’s speech should be bronzed and placed in the Field Museum as an example of a politician in denial. To declare, as he did, that ‘We’re back on course – Illinois is moving forward’ is proof that denial isn’t just the name of a river in Egypt, and neither is it a solution to the problems that plague our state.
“Since Governor Quinn took office, our unemployment rate has jumped from 8.1 percent to 9.8 percent – higher than any of our neighboring states, and higher than the national average – and our taxes have increased significantly. Our unfunded pension liability has grown, our state’s credit rating has dropped to the lowest in the nation, and a recent survey of CEO’s found Illinois dropping to 48th place out of 50 in terms of locating a business here. Is it any wonder so many businessmen are leaving the state, taking their jobs and skills with them?
“Only a career politician like Governor Quinn could look at the statistics and say ‘We’re back on course.’ Illinois is moving forward, all right – but in the wrong direction. We’re approaching a cliff, and if the Democrats who have run this state for the last decade have their way, we’ll go right over the edge.
“Instead, we should repeal the 67 percent tax hike imposed on a so-called ‘temporary’ basis, and combine that repeal with significant regulatory reform. Follow it up by cutting spending. Cut taxes, cut spending, get the government out of the way, and let private businessmen do what they do best – create the better and higher-paying jobs we so desperately need.
“The good news is, the election is less than a year away, and help is on the way. Working together, we can drive the change we need, beginning here and now.”
Chris Hage - GOP candidate for State House District 42 - Statement on Quinn's State of the State Address
"Yesterday's address by the Governor should come as no surprise. Thanks to the leadership of democrats like Mike Madigan and Pat Quinn, our state continues to add to our debt without a common sense plan to cut spending. In last year's address, the governor spoke about the need for budget stability but just this past week, the Civic Federation projected that our state will owe more than we take in revenues in just 5 years. Although he suggested increasing the child tax credit for some tax relief, half baked measures are not enough. Even more troubling, Democrats are now hinting that when the time comes, they will push to make the Quinn tax hike permanent. And when Governor Quinn talked about "making investments," he was suggesting more spending.
Illinois needs conservative leaders in Springfield who will hold the line on spending, demand accountability and make the tough choices necessary to bring our state back from the brink. As your next State Representative I would vote to repeal the 67% income tax increase and make Illinois friendly to business once again. This past week I was proud to receive the endorsement of the Tax Accountability organization in recognition of my strong opposition to the tax and spend policies that pervade Springfield."
Chris Hage is a Republican candidate for the 42nd House District covering Winfield, large parts of Wheaton, and portions of Lisle, Naperville, Warrenville, Carol Stream, West Chicago, and Woodridge.
John Bambenek Comments on the State of the State Address
CHAMPAIGN, IL (February 2, 2012) --- Republican State Senate Candidate for the 52nd District John Bambenek commented last night on the State ofthe State address that Governor Quinn gave Wednesday afternoon.
“Today, Governor Quinn gave one of the two speeches required by law. The budget address which he will give in 3 weeks will contain the answers to many questions Illinois voters want to know. The governor touched on Medicaid reform and pension reform, the two biggest drivers to our budget
deficit, and we eagerly await his ideas. However, as I travel the 52nd district and Illinois, the voters' experience does not match the governor's vision. For example, ADM announced it was laying off 15% of
its Decatur-based staff; other companies have announced layoffs as well.
ADM states that they actually do need help and should be hiring, but the potential downside and costs are so high, and with the uncertainty in the business climate, they cannot do so. Businesses across the district face the same challenges. The state's unemployment rate is higher than the national average. In fact, under Gov. Quinn, the unemployment rate has increased from 8.1% to 9.8%. The budget shortfalls and state government debt levels have led to our state's credit rating being downgraded. Illinois credit rating is now the worst in the entire country. The so-called Workers Compensation reform that was passed does little to provide the real reform needed to encourage job growth. The fact is, the
state is in a fiscal and economic crisis, and the Governor used today's speech to announce even more new programs and spending initiatives. It is time to reign in government, provide real reform to workers compensation, Medicaid and pensions and to give back the one week in pay that was taken by Springfield legislators in the form of the massive 67% tax increase passed in the middle of the night last year.”
Governor Quinn's State of the State: Danielle Rowe - GOP candidate for State House 52 - Pushes Back
Island Lake, IL – During this week’s State of the State address, Governor Quinn pushed his message that “Illinois is Moving Forward,” but Danielle Rowe, the Illinois Tea Party endorsed candidate and only consistent conservative running for State Representative in the 52nd District, is pushing back.
Rowe recognizes the devastating affects Pat Quinn and Mike Madigan’s policies have had on the hardworking families of the 52nd District. “Illinois is not moving forward. Illinois residents and businesses are moving out. Governor Quinn was right about one thing: “jobs follow brainpower”, which explains the migration of Illinoisans to Wisconsin and Indiana where real reforms and a healthy business climate are providing better opportunities for working families. They are investing in their people and growing their economy - that’s real leadership, that’s political courage and that’s moving forward.”
The Rowe Roadmap shows the real leadership and political courage needed to bring residents and businesses back to the state of Illinois. “My Roadmap is a common sense plan for the economic revitalization of our state. I will continue to work to repeal the Democrats’ tax increase, reform public sector pensions, reduce runaway state spending, and restore a business climate that respects entrepreneurs and brings jobs back to Illinois,” said Rowe.
Governor Quinn’s proposal of a tax credit of up to $100 for families with children doesn’t demonstrate real leadership, political courage or a grasp of basic mathematics. Rowe said, “Here in the 52nd District, the average family of four earns $75,000 per year. After last year’s tax increase the average family in our district pays $1340 more in taxes each year - with no guarantee the tax increase will sunset. I want to give the working families of the 52nd District a $1340 tax cut by repealing the Democrats’ tax increase.”
Meanwhile, Democrats in Illinois propose offloading unfunded pension obligations on to our local school districts. “I am appalled by the fact that Pat Quinn and Mike Madigan have failed to fund teachers’ pensions. The teachers lose, our children lose, the taxpayers lose, but the Democrats continue to stay in power in Springfield. We need to change that in 2012.”
Rowe is calling on Governor Quinn to partner with the people of Illinois to turn this state around. In his State of the State, Quinn said “we can make the will of the people the law of the land.” Unfortunately, Pat Quinn is governing against the will of the people. A recent poll by the Manhattan Institute and the Illinois Policy Institute shows 74% of the people of Illinois believe Pat Quinn has our state on the wrong track. Rowe said, ”Governor Quinn quoted Abraham Lincoln to tout his own accomplishments over the last 3 years. This Lincoln quote better describes how people feel: ‘Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better’.”
State Rep Candidate Bob Kalnicky Responds to Governor Quinn's State of the State Address
In his State of the State address yesterday afternoon, Governor Quinn painted a very positive, albeit delusional, picture of the condition of Illinois. The harsh reality is that Illinois is not "moving forward" as the Governor stated many time in his address. Bob Kalnicky, State Rep candidate for the 98th district, was unimpressed by the Governor's address. "Governor Quinn spoke about how Illinois has improved in education, created jobs, and created a friendly business-environment, but the policies and taxes that he's implemented have had the exact opposite effects," stated Kalnicky.
According to a report issued by the Illinois Policy Institute, unemployment rates in 46 states dropped since January 2011, and some dramatically, while Illinois' unemployment rate, was 9.8 percent in December, up from 9 percent in January 2011. Simply put, Illinois placed more people on the unemployment rolls than any other state in the country(1).
Neighboring states like Indiana and Wisconsin, and even states like Florida, are aggressively pursuing Illinois' businesses and residents. Recently on a local Illinois radio station, Florida Governor, Rick Scott, took to luring Illinoisans by saying, "Hey, do you guys have an income tax? We don't."
Quinn's actions during his tenure have caused businesses and families to leave Illinois, costing the state billions in revenue. Kalnicky, who is the common-sense conservative Republican candidate for State Rep, will work to reverse the destructive course we're on by voting to repeal the 67% income tax increase implemented last year, voting to reduce the pay of state elected officials by 10%, and demanding a line-by-line audit of state spending.
"During his address, Governor Quinn patted himself on the back for being a better governor than the two governors before him - both of whom are now in jail. If this is his only measuring stick for success, then the Governor hasn't set the bar very high for himself or for our state. I think we can do better, and I believe that Illinois' poor performance is a direct reflection of its leadership. We need leadership with strong, conservative values to truly put Illinois back on the right track, and in the 98th district, I am the candidate that will provide that type of leadership," said Kalnicky.
(1) http://illinoispolicy.org/news/article.asp?ArticleSource=4639
