Kifowit Advocates For Reforms to Create Jobs and Boost Middle-Class Families

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, issued the following statement in response to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s State of the State Address:

“The state of Illinois has never faced the fiscal challenges it must now confront. The lack of a state budget has caused extreme harm to our most vulnerable residents and has left us in a financially precarious situation with a rising backlog of debt. We must not repeat the last two years, Gov. Rauner and members on both sides of the aisle must come together and work in a bipartisan fashion to pass a fair and responsible budget.

“There are many areas where I believe compromise is possible between the governor and legislature. I support freezing property taxes and I agree we must invest in all of our children’s education, regardless of where they live. However, I cannot support slashing the rights of middle class families just to benefit large corporations and I will fight to protect funding for local schools. Instead of passing harmful measures, we should focus on enacting economic reforms that improve our business climate and create jobs, while also strengthening the middle-class.

“The reforms I support will expand tax credits to businesses who create jobs, level the playing field for small and medium sized businesses by cracking down on those who ship jobs overseas and we will fully fund our colleges and universities, so we can invest in the next generation. By passing commonsense economic reforms and paying down our debt, we can create a more prosperous Illinois.”