Mussman: Governor Needs to Return to the Table to Resolve Budget Impasse

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, released the following statement Wednesday:

“Two years without a real budget have been devastating for the hardworking, middle-class families and vulnerable residents of our state. I am frustrated that the governor continues to play partisan politics and refuses to return to the table to negotiate a fair and balanced budget.

“My colleagues and I have worked to find common ground that will move us toward a budget. Acting on the governor’s requests, we have taken action addressing many of the items that Governor Rauner holds as pre-conditions to negotiating a state budget. In response to his call for a property tax freeze, I passed legislation that cuts property taxes for every homeowner in Illinois. The governor insists we must increase competition and make Illinois a better place to do business, and I worked to pass real reforms that help small-and medium-sized businesses save money while holding accountable big corporations that ship local jobs overseas. I also supported changes to the workers’ compensation system to ensure that the savings of reform are passed on to our local employers, instead of being used to pad insurance companies’ profits and harm workers’ wages and benefits in the process.

“Illinois needs a balanced budget. But this is only possible if the governor comes back to the table. I’m willing to make the compromises necessary to move Illinois forward and get a budget. It is time for him to do the same.”