Lilly Urges Need for Budget Compromise as New Legislative Session Begins

CHICAGO – State Rep. Camille Lilly, D-Chicago, issued the following statement on Wednesday following the inauguration ceremony for the 100th General Assembly:

“For far too long Illinois has gone without a state budget which has negatively impacted all Illinois residents, especially the most vulnerable who rely on state services to protect their quality of life.

“As a new General Assembly convenes, it is my sincere hope that we can put aside our differences in order to pass a fair and responsible budget as soon as possible. I urge Gov. Rauner to reconvene budget working groups and to return to the negotiation table to pass a budget.

“There remains a lot of work to do to improve the financial condition of Illinois. To that end, I will continue to work to pass a fair tax, which would restructure Illinois’ tax code from a flat tax into a progressive one, allowing the state to bring in additional revenue in order to pay old bills and vendors who provide critical services. However, I will reject any budget proposal that harms working class families, schools, veterans and the elderly, and public safety.

“My top priority as state Representative continues to be putting the needs and concerns of our community first and to fight in Springfield to ensure that local residents have access to the resources they need. I encourage local residents to contact my office if they need assistance with state programs or would like to provide feedback on legislative proposals.”