Stuart Responds to State of State Address with Continued Commitment to Job Creation, Working Families

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In response to the governor’s State of the State address on Wednesday, state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, reaffirmed her commitment to investing in Metro East’s working families and employers.

“The governor and I share the goal of improving the state’s business climate. We have to find creative new ways to put people back to work in good-paying careers, and I believe that we can help businesses achieve this goal without cutting wages and stripping vital protections from working families.

“Solving our budgetary problems depends on our ability to get Illinois’ economy back on track and create quality jobs. I am fighting for economic reforms that will level the playing field for small and medium sized businesses, encourage businesses to create and retain jobs within our borders and hold corporations that ship jobs overseas accountable by preventing them from taking any taxpayer-funded tax breaks.

“It is completely unacceptable that the state has gone 19 months without a budget. Families, seniors, taxpayers and employers are hurt more with every passing day that we go without passing a long-term, responsible budget. That is why I am refusing to accept my own legislative pay until a budget is in place and introduced my first bill to prevent lawmakers from receiving an automatic pay increase.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us. I’m committed to working with both sides of the aisle for common-sense reforms that protect taxpayers, encourage economic growth and support middle-class families.”