Hoffman Urging Rauner to Return to Table to Negotiate Budget

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As Illinois has gone an unprecedented period of time with no budget, state Rep. Jay Hoffman, is encouraging Gov. Bruce Rauner to return to the bargaining table and seek common ground with Democratic legislators in order to end the budget impasse.

While Rauner is insisting legislators take up his off-budget agenda before he will cooperate on passing a state budget, Hoffman joined every member of the Illinois House Democratic Caucus in signing a letter asking the governor to meet with House Democratic leadership to find common ground on these non-budgetary items. To date, the governor has refused to meet.

“The Governor’s failure to do his job and work with us on passing a responsible budget is a complete dereliction of his constitutionally required duty,” Hoffman said. “This impasse is proving to be detrimental—schools are facing the prospect of not being able to stay open and vulnerable residents are not receiving the care they need, it’s unacceptable.”

Hoffman is joining Democrats to again ask Gov. Rauner and his administration to come to the table and negotiate a real budget. The letter was submitted to the governor on May 18, but he has continued to refuse to meet.

“Every day the governor uses this impasse as political leverage to enact his corporate agenda, unpaid bills continue to line-up,” Hoffman said. “This impasse is costing the state more in the long-run as interest piles up on our unpaid bills.”