Jones: Nothing New from Rauner

CALUMET CITY, Ill. – State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, released the following statement in response to the governor’s annual budget address:

“I am frankly fed up with the same excuses and acts of political theater coming from the governor. The governor himself admits that he’s not in charge. Under his failed leadership his manufactured budget impasse caused irreparable damage to our schools, universities, hospitals, domestic violence shelters and senior service providers. People in my community suffered because of the governor’s inability to compromise.

“I knew today would be no different with the broken record governor. He proposed further cutting state funding to our schools which would drive up local property taxes on working families. This is unacceptable. His unbalanced budget does nothing to help the middle-class families and the people who need help the most – our seniors, veterans and children.

“The day the governor decides to take charge and work with us in the legislature to serve the citizens of our state, I will more than gladly listen and work with him to do what needs to be done. If he’s not willing to be part of the solution, I’m prepared to work with my colleagues to craft a responsible budget without him.”