Welch Statement on Budget Address

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, issued the following statement after Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget address:

“For four years our state suffered under the failed leadership of Bruce Rauner. Social services were slashed, state higher education institutions nearly closed their doors and our state’s debt grew massively.

“Today in his budget address, Governor Pritzker outlined his plans to begin to heal and move our state forward from the damage incurred over the last few years. To turn a new page for Illinois, we must get our fiscal house in order by controlling spending and looking for new progressive sources of revenue, while protecting funding for education and critical social services.

“Our path forward will not be easy, it will require bipartisan negotiation and compromise, but I have faith that by working together we can make the tough decisions needed to help address the problems facing Illinois.”