Jones Proposes Real Economic Reforms to Create Jobs, Lift-Up Working Class Families

CALUMET CITY, Ill. – State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, issued the following statement in response to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s State of the State Address:

“Gov. Rauner’s continued refusal to negotiate a budget until his irresponsible anti-working-class agenda is passed is causing permanent harm to Illinois’ most at-risk residents. I will not support these efforts to put corporate profits above the interests of working families. I am urging the governor to drop his extreme agenda and join me in passing a compassionate budget.”

“I reject the governor’s idea that the only way to create jobs in Illinois is to cut wages and strip away workplace protections. I am joining my colleagues in supporting common-sense economic reforms to provide working people with the relief they deserve. The aggressive economic reforms being proposed by the House Democratic Caucus extend tax credits to businesses who hire new workers, raise the minimum wage, let working families keep more of their hard-earned dollars, and invest millions into education by creating a new tax on millionaires and billionaires. These reforms would act as an immediate boost to our economy by creating jobs and putting money into the hands of those who need it most.

“These last two years have not been easy for Illinois, but we can grow our economy and begin tackling the other serious issues facing our communities if we pass a compassionate budget and implement the economic reforms being proposed by House Democrats. I look forward to working with the governor and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in passing the real reforms our state deserve.”