Jones Demands Governor Rauner to Return to the Negotiating Table

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, issued the following statement Wednesday:

“It is clear Governor Rauner has no interest in doing his job and working with the Legislature on passing a fair and responsible budget. He has demanded the passage of non-budgetary items that would boost corporate profits at the expense of middle-class and working families. I joined with my House Democratic colleagues requesting the governor return to the bargaining table to discuss his non-budgetary items. We were prepared to negotiate in good faith, but the governor was not. The governor has refused to negotiate.

“I have attempted to meet the governor half ways on changes parts of his agenda. I have also stood with House Democrats in proposed our own economic reforms to lift up the middle class by cutting taxes for small businesses, outlawing taxpayer-funded deals for corporations that ship jobs overseas, and raising the minimum wage.

“I am prepared to work throughout the summer to pass a fair and responsible budget, close the Rauner budget deficit and repair the damage done by this crisis Rauner created. It’s time for Governor Rauner to stop running campaign commercials and do the job he was elected to do.”