SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Michael J. Madigan, House Democrats and advocates for the middle class are calling out Gov. Bruce Rauner and Republicans for refusing to consider fair tax reform that would provide relief for the middle class while making the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share.

Madigan and Democratic lawmakers from across the state introduced House Resolution 1025 Thursday, challenging Republican lawmakers to stop protecting millionaires, billionaires, and big corporations and instead work with Democrats to enact a fair system that cuts taxes on middle-class and low-income taxpayers. Rauner and legislative Republicans are defending a status quo that allows Rauner to pay at least $5 million less than he would in a state like Iowa.

“Governor Rauner is willfully misleading taxpayers because he doesn’t want anyone to see that he’s blocking tax relief for the middle class, all in an effort to protect a special deal for millionaires and billionaires like himself,” Madigan said. “Today, we set the record straight: A fair tax for Illinois is about putting more money in the pockets of middle-class families. If our Republican colleagues are serious about cutting taxes, creating jobs, and strengthening our economy, they will join us in creating a fair tax system that rewards families who work hard and play by the rules, instead of one that benefits Bruce Rauner, Donald Trump and their billionaire friends.”

Madigan’s resolution cites findings from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy that Illinois’ constitutionally mandated “flat tax” is one of the most regressive tax structures in the country, forcing low- and middle-income residents to pay a larger share of their incomes in taxes than the very wealthy. A taxpayer earning less than $19,000 pays 13.2 percent of their income in state taxes, while those with an income of $498,000 pay only 4.6 percent of their income in taxes.

House Democrats are calling for a progressive tax like those currently in place in 33 other states—including Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri and Indiana—which would put more money in working families’ pockets, allowing them to reinvest in local economies and stimulate business growth and economic development.

“There’s no excuse for the current tax system that forces struggling families to pay more than the very wealthy,” said Roberta Lynch, executive director of AFSCME Council 31. “Illinois working families need fair tax reform. By standing in the way, Governor Rauner and the politicians who follow him are protecting a status quo full of loopholes for those who are already at the top.”

“Last year Democrats and Republicans stood together because they knew we cannot continue to follow Bruce Rauner’s agenda of slashing critical services for our communities so his billionaire and millionaire buddies can get a tax cut,” said Greg Kelley, president of SEIU Healthcare Illinois. “Their votes to end the Rauner budget crisis were votes to put middle-class families ahead of the ultra-wealthy. Now we need a tax system that reflects this same value. I applaud House Democrats’ stand for a fairer system, and we look forward to working with them to get a progressive income tax passed in the future.”

“Throughout our state, parents who want their children to receive a world-class education and homeowners who want relief from rising property taxes can agree on one thing: the system is unfair and needs to change,” said Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers and a high school English teacher. “This is the change we need, and this is the opportunity for all who claim they’re on the side of taxpayers and educators to prove it.”

“As Donald Trump stacks the deck even more in favor of the ultra-wealthy, Governor Rauner and his allies can no longer pretend to stand with the middle class while also protecting a tax system that so clearly reinforces inequality,” said Clem Balanoff, chair of Our Revolution Illinois. “If they are ready to build an Illinois that works for everyone instead of just the top 1 percent, they will stand with us to enact a fair tax system that reflects that.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, issued the following statement after Governor Rauner’s Budget Address:

“After auditors revealed that his administration could not account for $7.11 billion in Medicaid spending, and the first Debt Transparency Report uncovered that his administration accrued over $2 billion in unauthorized debt, it was my hope that Governor Rauner was going to present the General Assembly a responsible path forward. Yet, his remarks didn’t even coincide with the findings of the audit on his administration. The governor gave legislators nothing more than empty political rhetoric

“There is too much at stake for political games. Middle-class families cannot afford another 700 day Rauner budget crisis. In those 700 days, Illinois’ debt climbed to over $16 billion, forcing the state to pay more than $1 billion in interest payments alone. That’s billions of dollars that could have gone into our schools, health care, services for our seniors and more.

“It is my hope that the governor will change course and work with us in good faith to address the many problems facing our state. But if not, we’re prepared to continue working cooperatively with legislative Republicans to invest in our schools, create jobs, and provide real property tax relief for middle-class families.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In the moments after Governor Rauner’s budget address to the General Assembly, state Rep. Michelle Mussman released the following statement:

“After attending the governor’s budget address, it is clear that Governor Rauner and the legislature must work together to bridge the gaps of partisanship and politics to move us forward.”

“In order to be as effective as possible, we need to focus on areas of common ground – working to provide property tax relief, increasing access to quality health care, and strengthening our education system to raise the standard of living for working families across the state.”

“I truly hope that Governor Rauner is sincere in his efforts and actions to get Illinois back on track by demonstrating a willingness to engage in good faith negotiations for the betterment of our state.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – During a recent meeting with the Crain’s Chicago Business Editorial Board, Gov. Bruce Rauner, when questioned about his administration’s response to the legionella outbreaks at the state-run Quincy Veterans’ home which resulted in the deaths of 13 veterans and 61 infections, said he would not have done anything differently. State Reps. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, and Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora, call on the governor to take responsibility.

“The fact that the governor has the audacity to claim his administration responded ‘exceptionally well’ and ‘would not do anything different’ to protect our Veterans shows his complete lack of leadership and responsibility. Under his watch, 13 Veterans have died and his remarks are disrespectful to their families.  One glaring case of mismanagement we have uncovered in the testimonials is that the residents, their families and even the staff were purposely not informed of the severity of the outbreak,” Kifowit said. “Frankly, I am disgusted by his lack of humility and compassion for my fellow Veterans who served our country. They served us and it is his duty to serve them. He has failed miserably doing so.”

“I am deeply troubled by the governor’s inability to admit wrong doing when 13 veterans died under his watch. It goes to show he is unfit to lead and has no intention of taking care of those who fought for our country,” Chapa LaVia said. “Our veterans deserve the best care we can possibly give them and they certainly deserve a governor who will fight for them.”

“It is vital to know all the details in regards to this tragic situation, and we call on the Governor and his Directors to release the information. The public has a right to know,” stated Kifowit and Chapa LaVia.

Both representatives have been involved in the Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s investigation of the Quincy Veterans Home.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, issued the following statement after Gov. Bruce Rauner falsely claimed that the findings in the Illinois auditor general’s report were fundamentally inaccurate:

“Governor Rauner has sunk to new low in his attempt to draw attention away from his negligence and incompetence as he smeared the audit’s findings as fundamentally inaccurate and erroneous, or as Donald Trump would claim, ‘fake news.’ All the while, his very own Department of Healthcare and Family Services has already started implementing most of the auditor general’s recommendations.

“It is beyond frustrating that the same man who just stood in front of the General Assembly to speak of fiscal discipline is disregarding over $7 billion in unaccounted Medicaid bills in this way. I believe the fact that HFS could not come up with complete data on what they spent on administrative costs, how many claims had been denied, or whether the state had overpaid calls for further investigation.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill – In the moments after the governor’s State of the State address, state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, released the following statement:

“After watching the governor’s State of the State address, it is clear that he once again is failing to lead our state in a better direction. Our outstanding debt has skyrocketed to over $14 billion since he took office, causing negative implications for many Illinoisans across the state.”

“Rather than trying to establish common ground with both Democrats and Republicans, Governor Rauner has repeatedly derailed legislative efforts that aren’t 100% percent consistent with his anti-working families agenda.’ The bottom line is that the Governor has never been a champion for bipartisan compromise.”

“To get our state back on track, I will continue working with legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle to enact commonsense measures that help middle-class families drive economic growth, while holding powerful corporations accountable in paying their fair share.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Michael J. Madigan issued the following statement Monday:

“House Democrats will continue to reach across the aisle and work with legislative Republicans in order to enact bipartisan education funding reform. Every child in Illinois deserves a great education, but too many are being held back by one of the most unfair funding formulas in the country, and the reform we need is being held back by a governor who is determined to pit one child against another for political gain.

“Democrats know that many legislative Republicans share our commitment to fair funding for all schools. We will work together on behalf of our children, our schools and our communities, even if the governor continues to choose chaos over compromise.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Michael J. Madigan issued the following statement Tuesday:

“Throughout three years of the governor’s budget crisis, we saw very clearly that political theater is not a substitute for real leadership. By calling a special session while he refuses to negotiate and even says ‘there’s nothing to discuss,’ the governor is continuing to create a crisis that pits one child against another.

“The governor knows very well that the education funding reform bill in question is not in the House, and members of the House cannot take positive action on the governor’s call until it is in our chamber, especially as he refuses to even detail the changes he would like.

“Governor Rauner, however, can take action. Instead of simply paying lip service to how desperately Illinois’ schools, educators, students and property taxpayers need education funding reform, he can put aside his veto threats and sign a bill he is on record as supporting 90 percent of. Instead of playing political games with our children’s education, he can agree to sign a bill that fixes one the most inequitable funding formulas in the country. I urge the governor to stand with us in choosing reform over a status quo that is failing our students.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Michael J. Madigan issued the following statement Wednesday after Standard & Poor’s reacted positively to passage of a bipartisan balanced budget:

“S&P’s action today is a strong signal that the balanced budget enacted by Republicans and Democrats is an important step in the right direction. At the end of June, I wrote to the rating agencies and asked that they temporarily withhold judgment and give legislators more time to enact a budget, and I’m grateful for the legislators on both sides of the aisle who used this time to work together and make the difficult decisions needed to start getting Illinois back on track.

“There is more work to be done, and it’s clear from S&P’s statement that rating agencies, like all Illinois residents, are hoping Governor Rauner will work in good faith with legislators to address these challenges rather than rejecting compromise by turning further to the extreme right.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Michael J. Madigan issued the following statement Wednesday:

“The House will hold a vote on Thursday, July 6 to override the governor’s vetoes of the balanced budget sent to him. House Democrats look forward to working with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to begin healing the wounds of the last several years.”