State Budget is a Terrible Lie

     “The state is broke and yet the House Democrats have proposed a budget that increases spending by billions of dollars,” said State Representative Dennis Reboletti (R-Elmhurst). “This is just election year pandering by the Democrats. The Democrats promise social service organizations and schools more money, and yet, even though the Democrats control this state, they can’t deliver. There’s not enough money to even cover the bills this year. Can we support this type of budget-making process? No, we can’t!”

     State Representative Mike Fortner (R-West Chicago) added that Republicans are afraid that the Democrat administration will act on their proposal to withhold the last two school aid payments to fill the current $500 million shortfall in the budget. Democrats would push the school aid payments to the following fiscal year.

     “The House Democrat budget doesn’t add up, and we see what’s happened in this year. They failed to fund the promises they made last year to our schools and social service agencies. Autism groups were promised $10 million in last year’s budget, but they currently have only received half of that funding,” said Rep. Fortner.

     State Representative Jim Meyer (R-Naperville) stated that the state currently faces a $500 million budget shortfall for this current fiscal year. In addition, the state still has $1.7 billion in unpaid bills – most of which is owed to doctors and hospitals who treat Medicaid patients.

     “Session has been a complete disappointment. We have Democrat leaders who can’t even stand to be in the same room together and people wonder why the legislature has not solved any of the problems plaguing this state from a budget shortfall, deteriorating roads and highways, high gasoline prices, and high property taxes,” said Rep. Meyer.

     State Representative Franco Coladipietro (R-Bloomingdale) noted that House Republicans believe that the state should live within its means and more importantly not raise taxes on the hardworking families in this state. In addition, the Republicans feel that the legislature should move quickly on a capital bill which would repair our roads, pump millions into our economy, and more importantly create new jobs.

     “The House Democrats have miraculously found a way to make 2+2=5,” Rep. Coladipietro said. “Usually, a balanced budget means that the state’s revenue equals its spending. However, the Democrats’ out of control spending habits do not match the state’s slow revenue growth. How can the state pay for these new programs? Will they raise taxes after the election or just not fund their promises resulting in a cruel hoax on the social agencies and schools that relied on these funds?”

     For additional information, feel free to contact Rep. Reboletti’s office at (630) 530-2730 or Rep. Coladipietro’s office at (630) 582-0045.