Health & Fitness
State of the State Address: What Will Gov. Quinn Say?
A preview of Gov. Quinn's State of the State Address
Dear Friends,
On Feb. 1, Governor Quinn will deliver the State of the State address to the General Assembly. It is my hope that the governor will show signs he is serious about fiscal reform as he maps out plans for the upcoming year.
As Wednesday approaches, the anticipation of what policies the governor will present for the year grows. There are many areas the state could immediately implement reforms and cuts that will result in significant savings for Illinois and put us on the road to solvency.
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For instance, we can reduce some of Illinois’ units of government through consolidations and eliminations; reforming programs and departments would save millions. We can also focus on Medicaid savings opportunities by addressing eligibility issues—another area that if reformed could save the state hundreds of millions of dollars.
I am particularly interested in hearing how Governor Quinn plans to meet his pledge to allow the 67 percent tax increase to expire as scheduled. If Illinois continues with the spending patterns of the past decade, the tax increase will undoubtedly become permanent. I am also eager to hear how Governor Quinn plans to balance the budget, and how he proposes to cut spending in order to avoid the $800 million deficit his own budget office predicts for 2015.
Find out what's happening in Elmhurstwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Illinois is ranked as the state with the worst credit rating in the nation and our embarrassing financial position continually draws unwanted national attention. The governor must present plans to reverse the unacceptable fiscal management of the last several years. Illinois’ finances continue to deteriorate, the state’s obligations increase, and the Democrat’s spending is out of control. It is time for Illinois to face reality. We can’t afford not to.
Please take a moment to let me know your thoughts as the General Assembly begins its spring legislative session by taking my survey. You can find it by clicking here. Your input is valuable to me as I do my best to represent you in Springfield. Thank you.
