Mulroe: All of this could have been avoided

Friday, January 27, 2017 04:29 PM

SPRINGFIELD - State Senator John Mulroe (D-Chicago) issued the following statement on the motion filed by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to stop paychecks to state workers until a budget is approved:

'Governor Rauner has neglected his constitutional obligation to present the legislature with a balanced budget for nearly two years. If he had engaged in budget negotiations rather than holding them hostage until he received portions of his turnaround agenda, we would not be in this situation. All of this could have been avoided had the governor presented a balanced budget.

'I am willing to engage in budget conversations and make cuts where necessary. I think it's important that we ensure that core services like higher education and social services receive proper funding. I want to fulfill the legislature's responsibility to appropriate funds.

'This budget impasse has been detrimental to our state, and the Attorney General's motion just adds to our budget crisis. I will fight for our state workers and for the families across Illinois that are being unduly influenced by the governor's inaction. We need a solution for all services now.'