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Rep. Eddy: Governor's State Of The State Identifies Problems, But Lacks Workable Solutions

Rep. Eddy: Governor's State of the State Identifies Problems, but Lacks Workable Solutions

Roger Eddy  /  February 9, 2012  /  Views: 51  /   No Comments

Governor Quinn outlined many of the serious problems facing the state budget and economy in his State of the State Address last week, but lacked ideas for real solutions, State Representative Roger Eddy said.

"I was glad to hear the Governor recognized that to get our budget and economy back on firm financial ground we need to create jobs, provide tax relief for working families, and get our skyrocketing Medicaid costs under control. Unfortunately, he has an abysmal track record in all three of these areas," Eddy said.

The Governor said we must rein-in the state's Medicaid costs if we hope to balance the budget. "What he didn't say, though, is that we have already passed into law Medicaid reforms that would save hundreds of millions, perhaps a billion dollars, and his administration has failed to implement them," Eddy stressed. "These are common-sense measures that include an audit to root out fraud and waste and verifying income and residency to ensure everyone receiving benefits is actually eligible. Yes, further reforms are needed, but let's start by implementing what we have already passed into law."

Eddy said he's also skeptical of the Governor's call for tax relief for families. "Just a year ago, this governor worked with legislative Democrats to force on working families the largest income tax increase in Illinois history. With their support, he proposed to shift some school and university employee pension costs from the state to local school districts and universities that's a recipe for rising property taxes and tuition costs families will have to cope with. And, he says he's working for tax relief?"

Eddy said the Governor also pledged to focus on jobs. "Since Governor Quinn and the Democrats enacted their job-killing tax increase on employers last year, jobs have left Illinois and unemployment has risen almost a full percentage point. If he sincerely wants to turn that around, I am ready to work with him to rollback the destructive tax increase and to enact real, meaningful workers compensation reform that includes 'causation,'" Rep. Eddy concluded.

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