Mitchell says governor's speech
is business as usual      

[JAN. 16, 2004]  SPRINGFIELD -- State Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, said Thursday that Gov. Rod Blagojevich's State of the State address is business as usual in Springfield.

"While I agree with the governor that we need to focus our attention on improving our schools -- and support some of his ideas in concept -- we need to know where the money is going to come from," said Mitchell. "The majority of Illinois schools are facing financial difficulty. We need to make choices that we will help them to the fullest extent -- not impose costly programs that take away vital funding from our classrooms."

Mitchell said he is also concerned with the governor's proposal placing the state Board of Education and state superintendent under his control. "I am opposed to shifting more bureaucracy and power to this governor. This agency should remain independent. In fact, I agree with the Illinois Education Association's proposal requiring the state superintendent to be elected by the people and not appointed by the governor," said Mitchell.

Mitchell also criticized the governor for supporting the passage of a $280 million supplemental appropriations bill Wednesday from the Illinois Senate. "Our current state budget is already falling short of needed revenues because many of his ideas to raise money have not come to fruition, like the sale of the Thompson Center and the sale of the 10th casino license," said Mitchell. "How can we continue to spend money for projects like $200,000 for Chicago State University to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education and $320,000 for a road project in Quincy not included in the Department of Transportation's five-year plan? He also just recently released funding for a Gay and Lesbian Center in Chicago and yet, we cut funding for textbooks for our schools? For a governor who promised change -- this looks a lot like business as usual to me," said Mitchell.

[News release from Rep. Bill Mitchell]