Senator Bill Brady Reacts to
Governor Rauner’s State of the State Address
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[January 28, 2016]
SPRINGFIELD
- Governor Rauner laid out an ambitious path forward for 2016 during
his annual State of the State Address, and I look forward to working
with the governor and legislators to passing meaningful reforms.
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Despite accomplishments in 2015 such as agreeing to unemployment
insurance reforms, fixing the FY2015 budget hole, and recommending a
multitude of reforms to reduce wasteful spending and inefficiency,
there is much work that needs to be done.
Illinois has the second highest property taxes in the nation. High
property taxes stifle middle class income and small businesses. As a
small business owner myself, I understand the need for property tax
relief. Additionally, high property taxes are a major cause of the
outmigration of our citizens. We must also give local governments
the ability to control their costs. Local control enables
communities to determine the costs of contracting and collective
bargaining agreements, which in turn enables them to be more
competitive with surrounding states.
As we worked to find potential buyers for the Mitsubishi plant in
Normal, we continually heard from those businesses their concerns
about the high cost of doing business in Illinois, primarily our
high property taxes and our workers’ compensation costs. We must
find common ground on this issue to reduce the cost of doing
business in Illinois.
I firmly believe Illinois needs term limits and redistricting
reform. As Governor Rauner stated today, the voters should choose
their legislators; it should not be the other way around. Term
limits are very popular with both Democrats and Republicans, and
they ensure the framer’s beliefs in a citizen legislature are
upheld. In order to expand our tax base and recruit businesses that
bring high-paying jobs to Illinois we must pass structural reforms
that will fundamentally change the way Illinois government conducts
business.
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In 2013 I was one of the chief co-sponsors on the pension reform bill that
passed both chambers in 2013 but was ultimately struck down by the State Supreme
Court. Illinois’ pension backlog is over $111 billion. I agree with the Governor
and President Cullerton that we need substantial pension reform without
diminishing the benefits of current retirees. Currently pension obligations
consume nearly one-quarter of the state’s budget, which diverts much-needed
funds away from other top priorities.
Despite the current impasse, I remain optimistic for the future of Illinois.
Governor Rauner laid out a reasonable, substantial agenda, and I am committed to
passing the necessary reforms in order to return our great state to the fiscal
prosperity that its citizens deserve.
[Office of Senator Bill Brady]
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