Butler statement of special session

[June 16, 2017]  SPRINGFIELD - State Representative Tim Butler (R-Springfield) issued the following statement in response to Governor Bruce Rauner convening the General Assembly for a special session regarding the state budget:

"I commend the Governor for doing what has not been done so far in June: bringing the Legislature back to Springfield to hammer out a balanced budget compromise. Since the Speaker adjourned the House over two weeks ago, our State Capitol Building has sat silent in the midst of this unprecedented budget impasse.

"What we have seen this week is that the Republicans are taking the lead to end this ridiculous situation. The balanced budget plan introduced by House and Senate Republicans takes the elements of the ‘grand bargain’ negotiated between Senators and attempts to move them forward in a bipartisan fashion.

"I urge my Democrat colleagues to take this proposal seriously and work with us to move it forward. The legislation in this proposal has been largely negotiated between the two parties in the Senate and the Governor's office has stated they will sign this plan. This is the path forward to resolve the budget impasse."

[Office of Representative Tim Butler]