SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Daniel Biss released the following statement in response to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget address.
“For the third year in a row, Bruce Rauner complains about a broken system and says the solution to a suffering state is to shift costs to those who can least afford it. And it's sadly no surprise; Bruce Rauner has abdicated responsibility in favor of advocating for himself and his wealthy friends, and today's budget address shows he's willing to put our state through another hostage negotiation in order to keep the status quo.
“This budget isn’t just a bad financial plan, it threatens us to go along with his cost-shifting schemes, or add more than $1 billion to our debt. It attacks our workers and takes away our healthcare. It’s another clear view of who Bruce Rauner is: an aloof and inexperienced billionaire ready to balance the budget on the backs of middle class and working families like mine, instead of asking the wealthy to pay their fair share.
“It’s time we have a leader with the political will to call out the system that benefits a few at the expense of the many. It’s time for Illinois to lead the country with Medicare-for-all, free tuition at public colleges, universal family care, legalization of cannabis and reforms to our criminal justice system. And it’s time to unite around a true progressive vision and build a state that works for everyone, not just the wealthy and well-connected.”
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Gov. Rauner says he supports working families, but the facts are clear. Bruce Rauner's budget impasse caused incredible damage to our state and harmed many middle-class families. Here are a few points to consider:
Bruce Rauner has damaged our social safety net:
- Illinois’ budget impasse has caused more than 1 million people to lose access to critical services – and that toll is increasing every day (United Way) We Need Adequate Revenue: Illinois in Chaos / 3.24.2017
- According to the Department of Public Health, 34 percent fewer women were served by local Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Programs, a life saving program which provides free screenings and treatment for women without insurance. Budget Impasse Hit Women, Children Hardest, Report Says / 8.4.2017
- The last stopgap funding bill contained no FY17 general revenue funds for domestic violence shelters and prevention services. In 2016, more than 3,600 adults and 4,200 children seeking shelter because of domestic violence were turned away Budget Impasse Hit Women, Children Hardest, Report Says / 8.4.2017
- 22,000 seniors outside of Chicago have lost access to services that keep them independent such as home delivered meals and transportation (Age Options) We Need Adequate Revenue: Illinois in Chaos / 3.24.2017
- Nearly 47,000 fewer children are receiving affordable childcare that allows their parents to go to work and make ends meet and to go to school and become self-sufficient (SEIU Healthcare) We Need Adequate Revenue: Illinois in Chaos / 3.24.2017
- 80,000 people in Illinois have lost access to needed mental health services (National Alliance on Mental Illness, Chicago) We Need Adequate Revenue: Illinois in Chaos / 3.24.2017
- Over 100,000 immigrants have lost access to services like citizenship assistance and language access (Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights) We Need Adequate Revenue: Illinois in Chaos / 3.24.2017
Population loss has worsened under Bruce Rauner
- Illinois lost about 33,700 residents, dropping the total population to 12,802,023, the greatest numeric population loss of any state Illinois drops from the fifth-largest state to No. 6 / 12.21.2017
- Illinois experienced a net loss of 37,508 people between July 2015 and 2016 — the most of any state and the third straight year Illinois’ population has declined List: Costs and consequences of Illinois’ budget crisis / 6.5.2017
Job loss has increased under Bruce Rauner
- The two-year Illinois budget stalemate eliminated nearly 7,500 jobs and cost the Illinois economy nearly $1 billion per year. New Study Documents Harmful Impact of Budget Stalemate on Illinois’ Public Colleges and Universities / 9.6.2017
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data show job growth in Illinois under Rauner has been lower than job growth in the neighboring states of Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin. Job growth in Illinois fell in the first three years of the Rauner administration to 2.29 percent, about half the 4.82 percent national job-growth rate. By Rauner’s own standards, he’s a miserable failure on jobs / 1.30.2017
Bruce Rauner’s abysmal budgets have caused a brain drain in Illinois
- The two-year Illinois budget stalemate reduced enrollment in the state’s public colleges and universities by more than 72,000 students New Study Documents Harmful Impact of Budget Stalemate on Illinois’ Public Colleges and Universities / 9.6.2017
- The number of Students leaving Illinois for a four-year degree increased from 29% to 46% Losing the Future: Universities struggle with enrollment as student’s leave state / 2.5.2018
- Illinois is not funding tuition grants for 130,000 low-income college students, forcing many to drop out (Young Invincibles) We Need Adequate Revenue: Illinois in Chaos / 3.24.2017
Bruce Rauner’s budget impasse caused significant negative economic Impacts
- The two-year Illinois budget stalemate cost the Illinois economy nearly $1 billion per year New Study Documents Harmful Impact of Budget Stalemate on Illinois’ Public Colleges and Universities / 9.6.2017
- Illinois incurred $1.03 billion in late bill payment penalties last year largely as a result of the state’s unprecedented two-year budget impasse Illinois budget impasse cost state $1 billion in late payment penalties / 1.22.2018
- Even with the passage of a budget, Illinois accumulated a backlog of bills totaling $14.7 billion with expected late payment interest costs of approximately $800 million (Illinois Comptroller’s Office) Budget Impasse Hit Women, Children Hardest, Report Says / 8.4.2017
- In the last two years, Illinois has been downgraded by all three major credit rating agencies a total of eight times. Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings lowered the state’s bond rating to one notch above “junk” status on June 1. All three rating agencies have a negative outlook for Illinois, which already had the nation’s worst credit rating, and has warned the state could face further downgrades in the coming months amid the ongoing budget impasse and mounting unpaid bill backlog List: Costs and consequences of Illinois’ budget crisis / 6.5.2017
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