State Senator Raoul “ready to work with anyone who comes to the table with real solutionsâ€
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago 13th) issued the following statement after hearing the governor present his budget proposals to the General Assembly:
The facts are clear. During the last five years, my colleagues and I have been willing to make tough decisions, cutting $5.7 billion from the budget (including $3.2 billion from Medicaid and $1.2 billion from human services) and reforming public employee pensions in the face of intense pressure from all sides.
But Illinois’ fiscal reality is still bleak. The problems are decades in the making, the result of a structural deficit that will require creativity and courage to overcome. I applaud the governor for boldly initiating an honest dialogue, and I join him in committing to tell the truth to the people of Illinois, even when that truth is unpopular or unpleasant.
We owe the people of this state the courtesy of carefully examining all responsible alternatives and pursuing policies that are progressive, not regressive, improving quality of life for our neighbors rather than exacerbating the gap between rich and poor in our society. And we owe the children of this state a well-funded education system that allows them to go as far as their dreams and determination lead them.
In the coming days and weeks, I will study the governor’s plan and other proposals in greater detail. I am ready to work with anyone who comes to the table with real solutions, ready to set aside preexisting agendas to build a better future for our state.
