By John Gregory/Illinois Radio Network
CHICAGO – State of the State addresses usually aren’t centered on budgets, but the ongoing stalemate remains a big concern today for interest groups both for and opposed to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s agenda.
Illinois Chamber of Commerce president Todd Maisch has been supportive of Rauner’s position in the budget stalemate, but he said business leaders around the state aren’t “blind” to opportunities for a compromise between Rauner and the Democratic majority in the legislature.
“There is a growing anxiety level, but it’s not leveled at the governor, it’s leveled at the mutual, I guess, dysfunction in state government,” Maisch said, “but we think that the bottom line is that there are certain key issues that need to changed fundamentally for the state to advance.”
Those issues include items included in the “Turnaround Agenda,” which Illinois Manufacturers’ Association vice president Mark Denzler wants to hear discussed during the speech.
“We hope the governor continues to talk about workers’ compensation reform and tort reform and the need to make Illinois’ economy stronger,” Denzler said.
Emily Miller, policy director at Voices for Illinois Children, said it’s not her place to judge Rauner’s “turnaround agenda,” but she wants to hear more talk of ending the budget impasse than about new policy initiatives in today’s speech.
“Real change takes time,” Miller said. “What has to be done right now is a budget because all these people are suffering. Children and seniors are suffering.”
Miller spoke at a Tuesday press conference with other members of the Responsible Budget Coalition, which has been advocating raising taxes to avoid cuts to services.
Andrea Durbin, chief executive officer of the Illinois Collaboration for Youth, said to social service agencies, the state of the state is “frightening.”
“The inability of our elected leaders to do their constitutionally mandated jobs is leading to systemic collapse of the safety net that we all rely on to keep kids and communities safe,” Durbin said.
Gov. Rauner is set to deliver his State of the State address beginning at noon at the Capitol. WJBC will carry the address live.
