By Joe Ragusa
SPRINGFIELD – Governor Bruce Rauner says the state has to adopt more business-friendly reforms in the coming year, otherwise businesses will continue to leave.
LISTEN: Gov. Bruce Rauner delivers his State of the State address.
During his State of the State address Wednesday, Rauner outlined several proposals for getting that done, like workers compensation reform.
“If we simply aligned our workers’ comp costs with those of a state like Massachusetts – which is hardly a bastion of conservatism – we can save state and local taxpayers over $300 million per year,” Rauner said. “While protecting those who suffer workplace injuries and grow more careers at higher wages.”
Rauner also took some shots at lawmakers who reject his proposed reforms.
“I understand that union leaders and trial lawyers are putting pressure on you to keep the status quo,” Rauner said. “But if we don’t offer a competitive environment for businesses, pretty soon the unions won’t have any more jobs to unionize and the trial lawyers won’t have any more businesses to sue.”
Rauner said competing with other states for jobs won’t be a race to the bottom, as some of his Democratic colleagues have put it.
Rauner is hoping for some bipartisan support on the reforms he talked about during his State of the State.
Rauner said he wants to pass meaningful pension reform this year with the help of Senate President John Cullerton. Cullerton’s proposal, Rauner said, will save $1 billion per year from four of the state’s pension plans.
“I have instructed Administration attorneys to work with the Senate President’s staff to finalize language as soon as possible,” Rauner said. “When they do, I urge both chambers to pass it without delay.”
Rauner said he’s working with Cullerton to accomplish several goals he has for K-through-12 education. That includes a significant boost to funding.
“Focusing our additional resources more on low income and rural school districts so we can provide high quality classrooms in every community, without taking money away from any other districts,” Rauner said.
Rauner also championed the work of the bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform Commission, saying lawmakers need to pass several of its recommendations.
Joe Ragusa can be reached at joe.ragusa@cumulus.com.
