SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In response to Governor Rauner’s state of the state address today, state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, delivered the following statement:
“Today the governor had a chance to extend his hand in a gesture of good will, and instead he choose to outline more of his extreme agenda that hurts Illinois families. One year into this administration, we’ve had critical social service agencies shut down, seniors have lost their home care and are being pushed into more expensive nursing facilities and thousands of students remain without the MAP Grants that allow them to prepare for future careers.
“Instead of taking responsibility for his choices that have brought us to this point, the governor used today to attack the union workers that care for the sick, administer Illinois’ most important programs, keep us safe and provide good paying jobs and reasonable conditions. We need a fundamental change in the way we’re approaching this budget impasse. It’s time to put aside the entrenched ideas that have led us here and find the common ground that can get us past this crisis. Despite today’s rhetoric, I hope the governor will join me in getting to work to end the pain this stalemate has caused for so many Illinois families.”
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