Springfield – State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) released the following statement after the Illinois Senate voted today on a state budget:
“Despite a 32% tax increase, this budget leaves billions in unpaid bills and complete uncertainty as to whether K-12 schools will be able to open in the fall. Having been in the room negotiating with both sides to reach a bi-partisan agreement on the budget, it goes without saying that we need a real solution for the people of Illinois. And we almost got one. We were, literally, within hours of a break-through agreement – one that would have fundamentally, and forever, put Illinois on a positive trajectory toward fiscal integrity – it was an agreement that would have included important structural reforms and cuts. It is amazing to me that rather than finish that process (which could have easily been accomplished this past weekend), the General Assembly opted instead for a massive tax hike that will leave billions of dollars in bills still unpaid and the very real threat that schools won’t open in the fall. This is typical of the actions that we have come to expect from Springfield.”
Rose is the the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations II Committee and was one of the members appointed by his caucus to negotiate the budget.