News from State Representative Ron Stephens

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rep. Ron Stephens

February 20, 2008 (618) 651-0405

Governor Proposes Another Tax & Spend Budget

Springfield, IL – Governor Blagojevich kicked off the 2008 legislative session much like he did last year – by proposing another tax and spend budget. State Representative Ron Stephens was not surprised and believes this will be another long, contentious session.

“We’ve seen all these proposals before,” Stephens said. “Raise taxes, sell off state assets, borrow and spend. These are exactly the reasons why last year went so long and, much like last year, the Governor’s budget will go nowhere.”

Governor Blagojevich offered few specifics in his Fiscal Year 2009 proposed budget. Many of the Governor’s proposals were recycled from previous years, including a health care expansion funded by a new tax on employers, fund sweeps and more taxes on business, and the lease of the state lottery. Similar to his first budget, the Governor is proposing a pension bond scheme that would borrow $16 billion to fund the state pension systems.

While the Governor talked about cutting taxes on business, the reality would be something quite different. According to Representative Stephens, the Governor is offering nothing more than a classic bait-and-switch. He is proposing a one-time tax cut, while at the same time pushing for a $1.2 billion tax increase that will continue year after year.

“Today’s speech was all hot air and hairspray,” said Stephens. “The Governor even joked about his failed $8 billion Gross Receipts Tax, saying he felt like singing the old Hank Williams song ‘I’m So Lonesome I could Cry.’ I’d humbly suggest that a better tune to describe the Blagojevich Administration would be ‘Wasted Days and Wasted Nights.’

Representative Stephens stood firm in his belief that the state needs to live within its means and pass a budget that holds the line on taxes. To jumpstart the economy and rebuild Illinois’ infrastructure, Stephens again called for the passage of a long-term capital plan.

“I was glad to hear the Governor supports a capital plan, but words alone won’t get the job done,” Stephens said. “We need a capital plan to create good-paying jobs for working families, to fix our roads and build new schools. It’s long past time for the Democrats to stop their infighting and start working together to pass a real jobs bill for the people of Illinois.”

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