SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — Speaker Michael J. Madigan released the following statement Wednesday following Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State Address.

“I want to thank Governor Pritzker for offering a straightforward assessment of the state of our state. For the first time in a long time, we come into a legislative session with the opportunity to build on success. Last spring, we worked across the aisle to balance the budget; we enacted reforms backed by the state’s leading business groups that will help small and medium-sized employers grow; we created innovative new job training programs; we fought to rein in the cost of health care and prescription drugs; we took critical steps toward property tax relief; and we began the process of replacing Illinois’ unfair tax system with one that provides relief for the middle class while making millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share.

“There is more work to be done though. Building on this progress means we must continue to make the tough decisions to balance the budget and pay down old bills, while ensuring critical services like our schools, senior care, career and vocational education, domestic violence shelters and breast cancer screenings are funded.

“While we have seen major steps forward, we have also seen the good work of the many honest members of this Legislature be overshadowed too often by the wrongdoing of individuals who have sought to put themselves first. It’s clear that we must take significant steps within the coming weeks to restore confidence in state government. But let’s be clear: bad actors will always try to game the system and break the law. We must commit to sending the clearest sign the game is over and every step will be taken to prosecute.

“House Democrats stand ready to work with Governor Pritzker and our Republican colleagues to balance our budgets, enact lobbying and ethics reforms, make health care more affordable, expand educational opportunities to build an economy that works for all, and continue building a stronger Illinois.”

Following Governor Pritzker’s State of the State Address, State Representative Tim Butler (R-Springfield) issued the following statement:

“I was glad to hear the Governor acknowledge and show a willingness to take up some Republican ethics reform ideas. The irreparable damage being done to our state by inaction on this issue cannot be delayed any longer.

“However, if the Governor is really serious about addressing unethical behavior and corruption, then he needs take a strong stance in support of fair maps to finally put an end to gerrymandering. Nearly 3 out of 4 Illinoisans support fair maps and the census is underway, which means redistricting is on the way. He has publically said he won’t sign a gerrymandered legislative map and supports fair maps. Now is the time to prove it.

“The main issue that I don’t think we heard enough substantive ideas about is addressing economic development and job growth downstate. The Governor likes to tout that he has been working hard to improve opportunities downstate, but the realities don’t match the words. Illinois’ outmigration has been felt most downstate, while the majority of opportunities have favored Chicago. Downstate has a wealth of resources to be our economic engine, but the Governor has to turn his talk into action to free up the potential of downstate.”

State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is thrilled to hear Gov. JB Pritzker’s commitment to improving early childhood education in Illinois during the State of the State address on Wednesday.

“I was pleased to hear the governor’s plans to invest in early childhood education and college affordability initiatives,” said Senator Bennett. “College has never been more expensive and much work remains for all involved—everyone can agree on that, regardless of political affiliation. Under the governor’s leadership, I look forward to joining my fellow lawmakers to continue the fight to improve college access, affordability and completion for everyone in Illinois.”

The governor outlined his priorities to build upon a skilled workforce and expand vocational training and career and technical education, in addition to making college more affordable.

“Our state accomplished a lot in 2019 under Gov. Pritzker’s leadership, but there is still work to be done,” said Senator Bennett.

Rep. Hammond Responds to Gov. Pritzker’s State of the State Address, Calls for Democratic Leaders to Do More to End Corruption

Moments ago, Governor J.B. Pritzker gave his second State of the State Address. State Representative Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) appreciated the governor’s support for several ethics reform ideas proposed by House Republicans.

“I’m glad that Governor Pritzker announced his support for several ethics reform ideas proposed by House Republicans,” said Rep. Hammond. “The people of Illinois deserve lawmakers who are held to the highest ethical standards, and we should all appreciate that the governor is taking the issue of corruption seriously. The final roadblock to enacting these reforms is getting House Democratic leadership, including Speaker Madigan, to allow these bills for a vote. We will not be able to strengthen our state’s ethics laws until the speaker stops blocking this legislation from a vote.”

In his remarks, Governor Pritzker stated his support for several ethics reforms, including ending the practice of lawmakers serving as paid lobbyists while in office, increasing disclosure of conflicts of interest, and banning lawmakers from immediately turning around to work as paid lobbyists upon leaving public office. House Republicans have already introduced legislation on each of those topics:

House Bill 3947 bans lawmakers from performing paid lobbying work with local government units

House Bill 3954 revises statements of economic interest to increase disclosure requirements similar to the information required for judicial statement of economic interest forms

House Bill 165 & House Bill 879 ban lawmakers from serving as a paid, registered lobbyist within a period of two years and one year, respectively, upon the end of a member’s time in office

There has been broad, bipartisan support for new ethics reforms in light of ongoing federal investigations into corruption. Similarly, a broad, bipartisan group of lawmakers has continued their calls to pass redistricting reform, yet Democratic leaders, including Speaker Madigan, have blocked those reforms from being called for a vote.

“Other than expanding ethics rules for lawmakers, the most important reform we can enact to end the culture of corruption in Springfield is to remove the redistricting process from the hands of politicians,” Rep. Hammond continued. “Fair maps can ensure that our elections are competitive and that legislative district boundaries aren’t drawn to maximize any one political party’s power in government. As a supporter of fair maps, I was disappointed the governor did not talk about that issue today, but I hope he reiterates his support for fair maps before the end of session in May. The people of Illinois should not have to wait another decade to see redistricting reform.”

The Illinois Primary Health Care Association, representing the state’s Federally Qualified Health Centers, today released the following statement in response to the Governor’s State of the State address:

“Today, Governor Pritzker delivered his second annual State of the State address, reaffirming his commitment to a safer, healthier and more fiscally stable future for Illinois.

We commend the Governor for leading the bipartisan effort to secure last year’s capital bill that promises historic levels of investment in the state’s infrastructure, including $50 million for building, renovating, and repairing community health centers.

As the Governor prepares to introduce his fiscal year 2021 budget, IPHCA will continue to advocate for greater access to high-quality, affordable health care. Our community health center members provide integrated medical, behavioral, and dental care in nearly every community throughout the state and they have a demonstrated ability to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. In fact, they save our state’s Medicaid program nearly $2 billion every year by keeping people out of emergency rooms and reducing their need for more costly healthcare services.

Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) released the following statement regarding Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s State of the State address:

“Governor Pritzker gave a good speech laying out his vision for Illinois. But, after the much vaunted summer/fall property tax relief task force empowered by the Democrat majorities imploded, I definitely would have liked to hear more specifics from the Governor on the issue of property tax relief for working families.

On ethics reform, I don’t see how can you have ‘ethics reform’ that doesn’t tackle changing the way legislative redistricting is done. As I see it, as long as legislators are drawing their own districts – for their own self-interest – you are going to continue to have problems. His speech didn’t have a single word devoted to Fair Maps and I think he missed a major opportunity. It is beyond time to give the people of Illinois their state back.”

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider released the following statement in response to Governor Pritzker’s State of the State address:

“In his State of the State speech today, Governor Pritzker talked about his desire to reach across the aisle and find common ground to solve the enormous challenges facing Illinois. Republicans in Illinois stand ready to work in good faith with the Governor, but we will not solve the immense challenges we face by pushing the same tax-and-spend policies that created the mess in Illinois.

So far, Governor Pritzker’s priorities have been focused on adding to our financial crisis, not solving it. His priorities have made life more expensive for working families in Illinois, not more affordable. And in the midst of a mass exodus of people fleeing our state, Governor Pritzker’s priorities will only serve to speed up our decline as small businesses shutter, property taxes keep rising, and middle class wallets are hit up time and again.

Illinois is drowning under a tsunami of legal and illegal public corruption. I urge the Governor to follow through on his promises and act with leadership on substantive ethics reforms and non-partisan legislative redistricting. With three months to go on a Fair Maps Amendment deadline, nothing less than urgent action by the Governor is acceptable.

But there is one person who stands in the way of these critical changes. Mike Madigan has slow-walked ethics reform and refuses to support the non-partisan redrawing of legislative maps. Now is the time for Pritzker to show Madigan that the status quo in Springfield must change. I hope the Governor has the courage to do so.”

Mark Grant, NFIB’s state director for Illinois, released the following statement today in response to Governor Pritzker’s State of the State Address:

“We appreciate Governor Pritzker’s list of accomplishments during his first year in office. However, small business owners face continued headwinds in Illinois with the steep rise in the minimum wage, increased state regulations and the specter of progressive income tax by this time next year.

“Our members urge the General Assembly and Governor Pritzker to remember that small businesses account for 99.6% of all businesses in the state. Our leaders should look to the future and focus on creating an environment where our small businesses can grow and create jobs.”

State Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, released the following statement after Gov. J.B. Pritzker delivered his State of the State address to a joint session of the General Assembly:

“During the course of the last year, the General Assembly has made significant progress in building a stronger Illinois. Together, we worked in good faith to adequately fund local schools, capped the skyrocketing cost of insulin and passed a comprehensive infrastructure plan which is creating jobs and improving communities up and down the state.

“I look forward to working with the governor and my colleagues in Springfield as we seek to advance the interests of our community.”

Statement attributable to Vote No on the Blank Check Amendment Chairman Greg Baise:

“Barely 24 hours after another legislator pleaded guilty to corruption, J.B. Pritzker wants the people of Illinois to trust Springfield politicians with more of their hard earned money.

“The governor’s message is clear. He and the Springfield insiders refuse to stop spending and now demand a blank check from middle class taxpayers.

“The people of Illinois already know taxes are too high, and this new costly income tax will just send more families and small business owners fleeing a state whose crushing tax burden is already unmatched anywhere else in the United States."

Chris Bos, a former non-profit leader with a business background, and Republican candidate for the 51st District of the Illinois House of Representatives, issued a statement following today’s State of the State address:

“Today, we heard more of the same from Springfield: more taxes, more spending money we don’t have and more driving families and businesses out of our state,” said Bos.

“The reality is, people in the 51st District are looking for leadership and solutions. We need voices in Springfield who will stand up for families and businesses to help them thrive and grow. People are looking for representation that will lead us down the path of fiscal responsibility and living within Illinois’ means. And, they are looking for a leader who won’t go-along-to-get-along and will push back against the corrupt status quo that has humiliated our state.

“Although Representative Mary Edly-Allen promised she would be different, it’s clear that she is part of the Madigan Machine and enabling the problem. As the representative for the 51st District, I won’t forget who I work for: the people of our district. I will work tirelessly to encourage economic growth, force Springfield to live within its means, and clean up Illinois.”

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) released the following statement regarding Gov. JB Pritzker’s annual State of the State address:

"Manufacturers across Illinois have demonstrated a commitment to working with Governor Pritzker and lawmakers to enact policies that move our state forward, create jobs and invest in our workforce. Last year, we worked together to enact an historic infrastructure bill, invest in apprenticeships, and commit to research & development which is the lifeblood of manufacturing innovation," said Mark Denzler, president & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. "We look forward to partnering with the Governor to further strengthen our education system and reduce the overwhelming property tax burden on Illinois businesses and families. However, moving to a graduated income tax system and hiking energy costs on businesses that create jobs and drive our economy is the wrong approach."