For the second time in as many years, the Illinois General Assembly wrapped up its spring session on May 31 without a budget or any meaningful reforms, prompting a candid response from Senate District 28 candidate Mel Thillens.
“The establishment machine politicians have embraced the status quo, throwing us under the bus in a warped hope that they can blame the other side and increase their chances of getting re-elected,” Thillens said.
Gov. Bruce Rauner and Republican leaders attempted to compromise with Democrats by proposing a stopgap budget on the last day of the spring session that would guarantee schools would open in the fall, and that state agencies and prisons would continue running.
The Republican proposal was balanced and required no new taxes, but House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Dist. 22), Senate President John Cullerton (D-Dist. 6) and other Democratic colleagues refused the Republicans’ proposal.
“It’s mind-boggling that Sen. Laura Murphy (D-Dist. 28) would leave Springfield without passing a balanced budget that ensures our schools open on time,” Thillens said of his incumbent opponent.
Thillens expressed disbelief that the legislature could end its session without resolution of the controversial and increasingly stressful budget issue.
“My opponent, under direction from Mike Madigan and Chicago Democrats, has ignored the rising costs of property taxes, the increasing cost of education and the loss of jobs in the interest of playing politics,” he said. “As your state senator, I won’t be beholden to the special interests and entrenched machine politicians that have left our state in shambles.”
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