Quotes, reaction from Gov. Quinn’s budget address
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn delivered his fiscal year 2013 budget address on Wednesday. Here are quotes from the speech and reaction from state leaders.
“Today, our rendezvous with reality has arrived.” — Gov. Pat Quinn.
“We must achieve fundamental and lasting budget reform. And we must do it now.” — Gov. Pat Quinn.
“In order to reduce cost pressures, we need to reconsider the groups who are eligible for Medicaid, the services we cover under the program, the utilization of these services and the way and amount we pay for them.” — Gov. Pat Quinn.
“These 59 closures and consolidations are hard but necessary. They impact every region in our state, but the need for lower spending in our budget gives us no choice.” — Gov. Pat Quinn.
“For too long, we’ve had a revenue code that looks like Swiss cheese, with plenty of loopholes for the powerful.” — Gov. Pat Quinn.
“I think he did a very good job of setting out what the problems of the state are, going detail by detail, pension funding, Medicaid funding. He delivered a very strong message. The message was very clear, concise for the members of the legislature. He topped it off by saying, don’t expect to go home until we get our job done, which is a legitimate request for the governor to the legislature.” —Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.
“The hardworking families who rely on public pensions deserve honest answers, as do the taxpayers who have to honor those pension obligations. The time has come to deal with the state’s pension obligations and I commend the Governor for being forthright today.” —Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
“If cuts are made to Medicaid, many hospitals will be forced to reduce or eliminate key services or lay off staff, and some hospitals may close.” — Illinois Hospital Association President and CEO Maryjane Wurth.
“As a Southern Illinois resident, I am disappointed that the state is proposing facility closures in areas that already suffer from high unemployment. I encourage the people whose livelihoods will be affected to join me in the budget process and speak up as we review the economic impact of such closures.” — Illinois Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon.
“Instead of reforming state spending and lowering taxes to gain more jobs, Governor Quinn’s budget continues to increase spending and has no strategic plan for bringing businesses and jobs back to Illinois that have been lost since he and his Democratic friends raised taxes 67 percent.” — Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady.
“I stand ready to work with the governor. We must act now.” —Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford.
“It’s time to take the next leap forward in comprehensive pension reforms that control costs while preserving the constitutional rights of current employees and retirees. Unlike Indiana and Wisconsin, we intend to work with unions to accomplish this goal.” — Illinois Senate President John Cullerton.
“The Governor failed to provide any specifics for dealing with the state’s biggest budget `eaters’: Medicaid and pensions. I appreciate his stated intention of working with the General Assembly to find solutions, but hoped that he would share more of his vision in this budget proposal.” — Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka.