Senator Emil Jones III Budget Response

Springfield, IL— In response to Governor Quinn’s budget address, State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) stressed the urgent need to be fiscally responsible and reform our state economy.  To learn more press read more

From the Illinois Senate
State Senator Emil Jones III

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          FOR MORE INFORMATION:
February 16, 2011                                                             Larry Luster 217-782-0907

 “The Governors proposed fiscal year 2012 budget isn’t a final budget but it does provide a foundation of where the legislative and executive branches can come together and find out how to resolve our fiscal mess,” Said Jones.  “Paying our bills is the number one issue that must be solved so that business can continue to grow. Targeted cuts, along with short term bonding, are certainly options to repair our financial problems. It will take a carefully crafted plan for us to recover.”

Illinois is continuing to work its way out of a crisis. Over the past two years, Senate Democrats have made tough and at times unpopular, decisions to get the economy on a path to sustainability.

“In times like this it is essential that both sides of the aisle work together to create a plan so we can build and maintain a stable economy,” Jones said. “Once we have a stable economy, we will have budget surpluses rather than deficits.”

Senator Jones III was pleased to hear that The Neighborhood Recovery Initiative, put in place by the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority, (IVPA) is still on the Governors agenda. The program works through a community and governmental partnership to provide services for youth and young adults. IVPA teaches job skill development and provides mentoring and tutoring so that participants can have the skill necessary to succeed in school, their community and in life. Over the past ten years, IVPA has awarded nearly $64.4 million to over 1,500 grantees throughout Illinois.

“The proposed budget is a good starting point, its imperative that we operate under spending limits and don’t exceed them. Legislators must be of accountable for the budget that we produce and reduce spending. We must have a bi-partisanship commitment to pass a fiscally sound budget.”

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