Rep. Reis Sees More Questions than Answers in Governor’s State of the State Address

January 13, 2010

Springfield, IL.…On Wednesday, State Representative David Reis (R-Ste. Marie) questioned the effectiveness of Governor’s Quinn’s State of the State address due to the lack of answers on Illinois’ most pressing issue; an estimated $12 billion budget deficit.

“Basically, it was nothing more than an hour and twenty minute campaign speech two weeks before the primary, Rep Reis said. “It’s time for everyone to recognize the significance of our budget crisis and double-digit unemployment. Governor Quinn failed to define a clear vision on how to get Illinois back on track and working again. No innovative solutions, no concrete answers to our state’s most pressing issues.”

Governor Quinn mostly spoke of the recently passed Capitol Bill, investment in bio fuels, tourism, and the strong need for home weatherization to help create jobs to balance the states budget.

“These are all noble ideas, but I don’t think you can plug a $12 billion dollar hole with a caulking gun, much less assume that focusing on government jobs as a means of turning around our struggling economy is a real long term solution,” Rep. Reis said.

The Governor also reiterated his desire to implement tax increases and attempted to smooth over his recently halted early release program where violent criminals were released after serving a little as fourteen days in prison.

Reis also expressed his disappointment that Speaker Madigan only scheduled the House to be in session two days during the whole month of January.

“Bottom line, I think this weeks actions underscore seven years of one party rule here in Illinois, Reis said. “We are on the brink of bankruptcy, we have an administration that fails to offer a clear vision for our future and we have a Speaker who refuses to even schedule days for the General assembly to meet so we can address these very serious needs. It really makes no sense to me.”