A press release from State Rep. Mike Tryon:

Tryon Responds to Quinn’s State of the State Address

In response to the Governor’s State of the State address today, Representative Mike Tryon has issued the following statement:

Mike Tryon

“Today I was hoping to hear a speech about how we would address unemployment and the unfriendly business climate in our state. Unfortunately, legislators heard a campaign kick-off speech that was heavy on buzz-words and tiresome rhetoric, but lacking in details that would turn things around.

“The Governor proposed reducing the LLC fee that new businesses pay in Illinois but failed to mention that House Republicans proposed that fee reduction in February 2013 through HB 2230. I am the Chief Co-Sponsor of this bill and have to wonder why the Governor did nothing to see the bill move. HB2230 was buried in the Rules Committee and never scheduled for a hearing.

“Any discussion regarding an increase to the minimum wage needs to include a conversation about how Illinois can become competitive for attracting jobs. It’s not China we’re competing with when it comes to Illinois job creation; it’s Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky and Iowa. If we are going to improve the job climate in our state it is imperative that our businesses are able to afford to add new jobs.

“Today the Governor painted a rosy picture of Illinois’ outlook when the truth is that during his five years in office Illinois and its citizens have suffered. Illinois has 110,000 fewer jobs than when Pat Quinn became Governor and 39,000 more people are unemployed. Moody’s has ranked Illinois dead-last in projected job growth for this year, so something has to change. The majority party’s playbook of raising taxes and over-regulating businesses is simply not working. It’s time for a new path.”