A press release from State Senator Pam Althoff:
Althoff Critiques Low Productivity in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-McHenry) said state lawmakers came back to Springfield today on taxpayers’ dime only to witness committee cancellations and few real issues to tackle on the floor.
“The first session day following the Governor’s State of the State Address has produced no new discussion or debate on the real issues that continue to plague our state,” Althoff said.
“Instead, we are wasting taxpayer dollars to vote on whether to extend the deadline for the Governor’s budget address, while our districts and constituents continue to face
- unprecedented unemployment
- high taxes and
- crippling infrastructure.”
Althoff emphasized that the responsibility of lawmakers is to engage in discussion and develop solutions that fix the major problems facing constituents in their home districts—something that is not being done at the onset of this legislative session.
The Governor announced this week that he plans to move his annual budget address from February 19 until after the primary on March 26.
His decision to delay the budget address by five weeks was approved by the House on Tuesday and is expected to be voted on by the Senate Wednesday.
Althoff said it is one of the sole reasons lawmakers made the trip to Springfield.
Pam Althoff
“Delaying the budget address by five weeks is completely unacceptable,” said Althoff.
“Although the Governor has said the state is rebounding, that has yet to be proven. We have serious financial issues to address and resolve.
“Postponing this budget address is not in the best interest of transparency and moving forward.
“Wasting time in Springfield like we have today really highlights that our time could have been spent more productively in our districts doing work for our constituents.”
While the state suffers from rising deficits and credit downgrades, lawmakers have been called to the Capitol to vote on delaying solutions. Althoff agrees that taxpayers have a right to be upset about the productivity of state government when session days are not being used efficiently to achieve real results.