Rauner on Lawsuit Reform

A press release from Governor Bruce Rauner:

Turnaround Agenda Testimony as Prepared for Delivery Richard Goldberg, Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs

Senate Judiciary Committee
May 28, 2015

Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee –

I am pleased to be here today to testify in support of the Governor’s compromise reform proposals – specifically this morning on lawsuit reform.

As I said yesterday, I want to thank all members – from the House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans – who participated in working group sessions for the last several weeks to help us develop this compromise legislation.

In our view, these were productive working groups.

At every step of the way, Governor Rauner worked to compromise. When members raised concerns, the administration worked diligently to address those concerns.

When members raised objections, the administration worked diligently to compromise at every turn.

Unfortunately, no compromise is ever good enough for those who stand in the way of reform.

Yesterday, the legislators who control this committee rejected the Governor’s compromise reform legislation on workers’ comp. Shortly thereafter, the legislators who control the Senate moved forward with another phony, unbalanced budget that spends money the taxpayers don’t have.

In short, while Governor Rauner says Yes to reform and Yes to compromise, the legislators in control of the General Assembly say No to reform, No to compromise, Yes to unbalanced budgets and Yes to higher taxes without reform.

Meanwhile, two constitutional amendments proposed by the Governor are being denied a vote despite a direct request from Leader Radogno: one to impose term limits on legislators and the executive; another to establish a Fair Map to end political gerrymandering.

Taxpayers are fed up pouring their hard-earned money into a broke and broken system. This morning, this Committee and those in control of the Senate have an opportunity to change course.

The bill before you is a critical reform we need to Turnaround Illinois – to make Illinois more competitive, to grow our economy and to create jobs. The bill before you represents compromise and reform.

I want to thank Leader Radogno for her leadership on the Turnaround Agenda and for being here today to carry this important reform legislation.

Jennifer Hammer, the governor’s senior policy adviser, is joining us this morning along with Leader Radogno to help answer any technical questions on the bill.

And with that, I’ll turn it back over to Leader Radogno. Thank you.


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