GOV: PROPERTY TAX RATES TO BLAME FOR SLOWGROWTH

Speaking within walking distance of the state border with Indiana, Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday bemoaned property tax rates in Illinois as a prime hindrance to economic growth in the state and accused Democratic leaders in the General Assembly of being “happy to hurt” who they need for political gain.

“We’re not competitive, and as a result, our tax base erodes and we don’t have enough in tax revenue to support a balanced budget and to fund our schools and human services,” Rauner said. “We’ve got to become competitive so we can afford to be compassionate.”

Rauner spoke to reporters after touring the Hegewisch business district and taking part in a closeddoor roundtable with local business owners about the economic challenges of the Far South Side neighborhood.

Rauner used Hegewisch as an example of a part of Illinois that has seen job opportunities flee to neighboring states.

Illinois has gone more than 700 days without a budget and has seen services cut and its credit rating fall as gridlock in Springfield persists.

The governor placed responsibility for the state’s fiscal woes at the feet of the Springfield establishment.

“We need a balanced budget today,” Rauner said. “We needed to two years ago. Frankly, we’ve needed it for the last 35 years.”

Rauner said he suspects—“but I don’t know for sure” — that Democrats in the General Assembly were, in effect, holding the state budget hostage in order to ensure Rauner was not re- elected in two years.

“They want chaos,” Rauner said. “They want may hem. They’re happy to hurt whoever they need to hurt.”