MACOMB – Assistant House Minority Leader Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) issued the following statement regarding Governor Rauner’s Budget Address on Wednesday:
“In all matters, we as legislators in Springfield, must follow the US and Illinois Constitution to guide our actions,” said Rep. Hammond. “Adhering to our constitutional mandate means we start the budgeting process by the Illinois House setting a Revenue Estimate that realistically reflects the funds coming in to our State. We cannot spend more than we bring in, so we must first set the revenue estimate and then hold appropriation committee hearings to go line by line through the budget to insure that our expenditures do not exceed our revenues,” Hammond continued.
“As a member of the Higher Education Appropriations Committee, I look forward to reviewing the Governor’s proposal in detail over the coming months as we hold our appropriations committees hearings. Just like hardworking Western Illinois families cannot spend more than they bring in, so it should go with their state government,” Hammond went on to say.
Rep. Hammond was critical in ending the logjam that prevented a budget for two years ending last Summer. “Illinois cannot go without a budget again this year. Nothing would be more damaging to our State. I will again be pushing for a budget resolution before the May 31 Spring Session deadline for the General Assembly. Service and payment interruptions like we saw in the past are not acceptable,” Hammond said on Wednesday following the Governor’s speech. “I will be talking with all the taxing bodies throughout the district to get their feedback on how these proposals will affect their budgets.”