Press Releases...
For Immediate Release:
January 18,
2006
“State Needs to Pay as we Go, not Borrow and
Spend”
Watson Responds to State of State Message
Springfield, IL… … Following Wednesday’s
State of the State address before a joint session of the House and Senate,
State Representative Jim Watson (R-Jacksonville) said what he heard was more of
the same rhetoric members of the General Assembly have heard in prior messages
from the current chief executive…..borrowing and irresponsible spending.
“In the past people have criticized certain parties for tax
and spend policies” said Watson “but this is far worse than that. This is
‘borrow and spend.’ It’s certainly not leadership. This is passing the buck to
future generations. We need to pay as we go and not continue to bond ourselves
out of problems.”
According to Watson, since taking office the governor has
increased the state’s general obligation bond debt by 167 percent (from $7.6
billion to $20.3 billion). “What’s more, the governor has made many
irresponsible decisions about how to spend all this borrowed money” Watson said.
“Unlike the families I represent in the 97th District, the governor
simply refuses to live within his means.”
Watson added that the state needs a responsible budget plan
that prioritizes our spending and will reduce our crushing debt. “It is time to
stop this cycle of borrowing and spending on pork projects for Chicago at the
future expense of our children and grandchildren.”
Watson said that he is also disappointed that the governor
did not provide lawmakers with a reasonable explanation as to why Illinois
continues to lag behind our neighboring states when it comes to creating new
jobs. “Over the past few years, House Republicans have introduced comprehensive
proposals to jump start our economy and to attract good paying jobs with
benefits to Illinois” said Watson. “Unfortunately, the Democrat leadership in
this state has refused to allow debate on almost all of these proposals.”
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