SPRINGFIELD… State Representative Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) released the following statement after the Governor’s State of the State address.
Rep. McLaughlin said, “Today, as the Governor presented his flowery forecast of our financial future in Illinois, I couldn’t help but ask one simple question —what aspects of people’s lives are we actually making better here in Springfield for each citizen of this once great state?”
Here are some serious questions I pose to the citizens of Illinois:
• Have we made education better? Have we made public safety better?
• Have we made the cost of living or taxes more affordable?
• Have we been realistic about state funded pensions?
• What about inflation?
• Are the continual across-the-board spending increases that I’ve witnessed down here in my three short years solving ANY of our problems?
Rep. McLaughlin said, “Are we making this state a better place to live, or are we just spending more of your tax dollars? Your money is doing less for your families and there are legitimate failings in protecting our most vulnerable – children, the disabled or the elderly.”
“Each year, members of the legislature construct thousands of new legislation in the General Assembly, but the bills we pass normally get wrapped up into large omnibus bill packages voted through in the middle of the night that are not actually doing anything positive for the people of Illinois.”
“I think the answer is evident to all Illinoisans — more government and more of your taxes spent by the government and for the government is not the answer,” said McLaughlin. “Ronald Reagan had it so right so many years ago when he said, ‘government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem’.”
“Government growth is the PROBLEM because constant regulation is a barrier to free markets which impedes the growth of the business community that is so desperately needed in our state. I will continue to fight against government overreach and to question unnecessary and frivolous spending,” said McLaughlin.
Rep. McLaughlin said, “Many elected officials down here in Springfield believe that their job is to create more laws and more regulations. I believe government waste and abuse of your trusted hard-earned tax dollars is a travesty and I will continue to call for full transparency in every piece of official business in your state government.”
“We need to get back to running government like a business – which is accountable to YOU- the constituents and the taxpayers. As Paul Harvey put it, ‘from me you will get The Rest of The Story’. As we go through this budget season, please reach out to my office or the caucus website for more information,” concluded McLaughlin.
Click here for my reaction: https://fb.watch/qmgHqhpo9G/