Tony McCombie, who is running for state Representative in the 71st District, said her opponent, Illinois Rep. Mike Smiddy, showed complete apathy about making a decision this year concerning the biggest unbalanced budget in the history of the state.
When presented with House Speaker Mike Madigan's proposed budgetin the most recent legislative session, Smiddy could have stated that he opposed the bill, which calls for raising taxes by 47 percent. Instead, Smiddy voted "present" on two different occasions.
Voting "present" on a bill is essentially voting against the bill, but lawmakers use this type of vote to send a message that they generally agree with the bill but it needs work.
“Mike Madigan’s budget was $7.2 billion out of balance, the largest unbalanced budget in Illinois history," McCombie said after the vote. “We need our elected officials to take our problems seriously. We can get a balanced budget, but only if we have those in office that have an independent voice and are willing to stand up and say yes to reform and compromise. Illinois has serious problems and we need people representing us that are willing and wanting to work.”
State Comptroller Leslie Munger said the proposed budget would increase the unpaid bill backlog to $15 billion and delay payments an additional eight to nine months, McCombie said.
"As your state representative, I will fight to balance the budget, fight for compromise and fight for responsible spending," McCombie said. "And I promise, when tough votes come my way, I will take a position.”
Following months of disagreements regarding the state budget, Illinois lawmakers found themselves in a friendlier place after the Assembly and recently passed stopgap funding that will temporarily fund the state’s schools and basic human services through January.
Gov. Bruce Rauner initially attempted to get the stopgap budget passed in Springfield fell flat in the House when Democratic leadership opted not to call the bill to the House floor for a vote and focused instead on a separate bill that was largely viewed by Republicans as a bailout for Chicago Public Schools.
The effort will keep the state running until legislators hammer out an actual budget, which Democrats have indicated they do not want to vote on until after the November election, Rauner said.
Thanks to the temporary funding, schools across the state will be able to open on time this fall, and services for the state’s most vulnerable residents -- including veterans and the mentally disabled – will continue until January.
The plan also ensures that road construction projects across the state will continue, and that the Department of Corrections gets funding to pay for food and utilities for inmates.
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