Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement today in reaction to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget address to the General Assembly:

“Last year Gov. Rauner presented the General Assembly with a budget proposal that was $6 billion out of balance. To this day, he has not charted a course for getting us in balance.

“Today, during this year’s budget address, the governor did not present a budget at all. Instead, he laid out stark and unrealistic choices – threats, really – for the General Assembly and for Illinois. His ultimatum is for lawmakers to either enact elements of his extreme agenda or abdicate our legislative responsibility and give him unilateral authority to cut programs and services as he sees fit.

“I find it interesting that Gov. Rauner is asking for a power that the Illinois Constitution already offers every governor – the power to line-item veto budget bills, which he failed to exercise last year.

“The governor is asking for a power already granted to him under the Illinois Constitution – the power to line-item veto – which he failed to use last year, instead issuing total vetoes that halted progress. Today was further evidence of his all-or-nothing demands, rather than a willingness to use tools designed to promote compromise and seek real solutions.

“Gov. Rauner spoke of priorities and coming together to fix the state’s long-term challenges. I believe Democrats in the General Assembly share the governor’s desire to unleash the full economic potential of Illinois. We disagree vigorously on the steps that effort requires.

“For example, rather than drive down wages and benefits for the middle class – which some of Gov. Rauner’s preferred policies would do – I would welcome the governor’s support for implementing a fair tax for all Illinoisans and doing away with the state’s constitutional provision for a flat, regressive tax.

“There are opportunities to collaborate on solutions to Illinois’ problems. If Gov. Rauner is willing to compromise – truly compromise, not just rebrand his extreme anti-middle class initiatives – then we can work together.”