SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago 7th) issued the following statement after hearing the governor’s budget proposals:
"I believe strongly that we must not balance our budget on the backs of our state’s most vulnerable — children with special needs, the physically and mentally disabled and seniors needing in-home care. So I support Governor Quinn’s plan to make the income tax increase permanent.
I also support his call for property tax relief, which will help middle-class families and seniors on fixed incomes. We must continue to reduce spending, starting with cutting our state’s excessive layers of government. And we must pay off all backlogged bills and provide stability and predictability. But we cannot abandon our people who need help and have nowhere else to turn."