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."

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago 7th), chairperson of the Senate Appropriations I Committee, issued the following statement after this morning’s budget hearing:

"One after another, state agency directors came to the microphone this morning and testified to the unacceptable reductions they will have to make in the services they provide if legislators do not summon the political courage to stop the scheduled income tax roll-back.

The likely consequences include eliminating child care subsidies for 23,000 children, in-home help for 12,000 senior citizens, mental health services for 40,000 individuals, MAP scholarships for 30,000 college students, shelter and assistance for 11,000 victims of domestic abuse and an estimated 13,000 teaching positions in local school districts dependent on state funding."