“Apparently the Democrat majority and their governor are OK with negating Obama’s tax cuts and creating a hostile business climate to operate in while we still struggle in one of the worst fiscal climates in Illinois history,” Sen. Burzynski said. “It astonishes me how they can not propose any budget cuts and yet in the same breath raise taxes on everyone. This is absolutely unacceptable to not only myself, but also constituents throughout the state.”

Senate Bill 2505 raises the personal income tax rate 67 percent, from 3 percent to 5 percent. The corporate income tax will also go up 45 percent, from 4.8 percent to 7 percent – putting Illinois as the third-highest corporate income tax state in the nation.

Sen. Burzynski also said the so-called “spending limits” in the bill actually allows for a 10 percent spending increase over the current fiscal year – about $3 billion dollars.

“I don’t know of any company or family who looks at their budget and defines a cap on spending as increasing their expenditures by 10 percent,” Sen. Burzynski said. “This is a government pay hike. Look around, you won’t see very many people receiving a 10 percent pay increase this year. Taxpayers can’t afford this and deserve a government that knows how to tighten its belt, not let it out.”

Overall, the bill will tax Illinoisans more than $7 billion, yet also allows for the state’s budget to go up 17 percent over four years, which is beyond the average rate of inflation for the last four years.

“Once again we’re punishing the people of Illinois for the out-of-control spending of the past eight years by sticking them with the bill,” Sen. Burzynski said. “The Democrat braintrust is operating under the assumption that we can spend our way out of our deficit and businesses can absorb a crucial hit at a time when we’re struggling to recover jobs.”

Compounding the problem, Sen. Burzynski said a tax increase not only hurts businesses operating in the state, but also discourages new businesses from starting up in Illinois.

“We constantly heard the governor talk about how he was the ‘jobs’ governor, yet he and his Democrat allies are lighting up a billboard that discourages job growth and creates an incentive for businesses to set up shop elsewhere. This isn’t creating a level playing field, it’s building a mountain that no one will bother to climb.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Senator Brad Burzynski (R-Rochelle) supported the passage of Medicaid reform legislation on Wednesday, saying its passage comes at a time when Illinois desperately needs to institute spending reforms.

House Bill 5420 passed the Illinois Senate with a nearly unanimous bi-partisan vote and brings the state hundreds of millions of dollars in savings by altering the Medicaid program.

“After calling for Medicaid reform for years of watching its costs spiral out of control, it’s encouraging to see both parties come together and work to reduce costs and introduce verification of eligibility measures,” Sen. Burzynski said. “This is a positive sign that everyone is working together to find common-sense ways to save the state money and recognize the gravity of our fiscal situation.”

The Medicaid reform package includes the following provisions:

• Rebalances long-term care away from institutionalization and into community-based settings
• Reduces the interest-rate paid to pharmacies for overdue payments from 2% to 15
• Changes eligibility verification and redetermination, requiring proof of income and residency
• Prohibits adults from being presumed eligible under Medicaid
• Requires at least 50% of Medicaid clients be enrolled in a
• Imposes a 2-year moratorium on the expansion of new programs and the expansion of eligibility under existing programs
• Limits AllKids eligibility limit to 300% of the Federal poverty level

Sen. Burzynski added that while the reform package does include most of the reforms he wished to see, it does omit a provision to prohibit undocumented immigrants from being eligible to receive Medicaid and AllKids benefits, which could save the state another $50 million per year.

SYCAMORE, Ill. – State Senator Brad Burzynski (R-Rochelle) opposed the governor’s proposal to sweep funds from the state’s road and motor-fuel tax funds on Thursday, saying the move would harm the state’s economy even further and leave local governments without vital funds.

Sen. Burzynski said the governor’s proposal included sweeping $100 million-$200 million from the road and/or motor-fuel tax funds to pay for the state’s operating budget, which would be paid back 18 months later.

“Taking money from these funds would be directly detrimental to the state,” said Sen. Burzynski. “It’s bad public policy to conduct sweeps. At best this practice is a temporary diversion from the real problem. What will we do 18 months from now when the money needs to be paid back? There’s no plan on the table for that.”

Under current law, the governor may sweep funds to manage the operating budget. Sen. Burzynski said he opposed the inter-fund borrowing plan (SB 3660).

The second component of the sweeps would include releasing a portion of the local road component funding from the capital bill. But Sen. Burzynski said this swap would negate any of the benefits that could come from the capital bill funding.

“Why release a portion of the capital bill for our local roads and bridges when you’re going to immediately turn around and directly take away money from our local governments?” asked Sen. Burzynski, referring to the motor fuel tax fund, which hasn’t been swept since the 2004 fiscal year.

“More than half the revenues go directly into our local units of government automatically,” said Sen. Burzynski.

“Taking money from this fund would have an immediate adverse effect on our local communities, which rely on this money to be there. We cannot allow the state to continue the practice of passing on its financial problems to the local level. This needs to stop now.”

ROCHELLE, Ill. – State Senator Brad Burzynski (R-Rochelle) was recognized last week for his commitment to support businesses in Illinois during prior legislative sessions.

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce awarded Sen. Burzynski a “Champion of Free Enterprise” distinction. He received an average rating of 85 percent or better over the last three General Assemblies.

“I’m honored to receive this distinction from the Chamber,” said Sen. Burzynski.

“I’ve always supported initiatives to help businesses and promote natural job growth in Illinois and will continue to do so in the future. At a time when our economy – nationally and locally – is in a crisis, we need to use legislative ingenuity to help begin the path to recovery.”