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TechnographMixed reactions to state address
By Kiyoshi Martinez
Posted: 1/19/06 Section: News
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Gov. Rod Blagojevich urged a bipartisan effort to pass legislation to create more jobs, give tax credits, provide health care and ban assault weapons during his State of the State address at the Capitol.
"We are making real progress," Blagojevich said. "But there is much more to do."
The governor mentioned Washington, D.C., more than 20 times in his speech, citing the lack of effective federal lawmaking and policy and the necessity for the state government to improve conditions for Illinois residents.
"When the federal government stalled or took steps that have hurt working and middle class families, we've consistently stepped up and filled the void," Blagojevich said.
Blagojevich's gubernatorial opponents, however, said he was avoiding taking responsibility.
"He always has to blame somebody," State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (R) said in response to Blagojevich's Washington, D.C., blame for state problems. "At some point you have to face the facts that this state is in trouble."
Gubernatorial candidate State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) said the governor's speech was phony and full of propaganda.
"We need to clean house," Brady said. "How a governor in the state of Illinois could present a state of the state address without dealing with ethical reform is beyond me."
Republican candidate for governor Jim Oberweis said the speech was another example of governance by gimmicks and that Blagojevich missed the point with Illinois economics.
"He's driven businesses out of the state with a very anti-business attitude," Oberweis said.
The governor asked the General Assembly to look past party politics and pass a jobs bill he said would create 230,000 jobs across the state in construction and manufacturing. He also urged the legislature to take action, or else the state would risk losing $3 billion in federal transportation funding.
"These are good jobs and good paying jobs," Blagojevich said. "And if we are prepared to put partisan politics aside and work together in a constructive way, we can create these jobs all over Illinois."
"We are making real progress," Blagojevich said. "But there is much more to do."
The governor mentioned Washington, D.C., more than 20 times in his speech, citing the lack of effective federal lawmaking and policy and the necessity for the state government to improve conditions for Illinois residents.
"When the federal government stalled or took steps that have hurt working and middle class families, we've consistently stepped up and filled the void," Blagojevich said.
Blagojevich's gubernatorial opponents, however, said he was avoiding taking responsibility.
"He always has to blame somebody," State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (R) said in response to Blagojevich's Washington, D.C., blame for state problems. "At some point you have to face the facts that this state is in trouble."
Gubernatorial candidate State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) said the governor's speech was phony and full of propaganda.
"We need to clean house," Brady said. "How a governor in the state of Illinois could present a state of the state address without dealing with ethical reform is beyond me."
Republican candidate for governor Jim Oberweis said the speech was another example of governance by gimmicks and that Blagojevich missed the point with Illinois economics.
"He's driven businesses out of the state with a very anti-business attitude," Oberweis said.
The governor asked the General Assembly to look past party politics and pass a jobs bill he said would create 230,000 jobs across the state in construction and manufacturing. He also urged the legislature to take action, or else the state would risk losing $3 billion in federal transportation funding.
"These are good jobs and good paying jobs," Blagojevich said. "And if we are prepared to put partisan politics aside and work together in a constructive way, we can create these jobs all over Illinois."
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