Fiscal Responsibility

As one of the lead budget negotiators in the State Senate, I was determined to change the way our state manages its budget so that Illinois has a responsible budget that safeguards us from financial instability in the future. Instead of using our budget surplus to fund new government initiatives, we directed these funds to pay off old bills, reduce pension debt, and create a ‘rainy day fund’ for future fiscal emergencies. Thanks to these responsible fiscal decisions, we now have a balanced budget and our state’s credit ratings have increased six times, making it cheaper for us to borrow money in the future.