NEW GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER SAYS HE’S READY TO WORK TOWARDS GETTING ILLINOIS BACK ON TRACK…BUT WARNS IT’S GOING TO TAKE SOME SACRIFICES.

GOVERNOR RAUNER SAYS HE WANTS TO MAKE ILLINOIS A COMPETITIVE STATE ONCE AGAIN AND TO FIX WHAT HE CALLS YEARS OF BAD MANAGEMENT, BAD BUDGETS AND INSIDER DEALS.

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THAT SACRIFICE IS GOING TO START WITH GOVERNOR RAUNER’S FIRST ACT OF OFFICE…FREEZING NON-ESSENTIAL SPENDING AT STATE AGENCIES…AND A REVIEW OF EVERY CONTRACT SIGNED SINCE NOVEMBER FIRST. HE’S ALSO ESCHEWING SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR HIMSELF. He SAYS IT’S TIME TO BRING ILLINOIS BACK, AND MAKE IT A TOP STATE FOR JOBS, EDUCATION AND AS A PLACE TO LIVE. HE SAYS HE WON’T BOW TO SPECIAL INTERESTS OR NEGOTIATE SWEETHEART DEALS.

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RAUNER SAYS MAKING ILLINOIS GREAT AGAIN WON’T BE EASY AND WILL REQUIRE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS. HE IS ORDERING ALL STATE AGENCIES TO FREEZE NON-ESSENTIAL SPENDING AND WILL FORGO A GOVERNOR’S SALARY AND BENEFITS. RAUNER ALSO PLANS TO SIGN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO IMPROVE ETHICS IN STATE GOVERNMENT AND WILL ASK THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS AN ECONOMIC AND JOBS
PACKAGE.