State Senator Jason Barickman (l) and State Representative Dan Brady offered some thoughts on Monday's gubernatorial inaugural address. (WJEZ file photo)
By Adam Studzinski
BLOOMINGTON – State Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) said Gov. Bruce Rauner's inaugural address started cordial, but took a quick turn to focus on Illinois' major problem: spending.
After being sworn in as governor Monday, Rauner wasted almost no time saying he's freezing non-essential spending by state agencies. Brady liked the idea.
"He's going straight to the jugular vein of Springfield and state government spending and he had a serious tone about him," Brady said.
State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) also like the move made by Rauner.
"I think this is one of those necessary things that has to be done," said Barickman. "We've long recognized that on top of the backlog of billions of dollars of bills, this fiscal year's budget is significantly out of balance, and that Governor Rauner is walking in day one know that we've got to do something immediately."
Barickman added Rauner's plan to bring a comprehensive jobs and economic package to the legislature was a "principal" part of Rauner's campaign. He said it plays at the notion that one way Illinois can solve financial issues is through economic growth.
"As those plans unfold I think the public will realize that there's more than two ways to skin a cat," said Barickman. "Everyone wants to talk about cutting expenses and different things, but the reality is that one of the things we can do is grow our economy."
Neither Brady nor Barickman were surprised by Rauner's announcement he will reduce his own salary to $1 and refuse any benefits.
"The governor is in a different state when it comes to finances and different state when it comes to his business," said Brady. "(It's) something that, obviously, not everybody’s not in a position that they could do."
"This is a measure that I'm sure will be received with a lot of support from the general public as they look to how he will administer the government," Barickman said.
Brady said he's been through three gubernatorial inaugural addresses and he can't remember one which had a greater focus on budgets and Illinois' economy.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at adam.studzinski@cumulus.com.
