Illinois Governor Pat Quinn calls for tax credits to help spur the economy, investments in early education and tough reform for pensions and medicaid in his State of the State address.
Quinn says he expects a pension working group he has formed will propose a pension solution to be enacted before the end of the year. He indicated he would have more to say on Illinois' tough budget matters at his Budget address on February 22nd.
The governor is proposing some tax breaks to help spur Illinois' economy. Quinn says the state needs to abolish the natural gas utility tax in Illinois.
He says getting rid of it will save residents and businesses money. He says the state also needs to start a child tax credit to help parents, giving them a $100 tax credit for a family of four. Quinn also wants businesses to get a tax credit if they hire veterans.
The governor also says the state of Illinois needs to invest in early childhood education.
During his state of the state address, Governor Pat Quinn also said the state must give more students access to higher education through the state MAP program, a state scholarship program. He also wants investment in construction to make sure the state has 21st century classrooms with the technology advancements of today. However, the governor did not say how Illinois would pay for any of this.