Prairie State Wire

House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) and Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) aren’t seeing eye-to-eye when it comes to reversing the decline in the state’s population, which Durkin says is due to corruption, accountability and not being responsible with taxpayer money.

“People are leaving Illinois because they are sickened by the policies, the corruption, the spending, the lack of accountability, and the failure to be responsible with their money,” Durkin said, The Center Square reported.

Durkin believes that the outmigration trend can be reversed if lawmakers finally show Illinoisans that the state can live within its means.

“There’s a tone-deaf consistency that the Democrats have when it comes to spending other people’s money,” Durkin said. “Those other people happen to be the taxpayers of Illinois.”

Welch told the Economic Club of Chicago last week that negative rhetoric would set the state back and leaders needed to unite.

“Making sure people know that this is a state where they can come and be innovative and great, and this negative rhetoric just tears us down and sets us back,” Welch said, the news media reported.

Welch called for unity.

“We have a long way to go in this [budget] process, and I don’t think we should rule anything out,” Welch said. “I think both parties should come into the room and honestly keep an open mind to all of these issues.”

However, Welch also discussed bringing back the progressive income tax, which failed on the ballot in November and Republicans are staunchly against it.

The legislature has until May 31 to pass a balanced budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The legislature returned with virtual hearings this week.