Fowler votes nay on 'grand bargain' package | Courtesy of Shutterstock
Fowler votes nay on 'grand bargain' package | Courtesy of Shutterstock
Despite keeping “an open mind,” state Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) said he cannot justify supporting a four-bill legislation package intended to resolve Illinois’ budget crisis because he perceives no useful reforms within the deal.
Fowler made the definitive statement recently via his website after examining the issues connected with the “Grand Bargain.” The 59th District's senator indicated in his published statement that the process was carried out in haste, and that it failed to address the bigger picture of additional bills which he felt were overlooked.
“I’m trying to keep an open mind, but I do not see any meaningful reforms or spending cuts, it makes the decision easy for me to say ‘no’ to all portions of the so-called ‘Grand Bargain,’” Fowler said via his site. “Illinois needs to be made more open to outside entities and we need to reestablish confidence in our own job creators to expand economic opportunities here in Illinois.”
Citing “revenue enhancements” as implying tax increases, the senator stated that he felt obliged to vote against all four parts of the legislative package, stressing that reduction of spending was highly preferable to tax hikes.
The bills also contained potential “serious” reforms regarding business and government, he said.
Elected in 2016, Fowler defeated incumbent Gary Forby by just under 10,000 (9,998) votes, a margin of over 10 percent.
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