FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 7th, 2018

CONTACT: James.Muhammad@seiuhcil.org 773.703.0583

CHICAGO – Greg Kelley, President of SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana issued the following statement in response to tonight’s election results:

“Voters in Illinois soundly rejected Bruce Rauner and the Republican agenda and elected progressive candidates up and down the ballot who believe that lawmakers should invest in working families and deliver real results.

“Tonight’s election results now pave the way for a bold, progressive agenda to grow the Illinois economy, create jobs, invest in our communities, and expand vital services which will lead to shared prosperity across the state.

“Now with veto-proof majorities in the state legislature it is time for Democrats in the General Assembly to live up to the mandate they were given and deliver real results to the working families across Illinois.

“That means placing a fair tax on the 2020 ballot and letting voters get rid of the state’s ineffective flat income tax in addition to raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

“Voters gave Illinois democrats a clear and decisive verdict: Gov. Rauner and the Republican economic agenda is wrongheaded, and their economic theory of giving tax breaks to millionaires and gutting vital services is not wanted in Illinois.

“To correct the damage Rauner has done will require leadership from elected officials from all levels of government, as well as leadership from community, faith, business and civic leaders throughout our state.

“It will take time to restore small businesses that were lost and restore the child care program to its previous capacity as well as heal the damage to home healthcare, but it can be done if the new administration has the will and professionalism to get it done.

“Illinois has the opportunity to turn the page and begin the work of crafting a state with the right priorities and the right values.

“Finally, we applaud all of the statewide candidates and those who won down ballot races, especially Governor-Elect J.B. Pritzker and our new Attorney General Kwame Raoul, in addition to statewide office holders who were reelected such as: Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White; Illinois State Comptroller Susana A Mendoza; and Illinois State Treasurer Michael W Frerichs.

“We also applaud Sean Casten’s victory in Illinois’ 6th Congressional district, and Lauren Underwood in the 14th Congressional district who ran on a platform of protecting healthcare.”

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