"While his budget may appear balanced, it is clear that this budget will hurt working class communities that have struggled under his failed leadership.” - State Senator James F. Clayborne, Jr. (D-Belleville)

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner gave his fourth budget address at the Capitol today. The budget, which the governor claims to be balanced, relies on shifting pension costs and gutting health insurance for state employees.

State Senator James F. Clayborne, Jr. (D-Belleville) released the following statement:

“The governor’s plan saddles local schools with the choice of raising property taxes or firing teachers due to a lack of resources. This, coupled with the governor’s aim for a property tax freeze, will suffocate local schools and could force drastic cuts. While his budget may appear balanced, it is clear that this budget will hurt working class communities that have struggled under his failed leadership.”

BELLEVILLE – A member of the Illinois Lottery Control Board appointed by Gov. Bruce Rauner resigned yesterday after controversial social media posts about East St. Louis were made public.

State Senator James F. Clayborne, Jr. (D-Belleville) issued the following statement:

“I am thankful that the governor understood the seriousness of these comments and I appreciate his quick and decisive actions. It is my hope that we can move forward and find areas of common ground that benefit the entire Metro-East community.”

Clayborne is the Senate’s Majority Leader and represents East St. Louis.

“For someone who claims to love the entire state, Governor Rauner seems to surround himself with people who care little for communities besides their own.” - State Senator James F. Clayborne, Jr. (D-Belleville)

SPRINGFIELD – The Chair of the Illinois Lottery Control Board is under fire for comments he made about East St. Louis earlier this month. Evanston resident Blair Garber used the same disgusting remarks used by President Trump to describe third world countries to describe East St. Louis in a tweet.

Garber was appointed by Governor Bruce Rauner to the board that oversees the state lottery in May of 2016.

State Senator James F. Clayborne, Jr. (D-Belleville) represents East St. Louis in the Illinois Senate and is calling on the governor to ask for Garber’s resignation from the board.

“For someone who claims to love the entire state, Governor Rauner seems to surround himself with people who care little for communities besides their own,” the Senate’s Majority Leader said. “If the governor does not ask for Mr. Garber’s resignation then I think it is obvious how the governor feels about places like East St. Louis.”

Clayborne says the comments made by Garber are insulting to the many East St. Louisans who have made great contributions to Illinois and the United States.

“When you make comments like that, you disparage the legacies and accomplishments of people like jazz legend Miles Davis, Senator Dick Durbin, Congressman Jerry Costello, Poet Laureate Eugene Redmond, Major General Marcia Anderson, Olympic gold medalists Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Al Joyner, United Nations Ambassador Donald McHenry, United States Ambassador to Morocco Dwight L. Bush and the thousands of unsung heroes who have called East St. Louis home.”