Dupage Policy Journal

In the wake of President Obama’s speech at the Illinois State Capital on Wednesday, Michelle Smith, the Republican candidate for the Illinois State Senate seat in the 49th District, spoke out on the need for change in her state.

“President Obama spoke in Springfield today about working together, (and) Gov. Rauner has spent his last 12 months in office echoing exactly the same," Smith said.

Smith explained that the current economic conditions are at a critical crossroads in Illinois.

“We have the worst post-recession job recovery in the nation,” she said. “We are losing jobs at a staggering rate, and we have the highest unemployment rate in the Midwest. People are moving out of Illinois every day to find a better life for themselves and their families. We must strive for bipartisan reform that is needed to save our state and protect the families of Illinois.”

She said House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-22 District) and her opponent Jennifer Betino-Tarrant  are a part of the super majority in Springfield that have fought against change that would benefit residents of her district.

“As long as Madigan and the Democrats have control of Springfield, we will continue down this spiraling path," Smith concluded. "President Obama was right. We need to work together. We need to work together toward better jobs, educating our children, supporting small business, pension reform, term limits and making Illinois the state that people want to call home once again.”