(Skokie, IL) – Gov. Pat Quinn advocated last week for both an end to the Illinois natural gas tax and the creation of a new child tax credit, drawing cautious support from Illinois House Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang (D-Skokie).

"We have to analyze each of the items the governor is talking about and determine how we will pay for the initiatives and what is the potential return on the state’s investment,” Lang said.

"And where there is a net gain for the state treasury, we should do it."

Quinn's initiatives would cost approximately $294 million. Ending the gas tax would cost the state treasury $164 million and creating the child tax credit, $130 million. The governor also wants a veteran employment tax credit, which has $5 million to $10 million price tag.

Quinn's office said the child tax credit could save $100 a year for the average family of four.

The governor glossed over challenges around growing Illinois pension and Medicaid costs, says Lang.

“In many ways, the speech was incomplete,” said Lang. “There were some critical budget issues on which he could have talked, but did not. He talked about Medicaid reform and pension reform, but posed no solutions.”

Lang wants Quinn to provide details during his budget speech on February 22.

“The legislature will need concrete, detailed and realistic budget proposals from the governor on February 22,” Lang added. “It will be a day of budget reckoning.”