Rutherford ‘ready to work together’ on economic problems

Treasurer Dan Rutherford has been outspoken about the state's fiscal problems. (Photo courtesy twitter/Dan Rutherford)

BLOOMINGTON – State Treasurer Dan Rutherford doesn’t plan to stop talking about Illinois’ fiscal problems.

He said Friday that raising the income tax in the state is not enough, and Gov. Pat Quinn must address spending.

“Now they still have this unfunded liability in the state’s public pension system, and they still have the accrued bills that the income tax increase was supposed to have paid for,” he said.

Rutherford said most financial experts understand Illinois’ dire straits.

“The truth of the matter is, Moody’s, Fitch and Standard & Poor’s all get it. That’s why they’re looking at Illinois in the concerning way that they are,” he said.

But Quinn recently said Rutherford “isn’t helping” by talking so much about the state’s financial issues. Rutherford doesn’t mind.

“If the general public doesn’t understand it, then we’re not going to be putting the political pressure on the governor and General Assembly to solve this,” he said.

R.C. McBride and Jim Fitzpatrick talked to Rutherford Friday afternoon. Listen to the full interview below.

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Paul Morello can be reached at paul@wjbc.com.