CHICAGO: As part of his fiscal year 2009 budget proposal, Governor Rod Blagojevich announced a comprehensive stimulus package that offers relief for families and businesses, invests in the state's deteriorating infrastructure, and puts people to work.

Throughout the next week, Blagojevich administration officials will travel across the state to build support for the Governor's economic plan. Blagojevich administration officials joined Asian-American community leaders at Bridgeview Bank in Uptown last week to urge support for the Governor's Strengthen Illinois economic package and the immediate benefits it would bring for both families and workers facing a slowing national economy.

"Economic times are getting rough and families and businesses are struggling to get by and business owner's confidence is dropping. In times like these, people are looking to their elected leaders for solutions to get our economy moving again," said Gov. Blagojevich. "The plan I have announced will pump billions of dollars back into our economy and put more people to work. Ultimately, when people are working and their families are doing well, government is doing well.

"The Governor's Strengthen Illinois stimulus plan includes three key components to put more money back into our economy, namely Illinois Child Tax Credit - a refundable state tax credit that will double the child portion of the recently passed federal economic stimulus plan.

This will be a one-time, tax credit of $300 per child for all Illinois taxpayers who qualify for the federal plan. Approximately 1.3 million families (3 million children) will benefit; Illinois Works - a $25 billion capital plan that will support more than 700,000 jobs and fix the state's deteriorating roads and bridges, build and repair schools across the state, and provide resources for statewide economic development; and Illinois Business Tax Cut - a 20 percent break for businesses that paid corporate income tax in Illinois for 2007. To be eligible, employers must maintain their employment levels.

This $300 million tax cut will create business investment and development, and provide job security for employees."The needs of the state's Asian-American community are important to Governor Blagojevich. He has worked hard to ensure that his budget proposal for financial year 2009 addresses the needs of Asian-Americans in Illinois.

The Governor's budget proposal brings tax credits to low and middle-class families with children under 18 years, invests in infrastructure that will create jobs and strengthen the economy, gives a 20 percent tax cut to businesses that paid corporate income taxes in 2007, and injects more funds to support immigrant integration initiatives," said Illinois Department of Human Services Assistant Secretary Grace Hou.

"There are two issues that Governor Blagojevich has consistently focused on which concern all of us in the Asian American community -- healthcare and education. He has been a pioneer in starting the All Kids Program, expanding the Family Care Program and in seeking additional funding for our schools.

We applaud and commend the Governor for these efforts and we do hope as the budget negotiations for FY'09 begin on Springfield, the needs of the Asian American community are not lost in the shuffle. We particularly welcome his capital plan, education funding initiatives and tax cuts included in the FY 09 budget," said Abha Pandya, Chief Executive Officer, Asian Human Services.

"The support of business and community groups for this budget is proof that we can strengthen our economy by investing in infrastructure, giving businesses tax breaks and providing needed relief for families," said Gov. Blagojevich. "There are schools that need to be repaired and roads and bridges throughout the state that need to be fixed."