Kendall County Times

State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) feels prayer will need to play a big role in any renaissance for Illinois.

“Friends, I don’t know about you, but I know we have a God-sized problem in Illinois and I believe God is going to give us a God-sized solution,” Bailey said while delivering the opening prayer at a recent Kendall County GOP meeting.  “And it is going to be the local churches all across the state that are going to rise up.”

Bailey, who recently launched his campaign for governor against Gov. J.B. Pritzker on a platform of economic accountability and fiscal restraint, said he proudly takes the good book with him wherever he goes.

“I am unapologetic about my Christian stance,” he added. “I go into some areas and they say ‘you need to tone down that talk.’ I refuse to do it because our Constitution is based on the word of God.”

Bailey knows his crusade to restore Illinois won’t come easily. 

“Illinois’ got a big problem,” Bailey said in a video recently posted to Facebook, where he cited estimates the state’s runaway pension debt now has every household on the hook for at least $80,000 in unfunded liability. "According to Moody's Investor Service, our state and local pensions system is in danger with an unfunded liability of over $400 billion. Years of politicians failing us and kicking the can down the road have put the pensions of everyday teachers, first responders and middle and working-class people at risk."

Bailey vowed that things would be different if he were elected governor.

"I will always fight for and work to protect teachers, law enforcement and all middle-income Illinoisans," he said. "I will fight to protect taxpayers and put an end to the process of throwing more money at the problems."