General Assembly approves fiscal 2006 budget         

[JUNE 4, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- State Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, reports that the governor and Democratic leaders in the House and the Senate have passed a fiscal 2006 budget, despite protests from Republican lawmakers over the revenue sources used to fill this year's $1.5 billion budget hole.

"In their haste to pass a budget before the May 31 deadline, which would require a three-fifths majority and allow Republican input into the budget process, the state Democrat majority has approved a budget that will raid the pensions of downstate and suburban teachers to fund new government programs and pass around millions of dollars in pork projects to Chicago Democrats," Bomke said. "This is yet another example of the governor spending money that Illinois does not have to finance programs the state cannot at this time afford; only this time he's doing so at the expense of our downstate educators."

Bomke said that the budget total is not yet known, although the cost of several specific projects has been released. Specifically, $54 million will go to bail out the seriously mismanaged Chicago Transit Authority and $75 million for the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund to fully fund that system.

"By skimming $1.2 billion from the pension fund, the governor is able to ensure the Chicago teachers' pension system is funded at 90 percent, while the downstate and suburban Teachers' Retirement System is funded at 60 percent of liabilities -- significantly less than required by current law -- and the benefits of downstate educators are further reduced," Bomke explained.

Bomke said that although education will receive less than the $400 million the governor promised in his budget address last February, funding for elementary and secondary education is going to increase by $314 million. Funding per student would rise to $5,164 per student, with a total of $25 million for new programs, and early childhood education will see an increase of $30 million.

Additionally, Bomke commented that the governor's proposed tax increase on cigarettes was not included in the budget, neither was the stealth gas tax or the extension of the riverboat wagering tax.

"We were able to defeat the governor's proposal to impose new or increased taxes on several Illinois industries, which was an accomplishment," said Bomke. "After the excessive taxes that Governor Blagojevich and the Democrat leadership burdened Illinois businesses with in the early years of his term, any tax increase could be damaging to Illinois' business and economic climate."

Overall, Bomke said he is extremely disappointed in this year's budget, commenting that state leadership is guiding Illinois toward a dark financial future.

"Two years after the governor claimed to have solved the worst financial crisis in Illinois history, we are in a situation where the state's Democrat leaders are stealing billions of dollars from the pension systems to solve a problem that was never adequately addressed in the first place," Bomke said. "Of course everyone wants to be finished by May 31, but as legislators we are here to work in the best interest of our constituents and the people of Illinois. I'm afraid that this budget does not work in the best interest of anyone but Governor Blagojevich, and unfortunately, the ramifications of this ill-conceived budget will continue to affect the people of this state for many years to come."

[News release from Sen. Larry Bomke]

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