 "On March 10, Gov. Pat Quinn
presented lawmakers with a budget plan for next year that relies on
spending nearly $5 billion more than expected state revenues,
borrowing to make up the difference and ignoring billions more in
unpaid bills."The governor is
calling for $32.1 billion in general funds spending -- basically, the
state's operating budget -- but is only estimating general funds
revenues of $27.4 billion -- a budget hole of $4.7 billion.
"In addition, Gov. Quinn's budget
plan does nothing to address the state's $6 billion backlog of
unpaid bills, opting to push them into the next budget year.
"Gov. Quinn's budget plan does
not rely on a higher income tax, but he surprised lawmakers by
asking for a 33 percent increase during his budget address. The
governor does not seem understand the lack of public and legislative
support for an increase.
"This is just another 'kick the can
down the road' budget -- tax, borrow and spend. The governor is not
doing anything to bring jobs back to Illinois. We have to focus on
what we can do to create interest in business investment in
Illinois, creating jobs for Illinois families. In the governor's
first 12 months in office, under his leadership, we lost 250,000
jobs -- more than 650 jobs per day.
"It is hard to encourage businesses
to invest in a state that is going to increase taxes by 33 percent,
more than $3 billion, in a state that is just going to continue to
borrow and dig a deeper hole, in a state that is going to have a
record deficit.
"Strong job growth -- not huge tax
increases -- is a better way to address budget woes. Illinois
currently ranks 47th in the nation in job growth, and has its
highest unemployment rate since 1984. Systemic changes to Illinois
government are also needed to control spending: modernizing the
state's pension systems, and reforming the Medicaid program by
implementing a managed care system that will improve access and care
for clients.
"It amazes me. If you keep doing the
same thing, you are going to get the same results. First, it was the
Blagojevich-Quinn administration. Now it's the Quinn administration.
It's the same old thing, year in, year out, digging a deeper hole.
If we are going to want to have real reform, we have got to have a
clean break from the politics of the past.
"We have to reform Illinois
spending. We have to reform our Medicaid system. We have to reform
our pension systems. We have to roll up our sleeves and live within
our means like families and businesses have done throughout the
state.
"Legislative leaders must also address the state's staggering debt,
instead of adding to it year after year. The state's current bond
and pension debt of $104 billion -- the second-highest in the nation
-- translates into $8,300 for every man, woman and child. With
Gov. Quinn's proposed $8.8 billion in borrowing for fiscal year
2011, the total debt climbs to $113 billion -- or $8,800 for every
person in Illinois.
"The governor's budget proposal is
the first step in a long negotiation process, and I look forward to
working with his fellow lawmakers to craft a fiscal plan that
reflects the spending priorities of 44th District citizens.
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"Illinois is a great state, with great
opportunities. The governor wants to make it look like we are
bankrupt. The fact of the matter is he is spending beyond our means,
but we still have a lot of resources -- tens of billions of dollars
of resources we can invest in educating our children, invest in our
infrastructure and transportation system, invest in our health care,
and invest in public safety.
"But if you continue doing the same
thing day in and day out, you are going to get the same result. We
have got to have a clean break from that mentality and provide a
government that works for the people, not the politicians.
"Also this week, Democrat lawmakers
stalled a number of Senate Republican measures to increase public
transparency and rein in Illinois' substantial Medicaid costs, by
voting 'present' on the legislation in subcommittees.
"Senate Bill 2991 would establish a
$10,000 asset limit for recipients of KidCare and All Kids, while
Senate Bill 2989 would limit All Kids eligibility to United States
citizens, and Senate Bill 2900 would require additional income
verification for All Kids recipients.
"Democrat lawmakers have consistently
refused to advance Medicaid reforms, despite evidence that the
KidCare and All Kids programs are being abused by people who are
manipulating the system. Often one pay stub does not accurately
reflect an applicant's annual salary, and similarly, individuals
with costly assets should not be receiving health care subsidies.
"During another subcommittee,
Democrat lawmakers prevented important transparency legislation from
advancing by voting 'present.' Senate Bill 3077 would add
legislators and legislative employees to those whose salaries are
posted on the Illinois Transparency and Accountability Portal Web
site database.
"The Accountability Portal is a
searchable database that was approved by lawmakers last year. It
provides the public with information concerning state employees,
state expenditures, contracts and tax credits.
"Senate Bill 3077 was introduced
after it became apparent that the law was drafted in a way that
excluded legislators and legislative employees. By blocking the
measure from advancing, Senate Democrats show they aren't serious
about improving transparency in state government.
"On March 11, Gov. Quinn signed
legislation that will allow him to short-term borrow $250 million
for Medicaid without approval by the comptroller or the treasurer.
"My Republican legislatives
colleagues and I strongly opposed Senate Bill 1425, because the
state has already borrowed $11 billion since 2003 -- with interest
costs topping $100 million."
[Received from the office of Bill
Brady]
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