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 GOP senators say the cuts
are the only responsible way for the state
to finally dig itself out of the budget hole of the past several
years.
The Senate GOP on Thursday came out with a list of $6.7 billion in
cuts to the governor's plan, including $1.3 billion from Medicaid,
$725 million from elementary and secondary education, and $300
million from local government revenue sharing programs.
The reduction in Medicaid spending, which also would result in fewer
federal dollars for the program, would be achieved by making it
tougher to enroll in the program and asking recipients to pay more
for services.
To reach the $725 million reduction from education spending,
Republicans suggest keeping the foundation level -- or how much
schools get per student annually -- flat for the third year in a
row.
Out of their list, Republicans claim $5 billion worth of cuts are
needed to be able to roll back the recent 67 percent personal income
tax increase when it expires in four years.
"While these spending cuts are tough, I look more to where we're
going to be if we have the courage to do it today and see a future
that's far different from our recent past and present," said Sen.
Matt Murphy, R-Palatine.
Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno said the list released
Thursday was a menu that members of both political parties need to
explore and decide what can be cut.
"We are willing to put at least half the votes on those, so we're
not just talking about cuts that somebody needs to make somewhere.
We're willing to actually vote on these cuts," Radogno said. "If
other people have other ideas, we're willing to talk to them. We
want to know if they're willing to put votes on some of these cuts."
Radogno said her caucus would put at least 15 votes -- half the
number needed to pass legislation out of the Senate -- on any of the
cutting measures. Because the GOP is the minority, any idea from a
Republican needs Democratic votes to make it out of the Senate.
Radogno cautioned that if the state doesn't start to check its
spending, the income tax hike could become permanent or be increased
even more. The GOP's plan would use the income tax increase, which
is expected to bring in $7 billion annually, to pay off the state's
overdue bills in about two years, Murphy said.
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Quinn's remedy to
cut down the stack of bills is to borrow $8.75 billion, though that
plan has stalled momentarily in the Legislature. A Quinn spokeswoman said the governor is glad that Republicans were
offering ideas of substance, but she highlighted several issues
considered huge roadblocks to implementation. Annie Thompson, spokeswoman for Quinn, said in an e-mail: "If
Illinois were to implement the cuts proposed today, Illinois would
miss out on millions (that) Illinois taxpayers have sent to
(Washington) D.C. in taxes; legal action would be taken against the
state for violations of funding statutes, and conflicts of interest
would be codified into state agencies; and economic recovery efforts
that are creating jobs would be halted in their tracks."
Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, also said it was nice to
hear the GOP come out with something other than opposition to
Democratic initiatives. However, he went on to say their list must
be followed up with substantive action.
"I hope that this is just the beginning," Cullerton said in a news
release. "To that end, I am reserving a series of appropriations
bills for their use in hopes that they will use this opportunity to
fully engage in the appropriations process. I believe that their
proposals and commitment can be the base line for discussion on what
we all agree is a necessary process of cutting waste and creating
efficiencies."
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By ANDREW THOMASON]
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