Legislators respond to governor's budget proposal
Brady: Blagojevich again calling for more
spending, higher debt
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[FEB. 16, 2006]
SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich
continues on his reckless course of borrow and spend by once again
calling for another year of higher spending, deeper debt and pension
raids to pay for an ambitious agenda the state just cannot afford
right now, according to state
Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington.
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Blagojevich outlined his $45.4 billion budget proposal for fiscal
2007 to a joint session of the General Assembly on Wednesday. Fiscal
2007 runs from July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007. Brady says the
budget plan includes programs that would help schoolchildren,
veterans and environmental cleanups, but he questions the integrity
of a budget based on pension raids, record-high state debt, a
record-high backlog of unpaid bills and another attack on the
state's jobs climate.
"This governor continues his legacy of ‘borrow and spend.'" Brady
said. "This is yet another bloated budget paid with a credit card.
He has resorted to his old tricks -- ‘promise them anything and give
them deeper debt.' Our state would be better served with fiscal
discipline and prioritized spending."
The state's current budget, for fiscal 2006, was balanced by
raiding $1.2 billion from pension funding, and the fiscal 2007
budget will siphon off an additional $1.1 billion.
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In the last three years, Blagojevich has borrowed more money than
any other governor in the past 20 years, with no plan for repayment.
He has increased spending by $2 billion over the last three years,
and this year's budget will increase by an additional $1.4 billion.
Fiscal 2006 will end with $1.8 billion in unpaid bills, while
Medicaid eligibility has been expanded every year of the Blagojevich
administration. One of every seven Illinoisans is now enrolled in
Medicaid.
The governor also sets his sights to the state's job climate
again, calling for $130 million in news taxes on Illinois employers
and threatening thousands of jobs. In his first year, Blagojevich
raised 300 taxes and fees, sending jobs across the state line.
Illinois is 45th in the nation in job growth since Blagojevich took
office, and Illinois' median household income has fallen $6,000 in
recent years.
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![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2006/Feb/16/images/ads/current/medicap%20bcard%207-22-05.jpg) Brady says the state expects about $900 million in new revenue
growth this year, but it is not necessary to spend it all on new
programs and program expansions. He thinks it is time to truly get
Illinois' fiscal house in order by paying bills in a more timely
fashion, putting an end to borrowing and beginning to repay the
mounting debt.
The governor's spending proposals include:
- $100 million more for Chicago schools.
- $45 million to expand preschool programs.
- $90 million to offer families $1,000 annual tax credits for
the cost of college.
- $10 million to expand health coverage for veterans.
- $20 million for economic development grants in river towns.
- $10 million for reducing class sizes in kindergarten through
third grade.
- $7.5 million to offer a $500 sales tax rebate to buyers of
fuel-efficient cars.
- $3 million to expand the number of nurses in Illinois.
- $2.3 million to improve the state's ability to test DNA
evidence.
- $1.6 million for quicker handling of applications for
professional licenses.
In addition, the governor will be asking lawmakers to borrow $3
billion to build schools, roads and mass transit infrastructure.
Brady says the governor's spending blueprint is the first step in
the budget negotiation process, and he looks forward to working with
his fellow lawmakers to craft a fiscal plan that reflects the
spending priorities of 44th District citizens.
[News
release from
Sen. Bill Brady,
44th District]
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