 Blagojevich once again increases state spending, debt
Despite his claims of addressing an economic slowdown, Gov. Rod
Blagojevich is calling for yet another year of increased spending,
higher debt and more hits on businesses that employ Illinois
citizens.
Blagojevich outlined his $49.7 billion budget proposal for fiscal
2009 to a joint session of the General Assembly on Feb. 20. Fiscal
2009 runs from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009.
Families today, and our children tomorrow, are going to be paying
for this governor's lack of real leadership in bringing fiscal
responsibility back to Illinois. The governor's financial blueprint
for the coming fiscal year relies once again on record-high state
debt, a record-high backlog of unpaid bills, continued attacks on
business, and financial gimmickry such as leasing the state lottery,
another pension bond sale and more raids from the Road Fund.
Fix law that gives false illusion of balanced budget
The governor's latest budget plan continues to leverage the
future of our state. He is not addressing the critical issues of a
nearly $1 billion revenue shortfall for the current fiscal year nor
our severely underfunded Medicaid system, which is the result of
pushing health care obligations from one fiscal year to the next,
giving the false illusion of a balanced budget.
I am sponsoring legislation,
Senate Bill 1533, to address these "Section 25 liabilities,"
estimated to be as much as $3 billion, and ensure more prompt
payment to Illinois' doctors, hospitals and nursing homes. It is
unfortunate that my legislation has not been released from the
Senate Rules Committee and is thus being denied a hearing before
lawmakers.
More borrowing would quadruple state debt
In the five years this governor has been in office, he has
doubled state debt, and his proposal for a new pension bond scheme
would double state debt yet again. So if he is successful, it would
mean state debt has quadrupled since fiscal 2003.
Interestingly enough, another bond sale would also provide
opportunities for more "pay-to-play" abuses by this administration.
The citizens of Illinois want an ethical government. But while
reforms I have sponsored are being blocked by Democratic leadership,
this budget offers more of the same old pay-to-play, including
another $60 million in insider fees under their pension bonding
plan.
Targeting employers results in low job growth
In his budget plan, Blagojevich continues to target employers and
the jobs they provide, and the long-term effects of his policies
show in state's lackluster job growth. Illinois is 45th in the
nation in job growth since Blagojevich took office.
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 According to federal jobs numbers from December, Illinois has a
2.5 percent job growth rate, while Iowa has a 5.9 percent rate,
followed by Wisconsin at 4.3 percent, Kentucky at 4 percent,
Missouri at 3.9 percent and Indiana at 2.8 percent.
Strong job growth -- not hitting business with taxes and fees --
is a better way to address budget woes. If Illinois had kept pace
with the national average in job growth, it would have more than
213,000 additional jobs today, which would mean more than a
half-billion dollars in additional tax revenues.
Cell phone recycling program helps schools, environment
Local students, teachers and parents can all play a part in
raising money for their schools, while protecting the environment,
by participating in the "Race to Recycle" program, sponsored by
Motorola.
The recycling program encourages students and teachers to work
together and helps the environment at the same time.
According to Motorola, all brands of phones and accessories will
be accepted for recycling. Schools can receive up to $21,000
annually, with no restrictions on how the funding is used, whether
it is for school supplies, band uniforms or computers.
To get your school involved and find out more about the program,
visit www.racetorecycle.com.
Kudos
Kudos to several central Illinois individuals and groups for
coming to the state Capitol and talking with me and other state
officials about the issues important to you.
On Feb. 13, I welcomed members of the Leadership of McLean County
program, associated with the McLean County Chamber of Commerce. Sen.
Dan Rutherford and I talked about state issues with these business
leaders from the agricultural, medical and social service
communities.
On Feb. 20, I welcomed members of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging
Association as part of the association's Legislative Day activities.
I met with H. Richard Raube, general manager of Country Inn & Suites
by Carlson in Bloomington; Aimee Fyke, vice president of operations
for Tharaldson Lodging in Decatur; Nathan Biermann, general manager
of Courtyard by Marriott in Springfield; and Scott Dahl, Springfield
regional director of membership development for the Illinois Hotel
and Lodging Association.
On Feb. 21, I talked with Peggy Flynn and Jennifer Mullinix from
the Downtown Bloomington Association as part of Illinois Main Street
Day. The Illinois Main Street program is based on a national model
that offers communities help with issues such as downtown
improvements, historic preservation and economic development.
[Text from file received from
Sen.
Bill Brady] |
