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Despite similar sensitivities, other states with Democratic governors have been making cuts to address pension and revenue problems. Both New York and California cut Medicaid last year. New York approved significant pension restrictions last month. Illinois' Republicans, outnumbered 99-78 in the General Assembly, have been demanding action for years. Even after the Legislature raised income taxes last year and trimmed some costs, expenses were still rising faster than revenue. By some estimates Illinois faces a deficit of more than $3 billion on top of $9 billion in old bills owed to vendors and social service providers. "We're glad the (Quinn) administration and the Democrats have finally gotten religion," said Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno. Quinn publicly acknowledged that over the years, Democrats and Republicans alike failed to set aside enough money to keep up with obligations. And they sometimes sweetened benefits without worrying about how to pay for them. "If we don't deal with this problem right now, it will just get worse," Quinn said. Quinn insisted he won't let legislators end this spring's session, meaning they can't go home and campaign, if they haven't resolved both the pension and Medicaid issues. But the fate of his initiatives depends on his fellow Democrats. Madigan, from southwest Chicago, has run the Illinois House for virtually all of the past three decades. He has made an art of finessing sensitive issues to protect Democratic candidates and, as usual, is staying vague on what should be done. Some Democrats and their allies question whether targeting pensions and health care would deal a serious blow to the state's shaky economy. Sen. Kwame Raoul of Chicago said Democrats over the past few years should have been honest with their constituents about Illinois' financial realities. "Yes, certainly we should have done that," Raoul said. "Simultaneously, we should have made the tough decision of saying, `This is what the services cost and we need a tax increase.'"
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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