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REWRITE THE STATE BUDGET!
For the Good of Illinois | Category: Editorial | Published: 12/3/2008
Views: 864 | Comments: 8 |

REWRITE THE STATE BUDGET!

by John Bambenek and Adam Andrzejewski

At an education policy conference, from the podium an Illinois state representative says, “we need your help…we [elected state reps] are clueless!”

Springfield needs our help now, the clarion call cannot be more clear…$2 billion of unpaid bills; worst pension debt in the nation; a total state debt of $110 billion; years of functionally unbalanced budgets; a Governor instituted, multi-million dollar, unconstitutional extension of the FamilyCare health insurance program; an Auditor General report stating that the state agencies can’t even quantify the number of state programs they run or how much they spend; $2 billion of 2008 undocumented Democratic member initiatives with the accompanying Judicial Watch lawsuit; increasing their own legislative pay 16.9% in the last 16 months!

Despite having record incoming revenues, Springfield is in economic chaos. And yet, Springfield is threatening us with unprecedented across the board tax increases and in a time of severe economic downturn.

The people in Illinois have an obligation to lead. Let’s show the leaders that the citizens can produce a state budget that cuts total state spending 10% while not cutting any monies from education, and health and human services, while fully funding the pensions. Is it possible to write a state budget that eliminates wasteful spending? Is it possible to write a state budget that serves the people of Illinois and also remains within economic parameters? Can we write a budget that alleviates the severe tax strain on hard-working Illinois families?

Let’s write a state budget that does not require an increase in the state income tax! All the conversation in Springfield always centers on additional revenue sources. Let’s create the focus on the other side of the balance sheet, the spending side. And, there certainly should be the fiscal room for discussion- According to John Tillman of the Illinois Policy Institute on Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz, while the population of Illinois since 1990 has increased 12%, the state spending has increased 44% on an inflation adjusted basis!

Elected leaders say the only way to solve our problems is a draconian across-the-board tax increase or catastrophic cuts to essential human services. Let's show them it’s possible to craft a budget that makes sense for all of Illinois. Consider this an open invitation for citizen involvement. We live the problems of Illinois, we think about solutions, and this is our opportunity to be a part of the process. Use your personal knowledge and experience to create a Citizen Budget that we can take to Springfield. Let’s fight off the attempt to increase our personal income taxes.

In the current media milieu, fiscal conservatives are often portrayed as a cranky bunch always complaining about something. The reality is that conservatives are innovative, entrepreneurial and problem solvers. The Illinois donkey’s and elephant’s have all but said they cannot solve the budget problem of their own creation. Fiscal conservatives ought to take this opportunity to reclaim their position of crafting policy to foster the spirit of American excellence before others craft policies to squelch it.

Consider this exercise the open source problem solving equivalent to establishing Wikipedia for Illinois state government. Let’s use our energy constructively… and solve an impossible problem. Let’s show the political class that the impossible is achievable.

Now… Let’s get to work!

State budget in a single PDF:
http://www.state.il.us/budget/FY%202009%20Operating%20Budget%20Book%20v2.pdf

Capital budget:
http://www.state.il.us/budget/FY%202009%20Capital%20Budget%20Book%20v2.pdf

About the backlog:
http://www.sj-r.com/news/x1772946400/Hynes-urges-quick-action-on-overdue-bill-crisis

About the $2 bil lawsuit:
http://www.judicialwatch.org/news/2008/jul/judicial-watch-files-open-records-lawsuit-against-illinois-governor-and-illinois-state

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On 11/25/2009 Dawn said:

This unholy mess budget deficit has been around a long time. I remember state employees and Chicago singles being told under Ryan their paychecks might be late. Isn't it time we faced the fact that taxes must be raised as well as budget cuts? The $7 billion Radarman speaks of is just recent (since July 1?) deficit spending and doesn't include the 11 billion shortfall we had before the new fiscal year. (Is 11 billion correct, or is it even more?)

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The Budget of the United States Government is a federal document that the President submits to the U.S. Congress. The President's budget submission outlines funding recommendations for the next fiscal year, which begins on October 1st. Congressional decisions are governed by rules and legislation regarding the federal budget process. Jim Cramer, host of Mad Money on CNBC, was recently shamed before a national audience by Jon Stewart for his predictions and stock picks on Wall Street firms. Just weeks after his endorsement, his picks failed so horribly that they needed billions in personal loans from taxpayers just to keep them afloat. House and Senate Budget committees each develop budget resolutions, which provide spending limits for the House and Senate Appropriations Committees' subcommittees, which then approve individual appropriations bills to allocate funding to various federal programs. After Congress approves an appropriations bill, it is sent to the President, who may sign it into law, or may veto it