VOTERS NEED BUDGET SPECIFICS NOW
Tell us where you would cut state spending.
Be specific. Tell us where you would find more state revenue. Spell it out. And quit trying to do a snow job on us by pretending that the State of Illinois could fill a crater-sized hole in its next budget — a hole of almost $3 billion — if only the governor and state Legislature would cut “waste and fraud” and end “sweetheart deals” with favored “insiders.”
The more you spout such easy bromides, the more you show you think voters are stupid.
With less than a month to go before the March 18 primary elections for governor, the shameful truth is that not one major candidate has dared to put forth a credible plan for solving the state’s enormous budget problems. This is because a real solution would require unpopular measures, such as tax increases, or inflicting real pain, such as dramatically cutting funding to education.
But nobody wants to say that. Nobody wins an election that way. So everybody is either ducking the issue — witness how Gov. Pat Quinn has delayed making his annual budget address until after the primaries — or talking tough and saying nothing.
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton made this point Monday, essentially challenging all the Republican candidates for governor to put up or shut up. Cullerton invited them to a discussion of the budget before the Senate appropriations committee Wednesday.
“It’s their budget if they’re successful in the election,” said Cullerton, who, by the way, hasn’t proposed a plan, either. “So we need them to tell us now — what do you want us to vote on? Give us the specifics. Don’t give us some fluff.”
For this, Cullerton was of course roundly criticized. “Pure politics,” huffed state Sen. Kirk Dillard. Politics, yes. But true. Why should any candidate who talks like Popeye — “I’ll fix that budget, by gum, because I eats me spinach!” — get a pass on laying out specifics?
Cullerton estimates that Illinois faces a $2.9 billion budget gap for the coming year. Gov. Quinn puts the figure at $1.9 billion, apparently allowing for natural revenue growth. Either way, it’s a huge chasm to span for a state still reeling from high unemployment and a weak business climate.
Neither estimated budget gap includes projected savings to the state from the pension reform deal approved by the Legislature last December; the law has been challenged in the courts, so the savings can’t be counted on. Both budget estimates do factor in a $1.6 billion drop in revenue in the coming fiscal year from the expiration of a temporary income tax hike.
On Monday, Cullerton walked through the state’s biggest expenses to show how difficult cuts would be:
“Debt repayment? We’ve got enough problems with our credit rating. The last thing we should do is stop paying back loans.”
“Human services. These are services and programs that we are required to provide by contract or court order.”
“Medicaid. If you cut here, you jeopardize federal funding.”
“Revenue sharing . . . All the mayors in the state would scream bloody murder as they raise property taxes to make up for the lost state tax money.”
How easy it is to push a voter’s buttons by snorting about waste and fraud. How hard it is to talk about real but painful solutions, such as raising taxes or cutting funding for good things like higher education and services for handicapped children.
Step right up, gentlemen. Tell us what you would really do.