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Ardent Listener
Administrator
USA
4841 Posts |
 Posted - 02/25/2010 : 18:35:21
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Politicians can't sugarcoat Illinois' dire straits
February 24, 2010
BY CAROL MARIN Sun-Times Columnist
When Laurence Msall walked into the state Capitol in Springfield on Tuesday morning, I figured it would be like the skunk showing up at the garden party. Accurate?
» Click to enlarge image
More than 1,000 people who depend on Illinois government for services and paychecks rally in the rotunda of the Illinois State Capitol on Feb. 17. They say the state cannot fix its deficit solely through spending cuts and argue that such cuts would gut state programs.
(AP)
Yep," Msall said by cell phone. "I was greeted with 'Are you here to raise my taxes?' "
Msall, 48, is the head of a Chicago's Civic Federation, a venerable, nonpartisan, pro-business, pretty conservative outfit that keeps tabs on government and how it handles our money. Before this job, he worked for Republican Governors Jim Edgar and George Ryan doing economic development. So, in plain English, Msall cannot be written off as a left-leaning, tax-and-spend liberal.
That's what made his mission all the more meaningful.
And the politicians/lawmakers down in Springfield were acutely aware of the Civic Federation's doomsday report issued Monday.
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In it, Msall's group said flatly that Illinois is financially heading over a cliff. That we must cut more than $2 billion from the state budget, reduce pensions and benefits for new state workers and raise the income tax.
At that, we'll still be in the hole by a couple of billion. But at least we can salvage our bond rating and borrowing power to live to fight another day.
The Civic Federation is not alone in telling politicians they have to face up to the terrible mess they've made of this state. The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability has issued its own warnings. So has the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club.
How bad is it getting?
As Msall was driving Downstate, he said, "I heard on the radio about Oswego cutting 80 school district employees." That would be the school district represented by House Republican leader Tom Cross.
Republicans are loath to raise taxes, especially in an election year. Democrats are loath to cut employee pensions and benefits. But there is no time to delay a massive dose of tough medicine. "You might be able to get by for another six months," Msall said. "But you might not."
Still, people in Illinois are not sure they're buying this doomsday descriptor despite the non-political fiscal experts who are delivering it.
Why not?
"Government doesn't touch people," said David Yepsen, matter-of-factly.
Yepsen is the head of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University. For 36 years before that, he was a legendary political reporter and columnist for the Des Moines Register.
"Most people are not using health care for the poor, do not have kids in school, don't go to a courthouse very often, aren't in prison or work as a prison guard . . . so most people don't see this, and it doesn't touch them," Yepsen said. "Secondarily, the leaders in this state have no credibility."
Polling by the Simon Institute bears out the sad fact that unlike the citizens of other states, Illinois residents feel they get more value from the feds far away in Washington than they do from their homegrown state and local governments.
There is, Yepsen said, "a real intersection between ethics and this budget mess. There are few states where people are more down on their politicians."
Other states have done better. Iowa, for instance, Yepsen notes, has swallowed a bitter pill and cut spending 10 percent across the board.
But in Illinois, we've deferred our problems until it's almost too late. Like in Downstate Alexander County, for instance, where all the squad cars were recently repossessed, and 75 percent of the sheriff's department was laid off. Imagine.
Every day lawmakers wait, every day they keep behaving like politicians instead of leaders, it only puts us ever closer to the edge of the cliff.
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Think positive. |
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Kurr
1000+ Penny Miser Member
2906 Posts |
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
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Investin Cents
Penny Pincher Member
USA
129 Posts |
Posted - 02/25/2010 : 23:29:24
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Um, we in Illinois were bad off BEFORE Mr. Obama left for Washington. We just get more press now that he is in D.C. Actually, we've been digging this hole for quite some time - just like California.
I think the opposite is true - the rest of the country will feel what Illinois has been going through for many years and it will feel it very soon. Good Luck to the other 48 states!  |
Most recent book I've read: "Meltdown" by Thomas E. Woods Jr. Current book: "I.O.U.: Why Everyone Owes Everyone & No One Can Pay" by John Lanchester |
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
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Investin Cents
Penny Pincher Member
USA
129 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2010 : 03:45:25
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Nickelless: PM sent!  |
Most recent book I've read: "Meltdown" by Thomas E. Woods Jr. Current book: "I.O.U.: Why Everyone Owes Everyone & No One Can Pay" by John Lanchester |
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Investin Cents
Penny Pincher Member
USA
129 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2010 : 03:51:26
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Ardent: thanks for the information. As you can tell I've heard this before. But I am always interested in hearing different and new reports of this situation.
I come here to these forums sometimes to escape the reality of my state's and country's dire economic problems, and then I see this!  That's OK, though. That's also another reason why I am here reading - to get and keep smart!
Thanks and keep up the good work! |
Most recent book I've read: "Meltdown" by Thomas E. Woods Jr. Current book: "I.O.U.: Why Everyone Owes Everyone & No One Can Pay" by John Lanchester |
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phillips24
Penny Pincher Member
USA
142 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2010 : 18:47:15
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| Totally agree with Investin....this problem in Illinois has been happening for a LOONG time. Just saw on the electronic sign in front of the high school on the main artery through town that the state owes them over $600,000! The capital city has laid off firefighters and is closing fire stations for 6 days at a time to reconcile the budget. Decatur is going to do brownouts of its fire department. Cities are starting to face the music....time for the state. I'll be damn glad that the pensions and benefits. When someone doing the same job at the state can make $7 more an hour just by getting a union job....theres part of the problem. When you keep giving out endless benefits to people who don't look for jobs....theres another part of the problem. And the politicians are in the statehouse thinking "let them eat cake." Well we know how that turned out for Marie Antoinette. |
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twocents
Penny Collector Member
398 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2010 : 19:14:57
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| I hate Illinois. It is arguably the worst state in the nation. I am disgusted I have to live here. If it weren't for living close to my wife's family, I would be 1000 miles away from this #### ####. |
Just my two cents! |
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
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twocents
Penny Collector Member
398 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2010 : 22:50:59
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| One hour west of Chicago. This state does support the American way. Don't work. You can just get your free handout from someone else. |
Just my two cents! |
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HoardCopperByTheTon
Administrator
USA
6807 Posts |
 Posted - 03/03/2010 : 00:52:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Investin Cents
Um, we in Illinois were bad off BEFORE Mr. Obama left for Washington. We just get more press now that he is in D.C. Actually, we've been digging this hole for quite some time - just like California.
Yeah sure.. pick on my state!
It hurts even if it is true. We have a solution though. We are just going to have a big earthquake and slide into the ocean.  |
If your percentages are low.. just sort more. If your percentages are high.. just sort more.
Now selling Copper pennies. 1.6x plus shipping. Limited amounts available. |
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
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twocents
Penny Collector Member
398 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2010 : 20:19:59
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| No new news on this that I have seen. Let's just say my horses didn't make it through the primaries. They were very against these Gitmo prison transfers. |
Just my two cents! |
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Illinois' dire straits
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