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Budget cut backlash

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Illinois

* Sun-Times Editorial: Gov’s cuts just don’t add up

The governor says he is pushing forward with his plans — without legislative approval — because he is trying to improve the lives of Illinois citizens. But his methods shouldn’t include using taxpayer money to reward friends and punish enemies. And they shouldn’t include taking money from one good cause to fund another.

* Governor cuts HIV funds

Among the “pork” that was cut: $70,000 for Better Existence with HIV ( BEHIV ) ; $50,000 for Vital Bridges; $100,000 for Howard Brown towards HIV prevention; $70,000 for Chicago House towards housing and job training; and more than $154,000 for Bonaventure House. Meanwhile, Blagojevich made sure to push through 3.5 percent salary increases for statewide elected officers, just one week after approving a 9.6 percent salary increase.

BEHIV’s executive director Eric Nelson told Windy City Times that what he finds most “frustrating and unbelievable” is the way the governor chose what he would eliminate. Nelson felt that the Democrats’ “pet projects” were eliminated, while Republicans’ were left alone in order to curry favor.

“There is always so much more to the story than he lets on,” Nelson said, pointing out that a $500,000 bike trail project for Romeoville that was approved could have covered all the HIV prevention and education “pork” that was sliced.

* Governor’s budget cuts hit public radio, TV

The reductions mean public broadcasting will receive as much as 30 percent less this year from state government than last year, said Chet Tomczyk, president and CEO of WTVP-TV in Peoria, and a board member of the national Association of Public Television Stations and the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council.

“For stations, it’s going to be a fairly significant cut,” Tomczyk said today.

“We had to make some difficult decisions about what the state can really afford and what our most critical spending priorities should be,” said Justin DeJong, spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget. “We think we ended up with a budget that better reflects the needs and values of the people of our state.”

* Is CeaseFire worth your $13 million?

A state audit questioned CeaseFire’s effectiveness and why nearly $264,000 in expenditures couldn’t be accounted for. The findings come a week after Gov. Blagojevich vetoed $6.25 million in funding for the group, which uses ex-gang members to resolve conflicts.

A state audit questioned CeaseFire’s effectiveness and why nearly $264,000 in expenditures couldn’t be accounted for. The findings come a week after Gov. Blagojevich vetoed $6.25 million in funding for the group, which uses ex-gang members to resolve conflicts.

Auditor General William Holland said no state standards are in place to measure CeaseFire’s work. Holland did his own analysis.

* CeaseFire criticized over bookkeeping

* Daley rips gov for cutting gang negotiation funds

* Press Release: IL Assoc. of Rehab Facilities asks for veto override of Gov cuts

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Budget cut backlash

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