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* Citizens Against Government Waste posted a story earlier this month with the headline “Lenin, Stalin, and Capone Would be Proud of Pelosi’s Drug Pricing Plan,” so maybe keep that in mind here…
Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) named Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker (D) September 2019 Porker of the Month for signing a $40.1 billion budget without any spending restraints and $1.4 billion in pork-barrel projects.
Illinois currently has a $223.9 billion shortfall, which breaks down to a debt burden of $52,600 per taxpayer. The state has $6 billion in unpaid bills and the lowest credit rating of any state in the country. Its unfunded pension liability tops $130 billion. Illinois taxpayers are so saddled with debt, taxes, corrupt local government, and dwindling middle-class jobs that 157,000 residents have left over the past five years.
Gov. Pritzker claims his budget deal means “a new era of fiscal stability has arrived in Illinois” and called it a “watershed moment for Illinois.” On the contrary, his budget contains tens of billions in new spending, including $1.4 billion for pork projects like pickleball courts, dog parks, snowmobile paths, school playgrounds, swimming pools, and arts grants. It also included a controversial $1,600 pay raise for state legislators. Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) said, “The Pritzker policies of higher taxes, out of control state spending and legislative pay raises will be very harmful to Illinois citizens. Republican insiders who supported the Pritzker budget should be ashamed of themselves.”
CAGW President Tom Schatz said, “Gov. Pritzker might think that his budget will somehow bring ‘fiscal stability’ to Illinois, but the deal will create an even higher debt burden per taxpayer. State officials and Gov. Pritzker have made financial decisions that will continue to devastate the state’s economy. Illinois residents should be outraged that their governor is ignoring the state’s fiscal failures. Gov. Pritzker’s reckless budget treats taxpayers as a bottomless piggy bank and is disastrous to Illinois’ fiscal sovereignty.”
They seem to be confusing the operations budget with the capital program. And that $1.4 billion number comes from the Illinois Policy Institute. Both groups are part of the State Policy Network.
* Not sure if this could be classified as waste…
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced $4.2 million is now available for Small Business Development Centers in Illinois.
The funding supports universities, community colleges and business focused non-profit organizations to provide small businesses with support services through the operation of a Small Business Development Center.
“Illinois is home to more than a million small businesses that create good jobs and provide needed services and goods in their communities,” says Gov. Pritzker. “My administration is committed to making sure that these small businesses can thrive and get access to the support and resources they need to keep creating good jobs and growing our state’s economy.”
There are 35 Small Business Development Centers. Applicants could receive up to $500,000 in funding.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 12:59 pm
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==pork projects like pickle ball courts, dog parks, snowmobile paths, school playgrounds, swimming pools, and arts grants==
So, government spending that enhances people’s lives is now considered “pork”. Good to know. /s
Comment by Bourbon Street Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:14 pm
The nice thing about having zero credibility is never having to worry about losing it.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:18 pm
- Bourbon Street -
There are swimming pools that aren’t run by the government.
Comment by Steve Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:19 pm
I’d like to think IPI writes their narratives first then pretend they have numbers to prove whatever premise they write then just roll out some gobbily-gook that is half the original story anyway.
Then, this gives them billable work for other phony things.
Grifting is hard work.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:22 pm
==There are swimming pools that aren’t run by the government==
No doubt about that. And, when I was a kid the only swimming pool my family could afford go to was the one run by our municipality. I assume that there are other kids here in Illinois that would like to have the same opportunity and fun my family had, but are from families who also cannot afford access to a private swimming pool.
Comment by Bourbon Street Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:25 pm
===when I was a kid the only swimming pool my family could afford go to was the one run by our municipality===
Same.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:26 pm
JB is crowing about record Government borrowing that increases the debt and raises taxes on everyone for frivolous projects.
All the while doing nothing to fix the state’s unsustainable pensions
Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:07 pm
The Illinois Coalition of Integrity in Governmental and Political Information has announced the IPI is receiving its monthly Weasel Award for that organization’s deceptive communication about state government. Amazingly, this is IPI’s 63rd time receiving the Weasel Award.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:15 pm
Quite a snappy acronym in any case. Really gets your frugal juices flowing
Comment by Sayitaintso Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:27 pm
Pritzker=Duroc
Rauner= Berkshire
Is it still politically correct to say”pork, the other white meat”?
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:32 pm
==All the while doing nothing to fix the state’s unsustainable pensions===
See Tier 2, plus graduated income tax. But you already knew that.
Comment by JIbba Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:45 pm
It was also announced today that Illinois and Taiwan agreed for Taiwan to purchase over $2 billion in corn and soybeans, over the next two years.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:02 pm
A subsidiary of the IPI being run by a guy named Shats is about as close to perfect as we’re going to get.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:22 pm
No one said government should provide parks and swimming pools.
But….
1) Those are local functions and should be funded locally, especially because….
2) The state of Illinois has the most debt per taxpayer in the nation, by far. The people are taxed out.
The question isn’t whether any govt under any circumstances should/could do these things, but whether its the best use of Illinois’ limited resources now, given our unique context.
Comment by Phil King Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:25 pm
First of all, in rural, downstate communities (i.e. GOP strongholds) public swimming pools are the only place people can go swimming.
Secondly, Phil King, when discussing things such as swimming pools or pickle ball courts, or whatever, funding will come from revenue derived from gaming expansion and the like, not increased taxes. So in small communities, where it may cost more to build or repair facilities than the taxing body can handle, how is using state gaming revenue to keep local governments from increasing their tax burden harming residents who are already “taxed out”?
Comment by MyTwoCents Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 5:57 pm
My two cents. Sorry you are wrong. As a kid growing up in the early 60s, there was in fact only a few muni pools. Today, in my county, i have been told by the assessor, that there are over 600 private pools.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 7:13 pm
“No one says government should provide parks and swimming pools.”
Well I do. So now you can’t say that.
Comment by ajjacksson Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 8:15 pm
People forget a lot of those projects have dedicated revenue sources that exist due to state law, not the whims of the executive branch. It’s the executive branch that decides whether or not to follow those laws. *cough* Rauner *cough*
Comment by But nobody asked me Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 9:10 pm
==Today, in my county, i have been told by the assessor, that there are over 600 private pools.==
Is that a typo? Because you really shouldn’t go into someone’s back yard if you want to swim.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 25, 19 @ 5:36 am