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Reality check

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Illinois

The Herald & Review editorial page runs a reality check today on the House’s statewide budget hearings.

The effort that is going into a series of statewide budget hearings, sponsored by House Speaker Michael Madigan, is noteworthy.

We would add that it’s always good for legislators and others involved in the budget process to hear from folks before making any final decisions.

But we’d also note that when it comes to state budgets, it might be wise to take what is said at these statewide budget hearings with a grain of salt.

The basic problem is people either don’t understand the problem or they choose to ignore it. And most of the people testifying at these budget hearings attend because they want to promote or protect a program. In the end, the folks who pay the bills - the taxpayers - don’t get a chance to say much. […]

State Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, warned those at the hearing that sales and income tax increases weren’t going to happen for a couple of years.

“In an era of limited government, we need a priority list of what should be funded,” he said.

That’s the approach the General Assembly should be taking, but it’s not likely much of that will be heard at the series of budget hearings.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 4, 05 @ 12:57 am

Comments

You know, I attended one of those statewide budget hearings and I also testified on something I care about at that same hearing. I’m also one of those very taxpayers, who they say don’t get to say very much.

I understand very well the impact of what tax changes will do. I also understand what doing nothing or doing what the governor has proposed will do. My families livelihood depends on these very things. It’s just a shame that more people don’t speak up.

I think things are going to get much worse in this state. Much, much worse, and it scares me.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 4, 05 @ 6:13 am
The Decatur paper closely echoes my sentiments about the hearings. I think the concept was good and, actually, the Speaker’s staff gave an excellent, informative presentation. The remainder of the session was turned over to the local legislators, who invited preferential special interests to make their appeal for more funding. That left 15 minutes for the ordinary taxpayer to make any comments.

Isn’t it great that we are obligated to take care of the previous commenter’s family’s livelihood?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 4, 05 @ 7:16 am
Sorry, didn’t mean to imply that “YOU” were obligated to take care of a families livelihood. However, as a taxpayer, frequently the governor and others look at state employees, teachers, etc. as the bad people in this budget issue. Whatever our jobs might be in this state, and whatever our stakeholder position in this budget is, we are also taxpayers, who help fund this state.

The system is broken and isn’t going to be fixed overnight. The budget meetings were a nice concept and a pat on the head to ALL stakeholders or “special interests”. Got a child in public school - you have a special interest. Drive on state highways, visit state parks, have a kid with a disability or family member with cancer or Alzheimers - oops, special interest.

Changing the pension system won’t create the boom in economy that’s needed here. We need a real solution. I’m just one of those people willing to pay more income tax to get my child a better education, be able to visit a clean state park, know if my mom gets the ALzheimers that runs in the family, the money will be there.

That’s what I’m talking about.

Comment by Tessa Friday, Mar 4, 05 @ 3:44 pm
We have thousands fewer state workers than we did four years ago, when Illinois ranked lowest in the nation in employees per capita.

Attacks on “bloated” state employee costs after those huge payroll cuts (mostly from the early retirement program) don’t conform to reality.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 4, 05 @ 4:21 pm
“Attacks on “bloated” state employee costs after those huge payroll cuts (mostly from the early retirement program) don’t conform to reality.”

Amen. I am a state management employee. My fellow managers and I are going on our third year with no pay raise and an additional 4% out of pocket payment to the pension system. I’m not looking for sympathy or a pat on the back here, as the state is still a good place to work regardless. I just don’t want to hear the phrases “do more with less” or “cut the fat out” when it comes to what we are doing. Believe me, things are being stretched pretty far as it is.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 4, 05 @ 7:39 pm
I am four years as a manager without a raise and have not been able to raise my staff saleries either. I have union employees making more than their supervisor. Yet we have an assistant to the Director who is off more than he works making 70k a year. They say he does “field work”. I am tired of the lack of respect shown to managers by this group since the change in administration. All I want is to be fair to the managers that work hard, get no scheduled breaks, work overtime for a thank you and don’t bitch about it. I wouldn’t blame them if they did complain but then they were here before the change so they are suspect.

Comment by Anonymous Saturday, Mar 5, 05 @ 6:13 am
As a state employee, I think it’s a shame that merit comp employees have been treated so poorly. Most deserve much more than what they get, especially going 4 years without a pay increase plus paying into their pensions. And I’m a union member saying this. It’s not right. There are those who don’t deserve an increase when they don’t carry their weight at work but the majority do. It would be the same for any business.

These budget hearings had people talking from the business community, talking how they’ve been affected with fee increases, and how incentives could help.

I just hope things start to turn around soon or the people, the real stakeholders, are going to pay even more.

Comment by Tessa Sunday, Mar 6, 05 @ 9:44 am