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Hunger strike adds to Statehouse drama

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Illinois

* We’ll have more on this later today…

In the latest indication of just how fervent Illinois’ budget-cutting battle this year has become, a group a Chicago-area activists has announced they’re staging a Statehouse hunger strike to protest proposed human-services cuts.

* Meanwhile, the budget deficit could grow…

On Wednesday, the House also voted 102-0, with 14 “present” votes, to send a message that members want to fully fund state employee pension payments. One budget option that has been under consideration would reduce or skip paying an estimated $2 billion into the pension funds in order to use that money for general state operations.

Some viewed the vote as a way to pressure lawmakers into voting for an income tax increase in order to avoid drastic cuts to state programs.

Quinn wanted to skip more than just next year’s pension payment. This blows a huge hole in the budget plan.

* And that revised Quinn income tax increase proposal? Not popular…

“This is not a popular thing to do to suggest that we increase taxes. But he’s been willing to do this and I think the public is giving him credit for that. They may not necessarily like what they’re hearing, but they really believe that he is doing what he truly believes needs to be done,” [Sen. Michael Noland] said.

But Noland also said he’s not ready to support higher taxes.

* The latest GOP idea? Borrowing…

Republican Sen. Matt Murphy of Palatine… suggested short-term borrowing as a way to fully fund pensions and avoid an income tax increase.

And we pay off that loan with…. What?

* Related…

* Proposed tax, fee increases in Illinois ‘keep adding up’

* Dems lack votes on tax hike

* Don’t expect GOP support

* Preschoolers need Quinn’s tax hike

* Make budget cuts based on needs, not political clout

* Opposition grows to video gambling deal

* Video poker law is big-time boost for gambling

* Revenue wins when law gets in gambling’s way

* The risks of video poker

* Increase pension payment; make tax hike temporary

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 9:59 am

Comments

Four Words:

Rich Miller for Governor

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 10:01 am
Maybe we should get the hunger strike people with the medical marijuana people, and the Fritos caucus.

Comment by Scooby Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 10:02 am
When people in the private sector get laid off they can’t go on a hunger strike and expect something to change. I guess campaign contributions really are attempted bribes.

Comment by Steve Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 10:04 am
Don’t even think about such nonsense, YDD. I’m not even flattered by that. Sheesh. What a horrible idea.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 10:05 am
Gee - this crisis makes all those other manufactered ones look - politically motivated, huh?

We have gone from the health care affordability crisis, to the government affordability crisis.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 10:08 am
What are you suggesting VanillaMan, a GRT?

:)

Comment by George Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 10:15 am
Hunger strikes are old hat. They ought to go on a breathing strike. Bet they turn blue.

Comment by enrico depressario Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 10:16 am
Nothing good can ever happen in government without strong leadership. The current crisis is really a test of Speaker Madigan. The man behind the curtin needs to pull some levers. Otherwise democrats everywhere will have lots of explainning to do when the election process kicks in later this year.

Comment by Louis Howe Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 10:16 am
Itinerary for statehouse hunger strike:

Have a big meal,

Get on bus and go to the capitol, march around for a few hours till everyone goes home.

Get back on the bus and go to Wendy’s.

Repeat every day as necessary till we get our way or really get hungry.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 10:25 am
good point Howe

YDD demonstrates once again that he is great at policy and political analyses. Not so good at the humor.

Comment by siriusly Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 10:29 am
Unless you’re willing to go as far as Bobby Sands, a hunger strike is somewhat self-reverential.

Reminds me of a quote I saw on TV last night by Barney Franks at a commencement address:

“Idealism without pragmatism is simply self-indulgence.”

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 10:34 am
Enrico,

As a matter of fact, I am holding my breath until Gov. Quinn signs the capital bill.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 10:45 am
the need for a tax increase this year is essential.

Next year is the election prior to making the new redistricting maps. So no risks then.

After the 2010 election, every legislator knows that they soon will be facing 10 -15% new voters. So they won’t want to vote for new taxes in 2010 or 2011. Then after the new district election in 2012 and 2013, there will be vulnerable freshmen to protect. So no vote on taxes until at least 2014, probably 2015 as the next non-election year.

By then, there won’t be a community based human services system in Illinois. And our waiting lists for services to vulnerable clients and families will be obscenely long.

Come on, guys - you got elected to make the tough choices — now do it.

Comment by Capitol View Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 11:10 am
Six, take a deep breath first.

Comment by enrico depressario Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 11:19 am
Sen. Matt Murphy has given us the perfect solution, we shall borrow the money we need from the GOP. The when we dont have the money to cover the loans we will simply degfault on the loans.

A side plan involves changing the name of the State to Illinoise so that our creditors can’t find us.

Comment by Ghost Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 1:44 pm
The local hot dog vendors need to set up next to the hunger strikers.

Supply and demand economics.

Comment by Ghost Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 2:12 pm
Why the visceral and negative response to these hunger strikers? It strikes me as odd.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 2:17 pm
The visceral reaction is because they are embaressing people with their passion for human justice. It is like when a homeless person asks for a crust and someone gets so defensive that they just go off on the topic. It is a self-defense mechanism to distance oneself from the humanity of their petition.

Comment by OMG Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 4:23 pm
So Republican Murphy wants the state to borrow its way out of an $11.0 billion hole??? Another reason why after being an unwavering Republican for 40 years, I have come now to despise these people.

Comment by Skirmisher Thursday, May 28, 09 @ 4:39 pm
–Why the visceral and negative response to these hunger strikers? It strikes me as odd.==

Speaking for myself, I find it self-indulgent. It’s not about the issue, it’s about feeling good about yourself.

Hunger stirkes have been the last resort of the disenfranchised, the powerless, the hopeless. Think Gandhi vs. the Raj, Bobby Sands vs. the Brits, Tibetan Monks vs the Chinese commies.

We have our ups and downs in Illinois and the United States, but we also have a remarkable ability to challenge and influence our government.

Instead of a hunger strike, take a little advice from old uncle Saul Alinsky: “Organize, organize, organize.”

Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 29, 09 @ 8:26 am