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* One of the best publicly available roundups of yesterday’s events is at Illinois Issues’ blog…
Despite the governor’s wishes, the legislature didn’t even consider raising taxes [yesterday]. Lawmakers, instead, sent him pieces of what Quinn dubs a “half-baked budget” that would mean drastic cuts to human services and, in some cases, has already resulted in layoffs and program cuts within community-based services. Quinn said he would veto the spending plan. […]
And he gained one more reason to veto the so-called 50 percent budget late in the day. It would carry an even larger deficit than anticipated because the legislature failed to approve a short-term borrowing scheme to free up $2.2 billion. Senate Bill 415 actually failed twice [last night]. […]
And in a strange turn of events, Schoenberg confirmed that the governor’s office had called some senators to urge them not to vote for the bill, which the governor proposed and supported earlier in the day. Schoenberg said members were told the borrowing plan would take pressure off of the legislature to act on more substantial revenue sources, a.k.a. an income tax increase. […]
The disagreement is just one sign of the tension between the legislative and executive branches in the past month. They can’t even agree on the size of the deficit, let alone the methods to fill that gap.
House Speaker Michael Madigan said the governor and the legislature had “legitimate differences of opinion” but that they will continue to work through the differences. In the meantime, he said the governor has now received a package of bills that would allow him to spend the amount of money they expect to be available in fiscal year 2010. “The governor’s complaint is that he wants more money to spend,” Madigan said. “The legislature has said, ‘We’re not going to give you authority to spend money when we don’t think that money will be available.’”
* More from Small Newspapers…
Neither House Speaker Michael Madigan nor Cullerton knew when lawmakers would reconvene in Springfield to continue budget negotiations.
The first day of state payroll for the new fiscal year is July 14. State Rep. Frank Mautino, D-Spring Valley, expects Quinn to veto the bills and call lawmakers back into session before then to continue negotiations on an income tax increase and a balanced budget.
“Things will limp along a little bit, but without an appropriation, no payments will go out from the Comptroller’s Office starting on midnight (Wednesday),” he said.
The Comptroller cuts checks for nearly all facets of state government, from state employees to teachers’ salaries to human service groups.
* Kadner…
This is worse than Rod Blagojevich. Social service agencies that help the developmentally disabled and mentally ill throughout the state are cutting programs and laying off employees because elected officials in Illinois don’t know what they’re doing.
That’s as close as I can come to giving you an accurate report on the budget crisis in Illinois. […]
A director for Southwest Community Services in Tinley Park told me she has laid off three full-time employees and a part-time mental health worker this week and told 17 clients they no longer would be able to receive mental health services through her agency because of the state budget cuts.
State Rep. David Miller (D-Lynwood) told me he didn’t realize cuts were taking place in “real time” and said he was under the impression they wouldn’t start happening until the end of July. People close to the governor gave me the same impression.
Does anybody in Springfield actually understand what’s going on in the real world?
On a related note…
If anything, the clash between the Democrats left social service providers in even bigger limbo than when Quinn’s administration sent out notices that their grants would be slashed by half or better, forcing layoffs and service cuts.
“People want to know where they stand, right?” said Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago). “Right now, you know where they stand? Under the bus.”
With court battles sure to continue over legislative guarantees to provide social service funding, Quinn maintained that lawmakers won’t have acted properly until they discard the political tactics of one-upmanship and take responsibility for raising taxes.
“The bottom line is we need the revenue to balance the books,” Quinn said. “We cannot live in a pretend world, a fantasy world, that you somehow have manna from heaven that will pay for the expenses. The bottom line is the money isn’t there.”
* As of 5 o’clock this morning, there was no veto announcement…
The governor’s veto announcement was expected to come sometime after midnight.
* Good point…
Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, a key budget negotiator for the Senate Democrats, said it is all up to Quinn at this point.
“I assume he’s going to veto the budget,” Sullivan said. “If he does veto the budget, then obviously we will have to come back to Springfield. If he doesn’t veto the budget after his address today, I think his credibility is going to be further damaged.”
Sullivan said it’s been frustrating trying to forge a compromise because Quinn has a “lack of consistency” in his positions.
“He’s zigged and zagged and been all over the board to the point where I don’t think anybody really knows for sure what he wants,” Sullivan said. “He threatened to close the four veterans homes, including the one in Quincy, and yet he comes out today and says ‘I can’t imagine anybody cutting services to veterans with two wars going on.’ ”
* Related…
* New Budget Cuts Proposed By Ill. Gov. Quinn
* Judge orders state to maintain services for children
* Non-Profit Group Sues Over Budget Cuts To Disabled
* As new fiscal year begins, Illinois remains without budget: If the state doesn’t put together a budget that pays for those services, “we’re going to be sued from here to kingdom come,” Quinn said.
* Quinn says he’ll cut, but won’t close prisons
* Rauschenberger on WTTW on the budget
* Budget crisis creates court crisis
* No budget; SIUC prepares
* Rep. Franks wants Quinn to veto video poker
* More of same is state shame
* Q & A: Will state government shut down?
* Lawmakers react to Quinn stand
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 5:15 am
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Rich - DD providers got notictes that their grants were cut 100%, which I guess is the 50% or more, that you mentioned. Respite care to families trying to keep their kids at home (many times adult kids with significant disabilities), supports to individual living in the community who need help managing their money, getting meds, and food, and people that depend upon work programs to keep their jobs that pay their bills. These include people with developmental disabilties, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, etc. 100% gone.
Illinois is no longer even funding pauper funerals. So not only do these people get ignored during their lifetime, they also get no respect after they die. This state no longer recognizes that it has any moral obligation towards anyone but the rich. This speaks volumes about us as human beings.
Comment by Had Enough Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 6:28 am
First, where is Lisa Madigan. She campaigned as a childrens rights advocate now we are cutting state services for children. She should be clarifying for the legislature the Constitutional requirment of a balanced budget. Quinn can set a pretty good trap by sending ht budget to Lisa Madigan for an opinion as to whether the budget complies with the Constitution.
Second, I hope this gets national attention. The fact is, socialism has never worked in the history of the world. IL is proving that again. You cannot layer social program on top of social program and not expect the system to collapse. We have run business out of our state and now we can only raised taxes which will only dig us in a deeper whole. Socialism does not work, thank you Mike Madigan for proving that once again.
Comment by the Patriot Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 6:43 am
“The governor’s complaint is that he wants more money to spend,” Madigan said. “The legislature has said, ‘We’re not going to give you authority to spend money when we don’t think that money will be available.’”
What a complete 180-degree turn from a year ago. Last year, Madigan was more than willing to send that governor a budget that was out of balance. And the year before that…
Comment by hmmm Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 6:44 am
Quinn’s behavior is nothing short of erratic.
How will he get of this mess. His running mate never fared well when this happened.
Better question is how will the state get out of this mess.
I cannot believe anyone will want to take direction from him going forward. Staff must be in shambles this a.m.
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 6:50 am
Time for ALL of them to go. The only real answer is term limits.
Comment by Springfieldwatcher Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 6:55 am
I have a few questions worth asking at this point.
(1) Given the circumstances; what are the chances that he signs the “Capital Bill(s) that were also sent to him?
(2)Which will he veto first; the half baked budget, or the Capital Bill(s)?
(3) Given the over-time session vote threshold requirements, are their sufficent votes in either chamber for veto over-rides for either the half-baked budget or the “Capital Bill(s)?
(4) Based on the defeat of the Pension Note scam in the Senate, what, if anything does this reveal about Cullerton’s leadership? Is he in a more tenuous position now given this apparent revolt, or at least erosion of support?
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 7:02 am
It was a huge loss to the citizens of Illinois when Steve Rauschenberger left the Illinois senate. Both Democrats and Republicans respected his intellect and integrity. There was a guy who knew what it really took to run Illinois state government successfully. If we had individuals like Paul Vallas and Steve Rauschenberger down in Springfield in our state government, we would be far less likely to be worrying about shutting down state services.
Comment by John Doe Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 7:02 am
I thought Speaker Madigans comments a little over a week ago were most telling. To paraphrase, he said that budget predictions in previous years of doom and apocalyptic consequences never seem to happen…like the fiscal year that just ended with about a four billion dollar deficit…no real cuts, just an accumulating debt.
Apparently, the legislature has heard the cry of “wolf” too many times. Until there are real casualties, it would seem that nothing will be done. The easiest prey would seem to be the most vulnerable of our citizens.
Comment by Budget Watcher Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 7:18 am
He didn’t say that a week ago. He said that in 1989.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 7:19 am
Pat Quinn has shown that he is more qualified as a bomb-thrower than a leader. I don’t think he remembers that he was not elected governor. The only votes he got were the same ones that Rod Blagojevich got. I think it would be smart for him to remember that. He needs a heavy dose of humility and reality. Please, Gov. Quinn, don’t run for Gov. again. You are clearly not up to the job. Dan Hynes, Lisa Madigan, Jack Franks - these are the leaders in this state.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 7:39 am
Rich,
You are correct…the Finke story that highlighted those comments ran about a week ago.
Comment by Budget Watcher Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 7:40 am
Rauschenberger referred to the Speaker on “Chicago Tonight” as “Michael Madoff Madigan” for his role in agreeing to the last five “unconstitutional and unbalanced” budgets… if that ain’t a ready made GOP campaign slogan I don’t know what is.
Comment by Bookworm Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 7:43 am
==Does anybody in Springfield actually understand what’s going on in the real world?==
Does this question even need to be asked? Of courser they don’t….they live in an insulated little world.
Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 7:44 am
One word for Governor Quinn…”triage”.
With limited reaources, sometimes it’s necessary for people in charge to decide which programs, or parts of programs, should “die”.
The system is set up so that when overreaching government’s desire to spend exceeds’s it’s ability to generate revenue by expanding the economy, it needs a political and budgetary “enema” to clean out all the garbage.
Governor Quinn seems to prefer political “constipation”.
He doesn’t have a plan to right size and improve cost effectiveness of the Medicaid program on the table.
He doesn’t have a plan on the table to bring state construction costs to market rate levels by eliminating “prevailing wage” waste.
He doesn’t have a plan to reform foster care waste. Yesterday I saw a Fox 32 piece on a 20 year old mother of two who’s been on foster care since before she was 15. With the state “mentoring” and “counseling” she’s received, she’s about 100 pounds overweight, had two children out of wedlock and dropped out of school, yet she still has “foster parents” receiving money to support her.
It sure doesn’t seem that all that counseling, mentoring and “parenting” did much good.
Currently you can be a “foster child” until you’re 21 in Illinois. It isn’t working enough to make it worthwhile.
Quinn seems devoid of any ideas other than cutting largely non-union non-profits that provide essential services at costs far less than state employee prices.
There is no plan on the table from Quinn to reform pension benefits, or fairly increase contributions for retiree health care and pensions.
There is no plan on the table from Quinn to evaluate and streamline the duplicative and redundant 1780 pregrams administered by the state.
Quinn has NO plan for slowing the unsustainable growth of salries and benefits in K-12 public education or cutting the waste, patronage and costly corruption in our state university system.
He’s had six years “on the bench” to formulate policy and a plan of action other than continuing to feed the dysfunctional bureaucracy, but he’s come up with….NOTHING!
In short, Quinn just wants to take food off of families’ table so that he can AVOID necessary reforms rather than implement them.
Move over Blago, Ryan, Walker, and Kerner. You now have some pretty stiff competition for the being the worst Governor in Illinois hstory!
Comment by PalosParkBob Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 7:44 am
BW, that story was based on a story I wrote a week before that. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 7:51 am
The numbers Quinn handed out for lay-offs are a far way from from 2,200. About 725 short. No details on where the remaining ‘hits’ are?
So many conflicting articles out there this morning just jumping from one paper to another gets confusing. Using my mother’s old dail-up laptop the last two days has not helped me out, have not been able to yet watch all yesterday vids.
Cheers to Captitol Fax for without I’d be totally lost in trying to keep up.
Comment by Princess Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 8:28 am
Shouldn’t someone be happy with this, like those who are against a tax increase and think state government can be cut, cut, cut?
If that’s the GOP members of the GA’s position, they are absolutely winning. Furthermore, they now control the outcome.
In the coming days, they should present their own budget that incorporates their principles.
How come they don’t seem happy?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 8:34 am
Rauschenberger is no help.
On WTTW, he blames the state budget deficit on the failure of our public school system, ignoring the fact that the state fails to meet its obligation to fund public education.
He goes on to claim that you can balance the state budget now without raising taxes. Steve’s solution? Borrow.
Really Steve? Borrow $9.2 billion?
Comment by Ode to Rauschenberger Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 8:41 am
Don’t these people realize that once they lay off everyone they will still have to pay them on unemployment? How is that really saving money? There are no jobs out there for these people to get so they will still get a check for the government. I’m so glad I moved to PA.
Comment by Don't miss Illinois Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 8:42 am
Question: I know this would be horrid but, what if Quinn refuses to accept the budget and allows the cuts to social programs to happen, how long would it take for MJM to call his posse together and work this out?
Comment by make it so Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 8:47 am
That extra billion in cuts doesn’t include any “shared sacrifice” from the business sector, I believe. No closing of corporate tax loopholes–not a one. Corporate rate stays at 6 percent as part of the tax increase package. No plans to improve collection of state business debt, which I believe is substantial.
And the downsizing of prisons idea seems to be more scare-mongering geared to inflaming public opinion in the direction of a tax increase. Not to say prisons shouldn’t be downsized–and soon. But downsizing needs to be done according to a long term plan, not as part of a rushed budget deal.
And, as we all know, Quinn is making only token cuts (3 or 4, selected for visibility) in the ranks of the 3000 highly paid Blago appointees he inherited. He seems determined to keep them all on.
I’ll say one thing, he’s not the people’s governor, much as he fancies himself a populist.
He’s the governor of protecting the state bureaucracy and easing the pain of potential corporate donors.
Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 9:00 am
President Cullerton is angry that Gov. Quinn meddled with the vote on the pension bill, but the President lost that one all on his own the first time, and from the sounds of it, Sen. Meeks may have had more influence than the Governor on the second vote. Someone up the postings here questioned the President’s grip on his caucus. Maybe the Senate Dems are just more independent than the House Dems. Why should we expect Sen. Cullerton to be a fist like Rep. Madigan? Certainly there is an impasse in budgetary progress, but it seems that Sen. Cullerton is trying to herd cats, while Rep. Madigan continues to herd sheep. . . . and Gov. Quinn is seen as “flip-flopping” because he is trying to herd both.
Comment by Captain Flume Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 9:06 am
Quinn has been absolutely brutal over the last few days. He’s like a political Q-Bert, bouncing around from station to station, when all we’re looking for is the “Game Over” screen.
Failing to veto the GA-produced budget destroys whatever shred of credibility he may have left. It will be awful, no doubt. But you cannot continuously leave the plethora of agenices and state workers scratching their collective heads, wondering if their employer will be open for business tomorrow. There’s something to be said for peace of mind.
But now, because he’s been publicly adamant about not abandoning such groups, he takes all of the political heat for mass layoffs and shuttering thousands of programs.
Did he really think he could force the hand of MJM and his armies? That’s a Blago-like delusion.
Comment by The Doc Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 9:08 am
The big problem is that this is going to make the IL economy worse. Loads of people, over 2000 in my area alone, are going to have to quit their jobs to watch their kids once subsidized child care is gone. That means more people trying to get on food stamps, whose budget would have also been cut, and on to FamilyCare, whose budget would have been cut….not a good situation.
Comment by workinginil Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 9:08 am
A common definition of “insanity” is doing the same thing over, and over again, while expecting different results. Quinn’s address to the General Assembly fits that definition. Why does Quinn continue to believe that an imploding Human Services delivery system would add republican votes to legislation raising taxes? It won’t happen, not now, or in the future. Quinn and his staff are either insane or terminally ignorant.
Comment by Louis Howe Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 9:12 am
I don’t think tbe duties of governor play to Quinn’s strengths, and I understand completely that among the citizenry the governor wears the jacket.
But I think comments from some GA members placing the lion’s share of the blame with Quinn are disingenuous in the extreme.
In their Constitutional roles, the governor proposed a budget and the GA disposed of it. The GA passed its own “balanced” budget. Quinn says he will veto it. The GA will have an opportunity to override.
Frankly, unless the GA has been playing a cynical game all along, the override vote should be overwhelming, with anti-tax Republicans joining Dems who voted for it originally.
Then members can go back to their districts and watch the results of their six months’ work unfold.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 9:34 am
Have we all read what the Comptroller, Dan Hynes,(who supervises accounting and financial reporting for the state of IL), says Governor Quinn? Read this short letter from a reliable source!
Source: www.ioc.state.il.us
-Click link above, then scroll down to: Download the Comptroller’s Open Letter to the Governor
Comment by Rebecca Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 9:42 am
Shouldn’t someone be happy with this, like those who are against a tax increase and think state government can be cut, cut, cut?
If that’s the GOP members of the GA’s position, they are absolutely winning. Furthermore, they now control the outcome.
How totally ridiculous it is of you to be fingerpointing when all the legislative and executive power is in the hands of the Illinois Democrats. Not only is your statement ridiculous, it is based on a strawman argument the few GOPers in the GA have never made.
The crisis is due to the refusal of the Party in Power to vote for the tax increases they want to pass. They have shut down any other possibilities, and have shown no interest in reforming anything since they impeached and removed the governor they twice elected.
The Democratic solution to this mess is to raise taxes. But they don’t want to vote for it. So we are stuck once again in total paralysis - for the fourth time since 2004! Who is in charge? Cowards! Non-reforming, business as usual cowards!
Since they will not pass meaningful reforms necessary after watching their party leader be perp walked into the Federal courthouse arrested, and will not vote to reform our corrupted system even after impeaching and removing him from office - the Illinois Democrats have given us no solutions. Just excuses.
To claim that a minority party, that is so powerless in Illinois that it is nearly extinct, is now controlling the budgetary process, is such a sham excuse to fingerpoint responsibilities away from the most powerful people in Illinois government’s failure to do their elected jobs, that even Blagojevich’s warped fevered mind couldn’t twist the facts into making a similar statement.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 9:48 am
- PalosParkBob-
You saw a story about one case where the foster care system didn’t work……so bag the entire program? I’m sure they have failures and successes. But you don’t want to pay for it, is that the case?
Comment by Hair today....gone Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 9:55 am
So ‘veto’ at 1:30 pm today. Is he going to just stamp with big letters ‘veto’ or stomp on it a bit for the cameras and then order the GA back to town?
Comment by Princess Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 10:01 am
VMan, take your Ritalin, dude.
The facts:
Everyone in the GA had an opportunity to vote on tax increases. They did not pass both chambers. Every single Republican who voted, voted against them. That strikes me as a victory.
Now, with the super-majority requirements, no new budget can be passed without GOP votes. That also strikes me as a victory, if, indeed, GOP members want to have a role in the shaping the budget. Until now, they have complained ad nauseum they have been shut out.
Well, now they’re in. Vic-tor-eeeeeee.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 10:05 am
That is crazy talk.
It was the decision of the Illinois Democrats to do nothing by deadline. They have total power.
Your logic isn’t. Would you blame the guard rails for failing to keep your car on the road, or the fact that your brakes and steering failed? To blame the GOP after the Democrats failed to do their jobs is ridiculous.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 10:29 am
Van Man:
The Repubs have alot more power than you might think. Consider this: Dems didn’t vote for a tax increase fearing that Repubs would make them wear the jacket come election time. But Repubs fail to make counter proposal. Now it takes a 3/5 majority so Repubs have power to shape the outcome. So where are they? They are failing to use the power the Dems willingly, or unwittingly, give to them. What’s up with that?
Comment by Deep South Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 10:29 am
–To blame the GOP after the Democrats failed to do their jobs is ridiculous.–
“Confound it man, are you afraid of success?” Mr. Potter.
I’m not blaming anyone for anything. My indisputable points are:
– Income taxes have not been raised.
– No new budget and no tax increases can now be passed without GOP votes.
Taking GOP members at their words, that they were universally against an income tax increase and that they wanted a role in shaping the budget, they are winning on both counts.
Is that incorrect?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 10:43 am
@- PalosParkBob - Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 7:44 am:
I understand completely and agree with you.
Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 11:43 am
==This is worse than Rod Blagojevich.==
Yep. Told ya so.
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 11:52 am
‘State Rep. David Miller (D-Lynwood) …didn’t realize cuts were taking place in “real time” and said he was under the impression they wouldn’t start happening until the end of July. People close to the governor gave me the same impression.’
Was Rep. Miller elected or assigned to the position he has? These people need to get out into the real world and stop thinking in terms of only state employees and state operations. The social services network is far larger than the state employee ranks and many of those programs (who are already 4-5 months behind in their payments from the state) do not have the money now. What does any retail store or factory do if the bucks are not there and they cannot get loans?
Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 11:54 am
The Democrats wouldn’t pass the income tax increases. They also didn’t pass any meaningful reforms after their governor got arrested. They also didn’t pass any governmental or fiscal reforms to address the structural deficits in the state budget. They also didn’t take any actions to cut anything currently being funded.
They did nothing. Deliberately. They did this, just as they did this in the past few years - in order to spread the blame for their inactions around politically. They knew that the GOP wasn’t going to support a tax increase. They deliberately painted themselves into a corner so that they can look helpless. They deliberately painted themselves into a corner in order to fingerpoint at the few remaining GOP officials left in Illinois as the cause of our distress.
They have done this repeatedly. They did it again.
Why a party with such overwhelming power would short circuit any other solutions for the state budget other than tax increases, deliberately miss the budget deadlines, then fingerpoint at the few GOP legislators in the GA as the reason for the paralysis and crisis, is ugly politics played at our expense. Again. For the freakin’ fourth time.
And you guys fall for it every time. With partisan supporters like you, no wonder they think they can play these destructive games. You won’t call them out.
I agree with Bill. If they want to pass an income tax increase, then they should justify it, lead it, pass it, and debate the consequences. But that would require guts and courage from people who have diplayed so little of either since 2003.
What a mentality! “We can’t pass a tax increase without your support now that we have deliberately missed the deadline that required us to take a stand. So anything that goes wrong is now your fault, as we keep telling everyone!”
And you guys want to play this game too? No wonder Illinois politics is so downright digusting. You let them play this disgusting game.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 12:06 pm
== Dems didn’t vote for a tax increase fearing that Repubs would make them wear the jacket come election time . . .==
Isn’t that what all this is really about . . . re-election? Get in Rep. Madigan’s mind and its primary directive is to keep a Dem majority in the House. His two years off as Speaker in the mid-1990s gave him time to contemplate how to never lose that advantage again and in that quest he is indeed ruthless. He was not elected to a statetwide office but he was put in charge of a statewide entity. Even in supporting Blagojevich’s two elections, the House Dem membership has increased. That’s the chess game he plays.
Comment by Captain Flume Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 12:10 pm
I guess we need to stop paying the GOP legislaure their salaries. After all, under VMans theory they are just fake payrollers with out purpose, ability or acountability.
The patriot, socialism is the organization of an economic system whereby the governemtn takes over manufacturing, generating all production and distribution of goods. Under socialism the working class controls the operation of the State. So if you think Illinois is socialist, and you are employed as a worker, then you control the State.
Now under capitalism, production and distrubtion are privately controlled, and the goverement operates by passing laws to protect the private market. These laws include the provision of public goods and infrastructure to protect market operations. The evolution of capitalism has progressed to a mixed economy. Under modern capitlaims the State inrevernes in market actvity and provides services in order to keep the social sructure from collapsing.
The spending for these various services by the state of Illinois is capitalism. if it were socialism th State would ne be paying private providers and contractors and would not be useing taxes to raise income. The State would control all industry and provide the services itself, generating its own income from its facotries etc.
The provision of services to your citizens by a governemn The provision of services to its citizens is an aspect of
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 12:30 pm
Re: rep miller…
so maybe this is why he was reported to have been crying on may 31st? he’s confused about the way things work?
as i recall miller definitely supported quinn’s efforts to get a budget passed on may 31st, apart from reports that he was crying that afternoon, there were no reports as to why. does anyone know why?
Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Jul 1, 09 @ 1:16 pm
HAir today:
I’ve known some foster parents, and much of the program has merit. A friend and his provided foster care to crack addicted babies whose only comfort seemed to be being held in a loving way 24/7.
I think there’s a special place in Heaven for people who can give that kind of love and care.
The problem is that people like those will be made to suffer so that some lazy bums can drop out of school and intentionally drop babies every year and be subsidized by the taxpayers.
There’s just too many truly needy out there to let the bums take the food of their tables so that they don’t have to work at school, get a job, or practice birth control.
Comment by PalosParkBob Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 9:25 pm