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Our interminable mess

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* We can expect plenty more stories like this one from the Aurora Beacon News…

Soon the state will start sending notices to local agencies that provide a wide array of services, warning they could lose much of their funding.

The Association for Individual Development is still dealing with its massive $750,000 cut in state funding last year that resulted in a hiring freeze. This year, the Aurora-based organization worries that as much as 50 percent of its funding from the state could be cut, AID President Lynn O’Shea said. […]

Darlene Marcusson, director of Lazarus House in St. Charles, also is worried about a loss of state funding. “We truly don’t know what this could mean to us,” she said Monday. […]

Senior Services Associates, which assists the elderly in Kane, Kendall and McHenry counties, could lose funding for its elderly abuse program and community care program, said Bette Schoenholtz, executive director.

And on, and on, and on.
‘
* AARP sent out a press release yesterday detailing some of the budget cuts on the way…

Community Care Program slated to be cut in half, leaving roughly 26,000 without the services they need to remain in their communities, subjecting them to more costly institutional care, such as nursing homes.

Eliminating the Elder Abuse & Neglect Program – meaning 11,000 cases won’t be investigated.

Eliminating the Circuit Breaker program – which helps over 270,000 older Illinoisans struggling with high Rx costs and property taxes.

Closing all four Illinois veterans’ homes – leaving over 1,000 veterans without health care and other services.

Cutting home services for the disabled – leaving over 5,000 people with no community access to the programs that help them remain independent.

The Sun-Times has another list, including…

190,000 students would lose college scholarships

* Something important to remember, however. This was a lump-sum appropriation, so keep this point in mind…

The temporary budget doesn’t actually outline these or other specific cuts, but Quinn spokesman Bob Reed said meeting the overall figures would necessitate such program reductions.

* The GOP was not impressed…

State Sen. Kirk Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican, on Tuesday labeled the governors’ budget cutting threats a “parade of horribles” and “nothing more than a scare tactic.”

The Senate GOP has called for cuts in state-funded health insurance expanded under Gov. Rod Blagojevich and moving Medicaid to managed care coverage to help fill the budget hole.

“When is someone going to sit down and do a line by line review of spending?” Dillard asked rhetorically. “It is always unconscionable to ask taxpayers for more without cutting spending, especially during a recession.”

The GOP’s Medicaid plan appears to be mostly a farce. It would kill off the hospital assessment program, which brings tons of federal money into the state, and would lock the state in to an arrangement where if the Medicaid rolls grow, state taxpayers are on the hook for the full cost without a federal match.

* The SJ-R has an editorial today which concludes with this common sense demand…

[House GOP Leader Tom Cross] and House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, should spare us any further back and forth over who didn’t invite whom to a meeting or whether discussions with the other one are “fruitful.” It’s like watching a sixth-grade slumber party.

The majority party mistreated the minority? Shocking! The minority party isn’t being helpful? Welcome to representative democracy. You’ll do the same thing to the other guy when roles are reversed. People whose health care might be cut or whose taxes might be raised don’t have the time or inclination to sort out such childish behavior.

* GOP Rep. Dennis Reboletti lays out the Republican case…

Government is the only entity that can increase its revenue whenever the well runs dry. A family cannot raise additional funds on payday. Instead, they must calculate what is important and what they can live without in order to make ends meet. Illinois Government should do the same.

That’s not totally true. When a husband or wife loses their job and family revenues plummet and the repo man comes knocking, cutting back on expenses probably won’t solve the problem. They’ll have to do what my father did, get another job or two. More revenues must be brought in. The state budget is in the same situation. Revenues have plummeted by billions of dollars. Cutting expenses is only part of the solution.

* The Rockford Register-Star editorializes further…

There are cuts that need to be made. Government needs to be more efficient, pensions need to be reformed so that those benefits don’t bankrupt the state, and health-care costs need to be reined in.

Republicans are right to remain determined to see those kinds of changes before agreeing to a tax increase

Except that when the chips were down on pension reform, the GOP wasn’t there. From the Daily Herald…

Even Democratic leaders acknowledge that the current pension system cannot sustain itself. A plan creating the two-tiered system cleared a House committee, ironically on the strength of Democratic votes and over Republican opposition. But the Democrats ran it through a committee filled with GOP members whose local communities are filled with pension-earning public-sector employees. Based on that vote, Democrats concluded there wasn’t enough support among Republicans to get the plan approved through the full House.

* Related…

* Quinn still interested in raising parks fees

* Illinois GOP Leader: Dems “Pulled a Fast One” on Quinn

* Quinn accuses Dems of turning backs on poor

* Quinn Uses Capital Bill as Leverage

* Once budget is resolved, Illinois capital program will unleash flurry of construction

* Put people back to work, governor; sign capital bill

* Groups still waiting on capital plan funding

* Life vs. legislators: Driving, drinking, gambling

* State broke, but pols find $500 mil. for pet projects

* PCCC, other projects to benefit from state capital construction plan

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 9:58 am

Comments

Didn’t Blago gey impeached for expanding healthcare without the General Assembly? Why has it not been trimmed back to where it was? We still have not seen a list of people who signed up for the expanded program. Why doesn’t that come up in Quinns list of cuts? How much will that save? How many people are still using that program who make over $40,000?

Comment by Confused Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:07 am
Does this mean Tom Cross will cancel his fancy very expense Golf Outing this year.
Pay to Play is Alive and Kicking in Illinois.

Comment by Cough up the Benjamins Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:08 am
Suggestion to the GOP: “Contract with Illinois” Worked for Newt in the 1994 elections.

1. Up or down vote on reform commission proposals.

2. [insert other reforms here]

3. Independent auditor to review all govt. programs

4. Reduce override supermajority requirement on cook county board.

5. All tax increases to be matched by cuts in future pensions.

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:10 am
I don’t even want to think about the pitched battle that will take place amongst service providers if the lump sum 50% budget goes into effect. The ugly fight for their piece of the pie in each state agency will be brutal.

Comment by montrose Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:12 am
Rich - you have SB313 listed on the fax as the BIMP - the full text on ILGA is definitely not the BIMP. Is that the right bill number (dare I question!) or am I doing something wrong?

http://ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.as
p?DocNum=313&GAID=10&G
A=96&DocTypeID=SB&Leg
ID=42263&SessionID=76

Comment by quick question Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:15 am
The GOP has a golden opportunity here. I like LCD’s suggestion of the “Contract w/Illinois” bit. We need a leader, a voice who can inspire the crowd and lead us out of the wilderness. Who will that be? Helloooo…..anybody out there?

Comment by dupage dan Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:15 am
The whole game of making this budget a series of lump sum appropriations is such a cynical attempt to avert blame for any of the cuts.

“Oh, we didn’t make those cuts, Gov. Quinn made those cuts and its an outrage!”

Same game they played the past two years.

Comment by George Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:16 am
It was a typo.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:19 am
Every honest chronicle of the horrible results of the proposed cuts should also contain a list of the sports complexes and private groups who have been promised funding in the capital bill.

What would make even more interesting reading is to require each of those earmarks listed to be associated with the legislator who packed that bit of pork in the bill.

Another reminder about the ethics of the legislators. First they pad their own nests, then they think about the public. Pork for themselves, taxes for the peasants.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:20 am
I forget is Riboletti the smart suburban HGOP from DuPage?
Apparently not
When GOPs compare govt to biz or or families to tell you there are laws that provide service for people — usually more people in a down economy.
Therefore if you want to cut govt spendig cuts the programs that everyone (usuaully 118-0 and 59-0) voted to create
The “Sunshine Commission” which sounds an awful lot like JRT’s cost control task force, would get it down
Hat tip to the Daily Herald for reporting teh Circular Firing Squad voted again two tier pension

BTW look for the Sun Times to “reveal” the World’s Laughing Stock (aka WLS-AM) let Blagoof on the air again. He claims the charities were pressured to turn down the donations.
Very sad very troubled
Anyone got the overnites on “Blagoof on the Loose” I keep waiting for the Hog & Scooter to emerge and invite the crowd over to their casa as soon as shooting wraps.

Comment by BoxingCross Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:24 am
Much of the budget problem is a pension problem. Until public pensions are reformed (cut back or eliminated) Illinois will have budget problems. It’s difficult to see how reform can happen when government workers support candidates who don’t want reform. Plus the Illinois state constitution makes pension reform very difficult. Someone to think about if you are considering holding Illinois state debt.

Comment by Steve Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:31 am
On Quinn and his continued desire for park fees, any try at actually doing this would have to be well thought out and extremely detailed or else will not be able to be implemented.

I can think of a number of sites that a fee ‘to park’ would not be possible. At other sites a lack of staff would make collection of entrance fees all but impossible to man at any entrance point.

Serious consideration on this idea would almost have to be by something like a purchased season pass.

Comment by Princess Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:36 am
–3. Independent auditor to review all govt. programs–

LCD, there is a state constitutional office, the Auditor General. Right now, it’s Bill Holland and before that Robert Cronson. They audit and write lots of reports on state government. You should read them.

The State of Illinois needs a Newt Gingrich like it needs another Roland Burris.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:39 am
===While railing against lawmakers who refused to back a tax hike, Quinn repeatedly quoted the Bible and invoked Illinois veterans who rely on state services. He said he expected better from the Democratic Party.

“We do not throw people on the side of the road as the wagon train moves forward,” he said====

This was posted yesterday and I wanted to comment on it. Quinn’s flip side arguement is saying that, Republican’s do throw people to the side of the road, which is not a good way of getting their votes.

He should go fishing for a few day or hike around Starved Rock and get a new perspective.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:39 am
Gov. Quinn has largely squandered his credibility, as far as I can see, and his dark threats to human services, however real they may be, currently ring hollow. He has simply not behaved, or caused his agencies to behave, as if the state were on the brink of collapse. Blago may have closed parks and historic sites, for instance, for a vaiety of reasons, but in truth it was a relatively harmless way of making the point to the voters that worse things were to come if the budget mess wasn’t addressed. What does Quinn do? He re-opens them, and then on top of that substantially boosts staffing over previous levels, at least at some historic sites. Whatever message he intended to send, the message that got out was that this budget stuff is a phony issue. Now in order to make the budget point, Quinn is going to really have to hurt people who really can’t stand to be hurt any more than they have been already. I doubt if he has the nerve to do it in the end, but if he does, the pain inflicted will be as much his fault as anyone’s.

Comment by Skirmisher Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:46 am
Good, let them cut away. I think these politicians believe all these scare tactics will concern people. Every time Quinn or somebody comes out and states they’ll make all these drastics cuts, my thoughts are even more favorable. The only information I needed to see was state highway workers making about $70,000 a year to convince me what a sham and waste much of the state budget comprises.

Comment by HR Guy Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:52 am
Skirmisher “He re-opens them, and then on top of that substantially boosts staffing over previous levels, at least at some historic sites”.–

Which is not exactly true (ex. year round staff). DNR techs are going to be doing HPA maintance in a number of places. Which of course means less work accomplished at their (DNR tech) original work sites.

Comment by Princess Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:53 am
The Obama admin is revving up its efforts to come up with a universal health care plan by the end of the year. This could mean a lot more federal dollars for health care and might reduce the burden on states like Illinois, which have fairly liberal rules for access to government-paid health care already. I don’t think it’s worth
changing eligibility rules at this point.

Despite his claims to transparency, I don’t think Quinn has been nearly forthcoming enough about what cuts he is making in state government. We have heard about the cuts that he says will have to be made if his regressive inome tax hike doesn’t go through. But there has been little effort to clearly explain what cuts he has already made or will make even if he gets his tax increase. So we are left to wonder if there are any. This is a negotiation and Quinn seems to think that if he stamps his foot enough times we citizens will meekly go along. (Remind you of anyone?). But this is a negotiation and so far he has shown little ability to negotiate….even where it would be to his advantage.

When is the Lisa for Governor PAC going up, I wonder. I’m feeling the urge to contribute. Six more years (minimum) of this kind of ineptitude is more years than I can put up with.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:59 am
Before you reform my pension, maybe the business community should look at offering modest salaries…I wish I could run a company bankrupt and get a nice golden parachute as in business. A modest pension is reasonable for my service in Illinois schools, or else I can be added to the welfare rolls like all the other corporate greedies who abolished pensions for their workers.

Secondly, since we do not have a representative government how much can we save if we eliminate all representatives and senators (and their offices and staffs) since five people (Gov, House Leader, House Minority, Senate Pres, and Senate Minority) make all the budget decisions anyway? I want some real transparency…these budget negotiations should be public…no more closed door meetings.

Comment by Double Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:59 am
I’m not exactly happy with how the Dems handled this budget but I’m getting tired of people saying this is just scare tactics. You can not cut entire agency budgets in half or more and think that there will be no effect. There is fat to be trimmed but nobody has 50% of their spending that just disappears into the ether and has no one depending on it. When the letters start going out legislators are going to realize this is not just the poor and unwashed masses, these are their friends and neighbors.

Comment by Frustrated Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 11:03 am
“ A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you are talking about real money,” so said Everett Dirksen. However, even talking in Billions, 90% of all legislators won’t understand the impact of large numbers. Quinn’s news conferences are a waste of time, he needs to begin sending out notices to vendors and employees about canceled contracts and layoffs phased in starting July 1st. Instead, the Gov’s staff is going through the needless exercise of 25% to 30% reserve budget hold backs with operating scenarios that could never be implemented. Perhaps Madigan’s greatest loss was the common sense perspective of former Rep. Gary Hannig. Unfortunately, Quinn’s staff didn’t start using Hannig’s budget expertise until last week, too late to really impact the process.

Comment by Louis Howe Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 11:09 am
There is a difference between sending notices to local agencies that provide a wide array of services, warning they could lose much of their funding - and sending notices to local agencies that a certain percentage cut will take place by a certain deadline. One is called politicking, and the other is called leading.

Imagine if we have a severe storm front passing through town which includes funnel clouds and tornadoes. Now imagine if Quinn is the weatherman. Would you like to hear that tornadoes may be destroying your homes and businesses, that local flooding may occur, that utilities may be cut, or would you rather be told that tornadoes have been sighted and recommendations that everyone within the possible path of the tornadoes take shelter?

Quinn’s approach is not helpful. It adds needless stress by politicking this serious situation. Funding will be cut, and should be cut. That is what will happen either now or later. Pretending otherwise is frankly lying. It is the responsibility of Patrick Quinn to take the appropriate steps to be the State’s executive and inform local agencies and other dependant for state funding to expect a serious cut and to expect it by a specific deadline.

Then do it.

If the cuts are too severe, we will see that steps will be taken to lessen the severity. But it is misleading to be so ambiguous at this time. It is wrong to be politicking right now, when Quinn should be leading by informing those who will be impacted, how much they will lose, and when.

I am tired of being led on. Get to cutting and lets see how serious the bleeding becomes. No it will not be fun, or fair. The press will have a sad story every day. But we have to actually witness these things to realize what is real and all this politicking isn’t helping one bit.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 11:11 am
Princess,
Most Park users will be willing to pay a Park Fee.
Last Summer when biking in the Wisconsin State Park, I paid a fee by placing the entrance and trail use fees into an envelope and leaving it in the mail slot. I did not have corrrect change and put in an extra buck.
Before I got home from the trip Wisconsin had sent me the change back.
Now that is service really worth paying for.

Comment by Our Time Has Passed Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 11:21 am
Vanilla Man:

The vast array of agencies and organization that would be hit by a 50% budget are making their plans. They have been dealing with the cuts in contracts, delayed payments, etc. for years. Each one is developing its own contingency plan for how to deal with the most severe cuts, including the possibility of closing their doors. Quinn does not need to tell them such details.

The reality is, preventing is always better than reacting. Saying “If the cuts are too severe, we will see that steps will be taken to lessen the severity.” is irresponsible. We will lose infrastructure for the delivery of needed services and programs, and it will cost the state (and the private sector that also supports the work of these agencies) that much more to get systems back up and running. It is also irresponsible because these are people lives, not some experiment. It is the lives of those that will lose their jobs and it is the lives of those that need the array of services that will be affected.

I am not going to say that Quinn tactics are effective, but I appreciate he is trying to stop these draconian cuts from going through. The state and its residents will be a million times better off if we never have to enact any of the contingency plans being drawn up as I type.

Comment by montrose Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 11:31 am
I also wonder what Quinn is planning to cut. As a relatively conservative independent, I want to see that the state is making some significant cuts before I support a tax hike. From what I can tell, all of Quinn’s reduced spending comes from vague “unspecified cuts”. It gives the impression that he hasn’t put together a true budget and is just asking for more money so he doesn’t have to do the hard work necessary to cut the fat. If he has really put together a true budget, he is doing a terrible job of letting people know about it. Either way, his leadership has been disappointing.

Comment by Pelon Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 11:32 am
– Get to cutting and lets see how serious the bleeding becomes…. But we have to actually witness these things to realize what is real..–

Hey Doctor, where did you to medical school, Baby Doc Duvalier U?

You can actually get an accurate sense of what will happen with a sharp pencil, a piece of paper and some ciphering.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 11:41 am
===Baby Doc Duvalier U?===

LOL

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 11:43 am
‘Our Time Has Passed’, my posting was in the method of collection, not that people might not be willing to pay. I willing pay to visit state parks over in Indiana and have no problem doing so.

For example, some sites have no ‘entrance’ in the traditional sense. Many access points over many miles. And still others are not drive in, park, spend the day and leave type sites at all. Why I hate to see them go to visiting fees, my point was more the manner of collecting.

Snake Den Hollow for example (mainly fishing) has most visitors parking along the township road and hiking on over the embankments. Putting a collection box in such situations while may take in donations would likely be vandalized (money gone and continuous box replacement). Same with areas like the Hennepin Canal or the Rock Island Trail and other such sites. If these sites are to be expected to take in donations from public usage the plan is going to have to be well thought out and able to be implemented in a consistent manner.

Comment by Princess Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 11:44 am
wordslinger — I’m aware of Bill Holland but — and admittedly I’ve only browsed the summaries — looks like they look for process compliance and good practices more than waste/bang for buck, but I could be wrong. I still think a comprehensive audit from a private entity would be illuminating.

As for Newt, I’m only speaking historically: the Contract with America created some bright lines and helped focus/define the GOP, I still pray the Dems come to their senses (or souls).

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 11:53 am
“You can actually get an accurate sense of what will happen with a sharp pencil, a piece of paper and some ciphering.”

Actually, unless you are the Governor, you can’t. You can figure out mandatory spending and you can figure out the shortfall, but only the Governor can tell you what will specifically be cut from the discretionary areas if cuts have to be made.

Comment by Papa Doc Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 11:53 am
Had Cross really been for pension reform, he could’ve subbed out the Springfield area reps and put in pro-reform reps. He didn’t.

Comment by Reformer Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 11:56 am
The no new taxes and just cut everything people are missing a few cirtical points, one of which Quinn interestingly has yet top raise.

The State of Illinois bring in money through various regulatory agencies for fines, audits etcs as a result of its various policing and enforcement functions.

You cut staff you will also be reducing the rveneue the State brings in from outher sources. Reducing the money brough into the budget from outher sources will require a tax increase to replace those lost funds. Not to mention the wonderful social impacts of fewer meatr inspectors, fewer EPA and air quality regualtors, fewer auditors keeping track of taxes etc.

Penny wise pound foolish.

I think we should do like every family out there when times are tough. We get a second job/another revenue stream to cover our shortfalls.

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 12:13 pm
What is the purpose of taking all of June to have leadership discussions instead of a special session? The leadership metings produced nothing for the last 5 months? These meeting will be no different.
The doomsday budget Quinn proposed will not hit home while the legislators are at home, because they are there blaming someone else. The leadership have told their members to wait for further developments. No one is facing the inevitable. Being in Springfield during the Summer focuses the mind of the legislature on the problem at hand, more so that the regular session.
If Quinn want to start asserting himself, show some leadership and act like a real Governor and not a repair man, he should call a special session. First, itemize each cut based on the July 1 appropriation. Second, bring in each Agency and every recipient group to testify as to the effects of the actual cuts on services. Third, address a joint session with a mid year State of the State address. Fourth, bring in rank and file members to mark up the budget passed for individual review of each committee’s members and let them review the necessary cuts with the Gov present. Right now, the seriousness of the upcoming budget has not hit home for the legislators. The leaders cannot protect them if their locals are beating on them for relief. The follow the leader mentality that provides unity during the session, doesn’t work in this crisis when constituents are facing job losses in a few weeks.

Comment by Tom Joad Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 1:05 pm
A couple things about the pension discussion are really starting to wear on me.

First of all, call it what you will, but calling two-tiered, inferior pension benefits “reform” is at best sophistry. With the exception of the GA System as a whole and certain provisions in the large systems (end-of career raises, ECO, “money purchase”-all of which were “reformed” away in 2005) the basic program of benefits is not generous, is not unaffordable and is certainly not “unsustainable.” Instead of the two-tier approach, (if allowable under Federal law, which most of Quinn’s plan wasn’t but that’s another story) say to the new members-”you are going to have to pay a little bit more for your pension than the people who joined the System years ago.” AA doubts few would decline the pension.

Then “Steve” wrote:
“Much of the budget problem is a pension problem. Until public pensions are reformed (cut back or eliminated) Illinois will have budget problems. It’s difficult to see how reform can happen when government workers support candidates who don’t want reform.”

Well, Steve, you are partially correct. Illinois has a budget problem related to its unfunded pension liability. If Quinn and the Four Tops hypothetically decide to reduce pension costs, they could pass a law that says no new pensions for anyone hired after 7/1/09 and no more State contributions to the funds after that date. Aside from the almost immediate insolvency (to great public acclaim) of the GA and Judges’ funds, the State’s fiscal experts report that the cost of amortizing the remaining unfunded liability over the remaining 30-33 years of the funding program is not materially less than the cost of paying normal cost plus interest under the current funding program.

In short, it ain’t the benefits, it’s the unfunded. Go reform that and leave the benefits alone.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 3:51 pm
AA-you can’t fix stupid (or argue with it)

Comment by Steve Schnorf Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 5:33 pm
To those of you indicating the “vague” cuts - look at HB2145. Cut will be all substance abuse contracts, all contracts for services to the elderly, disabled and incarcerated. Good you say? If so, get ready for an un-monitored sex offender substance abuser to move next door to you. Too bad since there isn’t money in the lump sum budget to monitor them or prevent it. The budget specifically cuts the professional services line from many agencies - state police included. How silly is that????

Fight over the pennies, because the criminals will be robbing you blind of dollars - pick which criminals you want to deal with……

Comment by ReaderBee Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 6:19 pm
The “I want it all for a very low price” option is gone. When those community human service people move to unemployment after major layoffs/closure they also stop being tax payers and shoppers of local businesses while going to unemployment and dropping health insurance. And the people they provide services to? Where are they going? You may not care if you do not need the services, but the effect will come soon enough.

Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 7:11 pm
Excellent point, Mr. Schnorf. What was I thinking?

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 7:53 pm
As bad as things are, at least we KNOW how bad they really are, and that’s progress. RRB would simply have swept everything under the rug and insisted that the deficit was not really that big.

Comment by Bookworm Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 8:04 pm
They tried managed care w/ Medicaid twice before. I guess they forgot.

As a friend remarked, the Illinois legislature is always running behind the eight ball.

Comment by Emily Booth Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 8:26 pm
Bookworm,

Heaven forbid, if RRB would have still been in office during this whole budget deficit, I’m sure he would have planned on making some of the “doomsday” cuts anyway (likely again coming after the budgets of the other constitutionals and other state agencies), but wouldn’t have solved the deficit anyway (while also sweeping it under the rug)–he would have probably used the money for another one of his healthcare initiatives. Just my opinion.

Comment by Leatherneck Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 8:55 pm
Rich, that example of your Dad getting the extra job, or Mom going to work, is pretty much no longer an option.

Unemployment (and public early retirement) has most able bodied people working at Home Depot and WalMart already.

Working in the underground economy is a staple for illegals and public workers (firemen especially), but even that work is a hard find these days.

It’s practically impossible now for teenagers and college students to find work, unless they have a political connection.

People will need to develop skills that we baby boomers were often taught by our Depression Era parents, make sure the essentials of basic rent, mortgage, utilities, food and clothing are taken care of, and learn how to have fun without spending a couple hundred bucks a month on cell phones, cable TV and internet, eating out, and paying 15 bucks to go to a movie with a few snacks.

Learning to stretch a dollar should be a “survivor skill” taught to all our children; they’re going to need it for the rest of their lives that are looking bleaker with every day of the Obama/Quinn adminstrations.

Comment by PalosParkBob Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 9:25 pm
this is somewhat off topic, but the other day you asked about and descibed access to Capital Fax via smart phones. I think the local news radio is getting their news from you , too. LOL

Comment by long time state worker Wednesday, Jun 3, 09 @ 10:40 pm