The clock is ticking down towards the end of the General Assembly
session. It is time for our leaders to do the right thing and vote for
the revenues needed to maintain the state’s crucial services.
In our troubled economy, the line between those who are poor and those who are not is blurring. Many are struggling, and it is likely that more will join their ranks. The Heartland Alliance recently reported that the number of Illinois residents pushed into poverty could grow by more than 400,000 this year. If the nation’s unemployment rate reaches 9 percent, the poor population could grow by 253,000 in Chicago alone. Is this the time to slash the programs that help people get through tough times, just when more people need them the most? That is what is on the table in Springfield right now. Illinois leaders are considering responding to the plight of their neighbors by passing a “doomsday” budget that would decimate crucial programs rather than pass the revenue measures to maintain them.
Taxes pay for crucial programs that are in demand during tough times (just as taxes pay for parks, roads, bridges and police). Illinois has not had an adequate tax system to fund these popular and necessary services. We have gotten by with gimmicks and not paying our creditors. Now, with the economy severely troubled, the Illinois tax system has gone from inadequate to disastrous.
We have a deep deficit for 2009-2010 of about $12 billion. We must raise taxes to help remedy this, both to get through the current crisis and to responsibly fund the government in the future. Everyone in Springfield knows this, yet the proposals by Governor Quinn and others to raise the necessary revenue are said to be “stalled.” This reluctance is not about the details of revenue plans, which can be negotiated as necessary, but about the political calculations around voting to raise revenue. Some legislators are calculating what they can gain by attacking those who vote in favor of a hike; others are finding it difficult to summon the courage.
Without the increased revenues, troubled families dealing with the recession will lose health care and the child care that enables them to get another job. Transit systems will raise fares or close routes. People with disabilities will be denied or pushed out of their care arrangements. Low-income seniors will go hungry or without lights. Schools will cut programs. Some kids will suffer abuse or neglect who would otherwise have been spared. Parks will close. Nursing homes and clinics and hospitals will struggle, and some will close.
Nobody wants this. This is no time to run away from a tough vote -- or for political opportunism around that vote. Illinois has needed revenue reform for years, and now the recession demands it. The people we elected should face the music and vote for it. If the vote is “yes”, those who voted “no” must be accountable for how they would have cut programs if their vote had prevailed. Illinoisans are mature enough to understand that necessary programs are not free. Illinoisans are generous and community-conscious enough to have supported these programs when they were established, and they will support paying for them. Illinois leaders should rise to the occasion and do the right thing.
John Bouman is the president of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, a Chicago-based law and policy center that champions economic opportunity for low-income people. This column originally appeared on the Shriver Center's "Step Forward" blog.
Previous columns:
A Case Study In Preserving The Status Quo, June 27, 2008
A New Way Of Defining Progress, July 24, 2008
Comments
State Rep. Karen Yarbrough (not verified) on Fri, 05/22/2009 - 20:59
Well said, John. I am deeply troubled thinking about what next week may bring.
While I myself am open to voting for an income tax increase, (even a bit more than the Governor's proposal to avoid all cuts) I know that there are others who are opposed to any type of tax increase whatsoever. Those who depend on government the most are counting on us... we should vow to not let them down.
John (not verified) on Tue, 05/26/2009 - 09:07
Thanks and good luck this week! This is the time when most of the activity is inside of caucus meetings, and I'm glad you and like-minded folks will be in there ptiching for the right outcome.
wapner PC on Tue, 05/26/2009 - 16:53
Great idea. Raise taxes. That will sure help stimulate the economy.
wapner PC on Wed, 05/27/2009 - 16:55
To expand on my bearish comment of 5/26: can we use some creativity to address the budget shortfall instead of the knee-jerk tax raise that will have the long-term effect of dampening spending and economic activity? How about major campaign finance reform? Absent the corrupting outside infuence of large campaign donations, the state contracting system should be able to function efficiently and deliver some savings. Anyone who lives in Chicago or Cook county has seen tax raises that are used to cover the 10% "graft tax". The answer is available, we just need the will to achieve it.
John (not verified) on Thu, 05/28/2009 - 10:15
One of the most harmful things that the editorial writers and others have done is to link these two issues. The budget battle, and the need to raise revenue, are at a dimension far beyond what could ever be addressed by cleaning up corruption. Both are important issues, and both need to be addressed. But addressing corruption, even eliminating it, would leave the budget completely unresolved. To resist the needed action on the budget by saying "not until we deal with corruption" is thus to duck this compelling problem and give yourself the excuse not to face it. That's happening in Springfiled right now, as the legislators scramble to excuse themselves and duck. You can congratulate yourself, Wapner -- they're all scared of you and others who fall back on the "no taxes" punt. Most people who take the time to look past that surface reflex, however, concede that the state needs this revenue and has needed it for years. They know that by enacting even the most aggressive tax proposals on the table, Illinois would still be around 35th or so in the nation in tax burden. And most of them also know that you are wrong about stimulating the economy -- most economists agree that public spending is a stimulus, not the other way around. There is serious impact if the budget is not resolved -- health coverage, child care, schools, etc. It deserves a closer look than the "no tax" reflex.
Want to help (not verified) on Thu, 05/28/2009 - 10:22
John: What can an ordinary Bloomington resident do in these waning days of the session to help push the income tax hike proposal?
John (not verified) on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 15:37
Bloomington -- I'm sorry I was away for a week or so. But the budget battle is still with us, so your question and this answer are still timely. I think there are two things everyone can do: 1) understand that if we get to July without having passed a budget with adequate new revenues, there will be a huge mess. This is not a half-year budget that they can come back and fix. It is an immediate huge mess, with very deep cuts (50-100%) to important programs and state layoffs in the thousands. 2) People have to pressure their own legislators. Those who voted "yes" for the necessary taxes should be thanked and encouraged. Those who voted "no" must feel some serious tension about it, and they should be asked to be accountable for that vote: what exactly do they favor cutting? The decisions are being made by the leaders, but the leaders listen to the rank and file in the party caucuses. If the rank and file are feeling serious pressure, they will let it be known. It has to be more dangerous politically for them to let this doomsday budget take effect than to vote for the revenues needed to avoid it.
Chris (not verified) on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 20:56
I agree that a tax increase needs to be implemented and its unfortunate that Todd Stroger put his 10% Cook County tax increase into law because now those people will be hit the hardest. Shame on Todd Stroger & his fellow lap-dogs voted YES!. Gov. Quinn has a 2 sided knife in his hand, #1 the State Budget #2 Michael Madigan who wants the new Governor to fall flat on his face because he's grooming his daughter Lisa Madigan for the Governor's job!
Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 06/11/2009 - 06:53
Totally agree with 'wapner PC' when he says:
"can we use some creativity to address the budget shortfall instead of the knee-jerk tax raise that will have the long-term effect of dampening spending and economic activity"
How about cutting back on the money being extorted by teachers unions?
Journalists and politicians need to get it through there heads that people don't want to pay anymore taxes and that government has to live within its means. Its a distraction from real governing to keep whining about needing more money. Live within your means and make some tough decisions already.
The people will NOT pay more taxes and will punish politiicians who do the WRONG THING and raise taxes.
Paul (not verified) on Thu, 06/11/2009 - 16:13
If the budget goes into effect in its current form we will completely decimate the lives of the most fragile people in our state. I love Illinois, and I am ashamed of the work of our legislative bodies. Whether they are for or against tax increases in irrelevant in the end. They are all accountable as our representatives for this monstrosity which will result in, among other things, 80,000 families losing access to child care assistance.
What will those 80,000 people do who can no longer afford child care costs. Will they leave their children at home uncared for? Will they quit their jobs so they can care for their children? What happens to our economy if 80,000 families have to stop working so they can ensure their children are safe?
Better still, what happens to an entire generation of children who are no longer afforded an opportunity to attend a child care setting where there learning and development is paramount. The division in classes will widen, and our society will never be the same.
I know I'm willing to give up 1% of my salary to ensure that reality never comes to pass. Everyone of us with an ounce of human decency should be willing to make that sacrifice. This is a moral choice, not an economic choice. Our elected "leaders" MUST LEAD!
Get back to work and fix our budget. The alternative is unacceptable.
Andrea Raila (not verified) on Wed, 06/24/2009 - 08:58
The legislators who would not vote for a state income tax increase are divided into two camps: the Republican “Tin Man” searching for a heart, and the Democratic “Cowardly Lion” searching for political courage.
Together, in the Land of Oz, they share the fairytale – that not raising the state income tax and pandering to the cut-waste-reform-first mantra --- will ensure long political careers. Nothing is farther from the truth.
They had no trouble increasing millions in revenues on user fees, and sales taxes---dollar and dime the taxpayers to death, while avoiding tougher challenges to overhaul the property tax and income tax system.
Illinois was in a fiscal mess years ago, under the last 3 administrations. Those budgets were “balanced” by under funding pensions and creative accounting even when the economic times were better -- when real estate values were exploding and Illinois was raking in property tax dollars.
California and Illinois are in the top 3l states with the highest budget deficits.
California has 36.7 million residents and a $16 billion deficit. Every man woman and child in that state would have to pay $435 to cover their budgetary black hole. But in Illinois , with 12.9 million residents and a $11 billion deficit every resident would have to pay $852 to dig themselves out of our deficit pit created by the state's CEO's--- the legislators.
Both parties spent our money like drunken sailors, and part of the problem was the pay to play and no regulations on state contracts with the private sector, which was only addressed in this legislative session!
Thank God we have a fiscal conservative and reform minded Governor with courage to say yes to a modest 1.5% tax increase and reforms to the public pension system that’s drowning generations in debt.
Andrea Raila
Don (not verified) on Thu, 07/09/2009 - 11:03
Andrea's comment about the public pension system drowning this generation in debt is perfect demonstration of the bigger problem. She has an opinion but states it as fact. No one is taking about identifying the real proeblems and solutions. You all should ask yourself, if you worked for that state, what type of pension would you want, expect, tolerate or walk away from. Most state workers do not have big fat pensions. They have to work hard and for a long time to collect their retirement benfits. They contribute their fair share and have a fair deal with the state of illinois when they retire. Remeber they also get cut out of most social security benefits too.
Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/18/2009 - 06:19
It is a requirement to have a four year degree to be a Human Services Caseworker. The salary is definately not bad starting around $37,000 however there are many more positions paying higher salary for four year degrees- The pension is what draws workers in who want to do this job in my mind. Changes to pension could lead to less qualified individual coming in to do the work.
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