By Mike Flannery, FOX 32 News Political Editor - bio | email
CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
Gov. Pat Quinn prepared Tuesday to deliver a proposed state budget that calls for deep spending cuts, including slashing $400 million in education, with the undertone of his planned address before lawmakers being how their inaction in solving the state's pension crisis is straining spending across-the-board.
At a Tuesday night pre-budget speech briefing with legislators, Quinn's staff said "discretionary spending" by the state of Illinois would be smaller than 2008 -- $16.17 billion compared to $17.48 billion.
The Chicago Democrat and his aides are straining to find good news to deliver, noting that increased revenues will translate into an effort to pay down $2 billion in unpaid bills and a tentative contract agreement between the state and its largest employee union will save the state $900 million in health care costs.
Quinn will outline his budget priorities for the fiscal year that begins July 1 in a noon speech Wednesday. Quinn frequently has said the very first thing he and legislators must take on is the $96.7 billion deficit in the state's five pension systems. New budget projections Tuesday showed that trying to catch up with that hole will cost Illinois nearly $7 billion -- or 19 percent of the state's general revenue fund. In 2008, cost of government employee pensions was just 6 percent of the state budget.
That scandalous pile of unpaid bills was $8.7 billion last June 30th and was supposed to shrink to $7.5 billion by this coming June 30th and to $6.7 billion by June 30th, 2014.
In education, the pension obligation jumped from $4.1 billion in last year's budget to $5 billion, leaving $400 million less for education.
"We have a series of reductions that the governor does not want to do," Quinn's budget chief, Jerry Stermer told reporters at a budget briefing late Tuesday. "These are outside his vision of where we ought to be. These reductions are a direction result of no action on pensions."
There is not a hint that Governor Quinn is doing anything to prepare for scheduled expiration of the 67 percent income tax increase at midnight December 31st, 2014.
Thursday, May 16 2013 9:49 PM EDT2013-05-17 01:49:53 GMT
Mayor Emanuel will celebrate two years in office by unveiling "Elevate Chicago" on Thursday, a series of construction projects to improve Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Mayor Emanuel will celebrate two years in office by unveiling "Elevate Chicago" on Thursday, a series of construction projects to improve Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Monday, February 25 2013 1:41 PM EST2013-02-25 18:41:37 GMT
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:52 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:52:14 GMT
Gov. Pat Quinn said Illinois lawmakers have a chance to make history on two fronts this month by approving a plan to fix the state's decades-old pension crisis and legalizing same-sex marriage.
Gov. Pat Quinn said Illinois lawmakers have a chance to make history on two fronts this month by approving a plan to fix the state's decades-old pension crisis and legalizing same-sex marriage.
Monday, May 20 2013 3:05 PM EDT2013-05-20 19:05:27 GMT
Former White House social secretary Desiree Rogers has been appointed to head the board of a government-supported nonprofit that promotes Chicago as a tourism and convention destination.
Former White House social secretary Desiree Rogers has been appointed to head the board of a government-supported nonprofit that promotes Chicago as a tourism and convention destination.
Republicans call them "scandals." Democrats call them "fishing expeditions." Whatever the case, the Obama administration finds itself trying to fix three big problems this week. FOX's Bret Baier reports.
Republicans call them "scandals." Democrats call them "fishing expeditions." Whatever the case, the Obama administration finds itself trying to fix three big problems this week. FOX's Bret Baier reports.
Friday, May 17 2013 7:51 PM EDT2013-05-17 23:51:51 GMT
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn must decide if he will sign a measure allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes after the state Senate approved legislation on Friday.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn must decide if he will sign a measure allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes after the state Senate approved legislation on Friday.
Faced with a trio of controversies, President Barack Obama is trying to halt a perception spreading among both White House opponents and allies that he has been passive and disengaged as unexpected developments...
President Barack Obama, seeking to regain his footing amid controversies hammering the White House, named a temporary chief for the scandal-marred Internal Revenue Service Thursday and pressed Congress to approve new...
After initially opposing the legalization of medical marijuana in Illinois, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon now supports the bill awaiting a State Senate vote. She told Good Day Chicago why she changed her mind.
After initially opposing the legalization of medical marijuana in Illinois, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon now supports the bill awaiting a State Senate vote. She told Good Day Chicago why she changed her mind.
