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, June 13 2013 1:45 PM EDT2013-06-13 17:45:09 GMT
Even a fire hydrant is feeling the Blackhawks spirit, especially after Chicago's midnight victory over the Boston Bruins at the United Center in triple overtime.
Even a fire hydrant is feeling the Blackhawks spirit, especially after Chicago's midnight victory over the Boston Bruins at the United Center in triple overtime.
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.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 2:08 PM EDT2013-06-19 18:08:32 GMT
After collecting tens of thousands of dollars for themselves on Wednesday, members of the General Assembly plan to kick the can of public employee pension reform down the road for at least one more month.
After collecting tens of thousands of dollars for themselves on Wednesday, members of the General Assembly plan to kick the can of public employee pension reform down the road for at least one more month.
Human rights advocate Marianne Elliot wrote "Zen under Fire," a powerful memoir about her experience as a U.N. peacekeeper in war-torn Afghanistan. She also does yoga to de-stress in her everyday life.
Human rights advocate Marianne Elliot wrote "Zen under Fire," a powerful memoir about her experience as a U.N. peacekeeper in war-torn Afghanistan. She also does yoga to de-stress in her everyday life.
Monday, June 17 2013 3:09 PM EDT2013-06-17 19:09:21 GMT
On the first day of deliberation, the jury hearing former Chicago alderman Ambrosio Medrano's trial found him guilty of bribery. He could face up to five years in prison.
On the first day of deliberation, the jury hearing former Chicago alderman Ambrosio Medrano's trial found him guilty of bribery. He could face up to five years in prison.
Monday, June 17 2013 2:44 PM EDT2013-06-17 18:44:33 GMT
A spokeswoman for Gov. Pat Quinn says he has fully backed the tough pension proposal supported by the Illinois House and has "fought hard" to get it passed.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Pat Quinn says he has fully backed the tough pension proposal supported by the Illinois House and has "fought hard" to get it passed.
Monday, June 17 2013 12:03 PM EDT2013-06-17 16:03:54 GMT
Carla Oglesby is accused of using fake contracts to scam hundreds of thousands of dollars to herself and her friends, from local vendors. She was first arrested nearly three years ago.
Carla Oglesby is accused of using fake contracts to scam hundreds of thousands of dollars to herself and her friends, from local vendors. She was first arrested nearly three years ago.
Friday, June 14 2013 9:36 PM EDT2013-06-15 01:36:02 GMT
Lawyers for Jesse Jackson Jr. assert in a court filing that the former Illinois congressman's mental health may worsen if he is given a lengthy prison sentence.
Lawyers for Jesse Jackson Jr. assert in a court filing that the former Illinois congressman's mental health may worsen if he is given a lengthy prison sentence.
Friday, June 14 2013 8:46 PM EDT2013-06-15 00:46:35 GMT
Political observers will be closely watching as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie participates in a discussion at the Clinton Global Initiative in Chicago.
Political observers will be closely watching as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie participates in a discussion at the Clinton Global Initiative in Chicago.
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