Sieben Responds to Budget Speech

February 21st, 2008 at 11:41am Aaron Chambers

Sieben’s press release: 

SPRINGFIELD – Despite his claims of addressing an economic slowdown, Gov. Rod Blagojevich is calling for a sixth year of increased spending, higher debt and more hits on businesses that employ Illinois citizens, according to Assistant Senate Republican Leader Todd Sieben (R-Geneseo).

Blagojevich outlined his $49.7 billion budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2009 to a joint session of the General Assembly on Feb. 20. Fiscal Year 2009 runs from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009.

Sen. Sieben says the Governor’s financial blueprint for the coming fiscal year relies once again on record-high state debt; a record-high backlog of unpaid bills; financial gimmickry such as leasing the state lottery, yet another pension bond sale, more raids from the Road Fund; and continued attacks on business.

“You certainly have to wonder if this Governor ever reads the newspaper or watches the news,” Sieben said. “He seems to be on the same reckless financial course that has left Illinois in such bad economic shape in the first place. Even his fellow constitutional officers have recently issued strong warnings about the need to hold the line on spending. He should not be adding new programs when the state cannot meet its current financial obligations. We should, instead, work within our available resources.”

The 45^th District Senator noted that past fiscal policies have resulted in several harsh financial realities:

* Illinois faces a deficit for the current fiscal year, conservatively estimated at $750 million.

* The state has a $1.7 billion backlog of unpaid bills – the highest in state history.

* The state’s Medicaid program requires at least $500 million in new dollars, just to meet existing obligations.

* The state’s unfunded pension liability is among the worst in the nation.

Gov. Blagojevich also continues to target employers and the jobs they provide, and the long-term effects of his policies show in state’s lackluster job growth. Illinois is 45th in the nation in job growth since Gov. Blagojevich took office.

According to federal jobs numbers from December, Illinois has a 2.5 percent job growth rate, while Iowa has a 5.9% rate, followed by Wisconsin at 4.3%, Kentucky at 4%, Missouri at 3.9% and Indiana at 2.8%.

The 45^th District Senator says strong job growth – not huge tax increases – is a better way to address budget woes. If Illinois had kept pace with the national average in job growth, it would have more than 213,000 additional jobs today, which would mean more than a half-billion dollars in additional tax revenues.

Sen. Sieben says the Governor’s budget proposal is the first step in a long negotiation process, and he looks forward to working with his fellow lawmakers to craft a fiscal plan that reflects the spending priorities of the citizens who live and work in northwestern Illinois.

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized